The beginning of the academic year is always a busy time. If you are moving into a new house you will have unpacking, registration, getting to grips with paying bills and, on top of that, you have to make time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Searching around for which broadband package to use may seem low on your list of priorities, but you will find there are rewards. So, read on, and find out why it’s actually really easy.

The search for the best broadband package can be confusing, and the companies are aware of this. They will most likely try to push their most expensive, but not necessarily best, package on to you. Taking a few minutes to ensure that you are getting the deal that is right for you can save you money, as well as peace of mind.

To make it even easier, we have created a step-by-step guide to getting the best deal for you.

The first task is to figure out what you need from your broadband. The issues to consider are:

1.  Do I want to commit to a contract? The contracts are likely to be 12 months or more, which is great if you are going to be in your residence for this long, as it can result in some big savings on service charges, router costs (approx. £50) and activation fees. If you are likely to move around a lot, for example visiting friends at the weekends, or spending long holidays at home, a non-contractual option may be best for you.

2. Do I download a lot? Many companies offer unlimited downloads. It is, however, worth noting that this is just an industry term. “Fair use” policies will apply, and the cost of breaking them can be heavy. Make sure you check what your provider’s policy is, and when your internet is up and running, download www.broadbanchoices.co.uk/broadband-download-monitor.html to monitor your downloads and keep inside your limits.

3. Could a bundle be a better deal? If you want digital TV and/or a landline phone in your house, then getting a package that puts them together with your internet could be the best decision. Something like Sky’s See, Speak and Surf, which includes all three services for £19 a month, with the option of adding more channels to the deal, might be the right sort of thing.

4. Do I need fast connection? The jury is still out on whether you get more from a large package. The ISPs claim to provide packages with “up to” 24Mbs. The “up to” is put in to get out of the fact that they are not operating at maximum speeds. If there are a lot of people in your house, or you get frustrated very quickly, then you could benefit from a faster connection. To test how fast your internet is working, go to www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/speed-test.asp.

Now you know what you need, you must find out which ISPs operate on your street. This is simple. Log on to www.broadbandchoices.co.uk (you may have to do this from a Wi-Fi hotspot on your laptop) and enter your postcode into their search box. In a few seconds all the providers and packages available will be on your screen. Apply the criteria that you and your housemates have set out and you should be able to pick out the deal that is right for you. Signing up online can also get you a discount with some service providers so, if this is the case, take advantage and use the money you have saved for a celebratory drink.

Some questions you may have…

What about mobile broadband? Is that a good deal?

Getting yourself a “dongle” or USB broadband has both positives and negatives, and after you have decided what you need out of a broadband package you will know if this is the best option. The dongle provides highly portable broadband and means there is no need for a landline, so you don’t need to worry about which service providers work on your street. The problem is that the mobile packages have tight download limits and big penalties for those who exceed them. 3 Mobile’s broadband offers 1GB, 3GB or 7GB. You will also find that taking up mobile broadband will involve signing a long contract of 18-24 months, so if you are not happy, or your needs change, you may find you are stuck with it.

I’ve heard about fibre optic, but what is it and do I need it?

Fibre-optic is the new method by which Virgin Media deliver their broadband internet. The science is not particularly interesting, but basically it uses a fibre hybrid network, which has advantages over ADSL’s twisted pair cable. This is how Virgin are able to offer their 24Mb package, which is 8Mb higher than Sky, their closest competitor. As I said earlier, it is unclear if it is a great advantage to have an extra-fast package, as many packages do not operate up to their maximums.

Any advice about which one I go for?

You want broadband with a contract…

• Plusnet (www.plus.net) - £9.99 per month for 8Mb, with a free wireless router and free connection for 12 months.
• Madasafish (www.madasafish.com) - £9.99 pm for 6 months and £14.99 after that for 8Mb, free connection, and free wireless networking kit for 12 months.
• O2 (www.o2.co.uk) - £12.99 pm for 8Mb with unlimited downloads for 12 months.

No contract would be better…

• Be Broadband (www.bethere.co.uk) - £18 pm for 24Mb and unlimited usage. Connection is £24 and must provide cancellation notice 3 months in advance.
• Plusnet (www.plus.net) - £14.99 pm gives you 8Mb and unlimited downloads in the evenings, but you have to pay £40 for connection.
• Eclipse (www.eclipse.net) - £14.99 can get a one month contract with 8Mbs, and there is a £47 connection charge.

I want to go mobile…

• If you open a student bank account with NatWest before October you can get £50 off 3’s mobile broadband. This will include a free dongle and a 50% discount on line rental if you are an existing customer. On top of this, you can get a free Microsoft webcam and five-year rail pass, and even £100 off Asus laptops, making the bank’s student account very attractive.

---

Tag this article :