Choosing a Broadband Package

TECH · UNITED KINGDOM

Choosing a Broadband Package

Speeds and what you need, contracts and price rises, routers and switching

Broadband is sold on a headline speed that most households do not need and priced in a way that rewards paying attention at the end of a contract.

How much speed you actually need

Streaming in high definition uses a few megabits per second per device, and 4K around 25. A household streaming on several devices at once is comfortable well below 100 megabits.

Upload speed matters for video calls, working from home and backups, and is where older copper-based connections are weakest. Full fibre gives far better upload than part-fibre services.

Contracts and price rises

The advertised price usually applies for the contract term, and out-of-contract prices are considerably higher. Diarise the end date and either renegotiate or switch.

Check how mid-contract increases are described, since rules on how these must be presented have changed in the UK.

Small providers and altnets

Independent networks frequently offer faster full fibre at lower prices in the areas they cover. Check the contract length, the service record and what happens if the network is sold.

Routers

The supplied router is usually adequate. If coverage is the problem rather than the line, a mesh system helps far more than a faster package.

Position the router centrally, high and away from thick walls, and use the 5GHz band nearby for speed and 2.4GHz further away for range.

Switching

Providers on the same network switch with minimal disruption, and moving between networks may need an engineer. Check for installation charges and whether your landline is affected.

When it goes wrong

Restart the router, check whether the problem affects one device or all of them, and test over a cable. Providers have complaints procedures and an ombudsman scheme if the matter is not resolved within a set period.

Automatic compensation applies in the UK for delayed repairs, missed appointments and late activations.

Social tariffs

Discounted broadband packages exist for people receiving certain benefits, and most eligible households have never heard of them. Ask your provider directly.

Getting the most from a connection

Use a cable for anything stationary — a desktop, a games console, a television — which frees the wifi for everything else and is far more reliable. Powerline adapters work where running a cable is impractical.

Schedule large downloads and backups overnight if several people share the line.

Check whether a package includes a landline you do not need, since that affects the price.

Run a speed test at different times of day before judging a service.

Testing

Test over a cable rather than wifi to see what the line is actually delivering.

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