| Broadband has become an essential part | | | | 3. Rising fees- Before signing up for |
| to every business and household and it's | | | | any deal ensure you know all the details |
| easy to see why. Traditionally, most | | | | because deals look great and then you |
| people had dial-up but the download | | | | find the hidden costs and all of a |
| speeds were extremely slow, however, the | | | | sudden they don't look too impressive! |
| introduction of broadband has been a | | | | Read more about Why you need Broadband |
| technological revelation and has | | | | There are always internet viruses about |
| provided customers with the ability to | | | | and the best way to protect your |
| download everything from films and music | | | | computer against these is too have the |
| to vital PC updates. Business' have seen | | | | latest anti-virus programmes that can be |
| major improvements and are able to | | | | downloaded extremely quickly with |
| connect their entire workforce using one | | | | broadband. Firewalls are a great way of |
| network. Other advantages of broadband | | | | stopping untrustworthy sites from |
| are free VoIP (Voice over Internet | | | | opening, which is normally the way |
| Protocol) which enables initiatives such | | | | viruses are caught, you can set rules or |
| as Conference calling, call forwarding | | | | criteria and if certain websites |
| and caller ID. The recent innovation to | | | | conflict with these then the firewall |
| hit broadband is Skype which enables 2 | | | | will block it. This will reduce the |
| people to talk to each other over the | | | | chance of your computer catching a |
| internet using a headset; this saves | | | | virus. |
| money on long distance calls that can | | | | The advantages for businesses are clear |
| normally take place. | | | | but there is also a definite advantage |
| So how do you go about finding the right | | | | for people looking to set up the |
| broadband deal? The best place to start | | | | internet at home. In the past, a family |
| with is by taking the broadband speed | | | | of 4 would all have to fight for the |
| test. You simply enter your postcode and | | | | computer to get onto the internet but |
| the test calculates the speed you should | | | | you can connect all computers and |
| expect for the area you live in. This | | | | laptops to the same network using a |
| will give you a good starting point and | | | | wireless router. The router connects all |
| when you come to comparing prices you | | | | computers within a radius to a network. |
| know what to look for. There are a few | | | | To prevent the wrong people accessing |
| things you need to be aware of when | | | | your network, you can apply a network |
| searching for broadband; | | | | key so no unauthorised person can access |
| 1. Download limits- Some providers | | | | the internet through your network. |
| specify a limit when you sign up and if | | | | Switching providers can be a tricky |
| you go over that limit; you can be | | | | thing but thanks to Ofcom (the telecoms |
| heavily penalised. | | | | watchdog), this is becoming easier. |
| 2. Contracts- Providers will often look | | | | Check the terms of your contract because |
| to tie you down to a long term contract | | | | the money you have to spend cancelling |
| and will charge you should you wish to | | | | your existing contract may outweigh the |
| move on. 12 months contracts are normal | | | | savings you can make by switching. |
| but anything more then double check the | | | | To conclude, examine your options when |
| fees for moving on because there is | | | | choosing your broadband provider and |
| likely to be a better deal around the | | | | don't rush into a contract that you do |
| corner. | | | | not fully understand. |