| In the last part of this guide I told you how | | | | for suppliers to indiscriminately lower the |
| to determine the speed of your broadband | | | | user's speed but not reduce the cost. |
| connection using online broadband speed tests | | | | |
| to see if you're getting your money's worth, | | | | So for cases where you know you are not going |
| I also covered how to decide what speed of | | | | to be downloading large files (typically less |
| broadband you realistically need without | | | | than 5gb/month) then you may like to consider |
| spending needless extra amounts on bandwidth | | | | looking into applying limits on your |
| you aren't going to use. | | | | connection, it could be the key you need to |
| | | | cheap broadband! |
| Well now we move on to the usage section of | | | | |
| this guide, due to the vast nature of the | | | | Packages: Sweetening the deal |
| Internet it can be used in millions of | | | | |
| different ways from talking to a family | | | | The lines between the Internet and |
| member halfway round the world to looking up | | | | traditional media such as Television and |
| the recipe for that cheesecake you enjoyed as | | | | Radio have been blurred quite a bit in the |
| a kid. Depending on how you use the Internet | | | | past few years, with sites like Youtube and |
| can determine whether you can get cheaper | | | | the BBC's iPlayer these days many people are |
| broadband or not. | | | | looking to the World Wide Web for their fix |
| | | | of entertainment. |
| Are limits any good? | | | | |
| | | | The Cable and Satellite companies have |
| Internet Service Suppliers provide Broadband | | | | recognized this fact and have rolled with the |
| to millions of people in this country, and | | | | punches, most media companies now offer |
| each one has thousands in any one town or | | | | cheaper rates on bundled packages, normally |
| city. Providing a service to these customers | | | | consisting of broadband, TV and landline |
| is exactly like providing running water, in | | | | phones, Virgin Media include packages that |
| order to ensure everyone gets their fair | | | | include mobile telephones too since they have |
| share then sometimes limits have to be put in | | | | their own mobile network. |
| place, with internet suppliers you may be | | | | |
| able to get a cheaper deal by agreeing that | | | | Big savings can be made if you are willing to |
| you will only use a certain amount per month. | | | | change all your needs to one supplier, |
| | | | typically if you get all three from the list |
| This is normally measured in Gigabytes and is | | | | above then you can pay as little as £30 |
| recommended for people who don't use the | | | | per month for the lot, it may be worth |
| Internet that much, people who have opted for | | | | mentioning that these deals tend to offer the |
| this service have found that their service is | | | | typically average speeds and deals and so can |
| much quicker than the same speed group for | | | | be good for the majority of internet users |
| people who are on unlimited download | | | | but those who are desperate for lightening |
| services. Obviously if you go over your | | | | quick speeds can end up having to pay a |
| limit then it is charged in a similar way to | | | | premium on top of their bundle, that said |
| a mobile phone contract. | | | | apart from the savings it can also help with |
| | | | managing bills, or at least cut them down to |
| Unlimited on the other hand allows you to | | | | one. |
| download to your heart's content with no fear | | | | |
| of extra charges for being an Internet-fiend | | | | At this point you should have a good idea of |
| for one month. Unlimited plans have come | | | | what your usage needs are, whether you're a |
| under scrutiny in recent years in that they | | | | download-aholic or just a casual user and |
| are not necessarily "unlimited" per say, in | | | | whether considering a supplier with download |
| order to maintain the same quality of service | | | | limits is a realistic option for you. As |
| to all their customers in your area your | | | | well as the speed you determined in the |
| broadband supplier may have a fair-use | | | | previous part of this guide you should also |
| policy, as if you are downloading movies and | | | | be aware of bundled packages where you can |
| large files all the time then it will have an | | | | save money by consolidating your home |
| effect on other people's service. In these | | | | services. The next part of this guide will |
| cases repeated offenders are normally sent a | | | | cover how to go about ordering new broadband |
| letter saying that they should lower their | | | | and if you already have broadband then I'll |
| usage as it isn't fair to others, if the | | | | talk you though the task of saying goodbye to |
| behaviour continues then it has been known | | | | your old supplier and hello to your new one. |