Switching Broadband Suppliers: Getting More Bang for your Buck - Part Two

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