What is the best broadband deal for me?

If you’re looking for a deal on your household broadband, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options out there. From big name internet service providers, through to mobile networks which have diversified into broadband services, and new up and coming companies, it can quickly become a confusing situation. Happily, with a little forethought, you can approach the challenge with confidence, and find the best broadband deals at the moment, which are ideal for you and your family’s needs.

Every Household Is Different

Here in the UK, 82% of the population are directly connected to broadband internet services [1], which are delivered through a combination of fixed-line and mobile connections. Of this figure, almost three quarters of UK residents (73%) are able to enjoy download speeds of 30 Mbps or higher, which is categorised as Superfast. Today’s broadband providers are increasingly able to advertise far faster speeds, with Virgin Media leading the way with its Gig1 package promising incredible average download speeds of 1130 Mbps.

According to the UK government, 95% of properties are now able to access Superfast broadband speeds, whilst 60% of premises can now connect to broadband with Ultrafast, Gigabit speeds [2]. This number is likely to increase as the connection network continues to be upgraded from the old copper wire to fibre cabling, with the target set at 85% of properties achieving Gigabit access by 2025, and 99% by 2030.

When it comes to a great broadband package, there is no “one size fits all” solution and the sheer scope of prices and features on offer reflects the fact that different households have different demands from their broadband. Each household is unique, so take the time to work out what your own family actually needs from its internet package. For example, if your home consists of a parent working remotely from home, along with kids who are keen online gamers, and who also like to stream videos and TV together as a family or in separate rooms, you’re likely to require faster download speeds than a household that doesn’t place such an emphasis on internet usage.

Likewise, if your household comprises a group of professionals sharing amenities, you may decide to chip in together to pay for the best possible download speeds available for your address, to enable Ultrafast gaming, streaming, and seamless working from home.

This means that the first step should be to take a good look at how you expect to use your broadband. If you expect to use it for work, study, and general browsing, then you probably don’t need to pay extra for faster download speeds. However, if you are interested in online gaming, or enjoying the ultimate movie and TV streaming experience, getting a deal that offers faster download speeds will be a good option. This is because the faster the speed of your broadband, the less latency (the time elapsing between clicking on a move in a game and the command taking place) you’ll experience when playing, and the less chance of tiresome buffering happening when you’re engrossed in a 4K movie.

You may also want to pay extra for WiFi optimisation services, particularly if you live in a large or irregularly shaped property which has areas of poor reception, or if you have created a Smart Home environment with plenty of connected smart devices. BT and EE, for example, both offer Smart WiFi options that make use of WiFi extender discs to ensure that everyone enjoys optimum broadband access, wherever they are in the house.

Combination Packages

If you want to make it easy to keep track of household expenses, opting for a combination deal can be a good choice. Many broadband service providers offer packages that include internet, telephone and TV, which means that these bills will be taken care of with a single monthly payment. This can also be accompanied by appealing benefits, such as a 4K TV box with Alexa voice control, which TalkTalk offers for a mere £4 extra a month.

On the other side of the coin, if like a growing number of households, you don’t have any need for a landline, the majority of providers can accommodate your broadband connection without requiring that one is installed. This can save you money, especially if you would otherwise be paying for line rental. In fact, some broadband providers will even offer mobile phone contract as part of their deals, but it’s vital that you calculate whether such a bundle will work out as the best value for you.

Considering All Family Members

If you have children, you may well feel that internet safety is a priority. After all, whether it’s researching topics for school projects or simply enjoying online games and videos, the internet is now an integral part of family life, and, as parents, you will want to ensure that your kids aren’t accessing content that isn’t suitable for their age, or, indeed, spending too long online when they should be tucked up in bed. This means that opting for a broadband deal that includes family protection can be a smart move. All of the major broadband providers have settings that can effectively limit the kind of websites accessed, but some offer a little more security, which can be a ideal solution for families.

For example, TalkTalk offers Home Safe with Kid Safe security as part of its packages. This allows parents to manage and monitor how their children use the limit. You can set “Homework Safe” to prevent gaming or social media use whilst they should be studying, too. Similar features are provided by other internet service providers, too, with Sky offering its own “Sky Buddy” app that gives parents control over their kids’ internet browsing.