Which Broadband product is right for me

After determining ‘Which Broadband products are available to me’, your next step is to find a suitable Broadband type. Most Broadband Types will give you similar speeds and limitations to suit your needs, but there are several main factors that usually influence a decision and should be taken into consideration prior to choosing a product.

Costs:

(Monthly Plan Rates & Initial Sign Up Fees)

Usage:

(Download Limit Allowance)

Bundling Products

Contract Lengths & Hardware

**Costs:** These alone are normally the main elements to consider when choosing a product. However, you should investigate the other factors below prior to making any decision, as they too have an overall bearing on costs. Initial fees are usually a ‘once off’ incursion, so it might be useful to target the ongoing monthly plan rate when considering the cost equation.

Initial sign up fees can be determined by Contract lengths and may include Installation, Transfer Connection from another Provider, and New Connection fees.

**Usage:** (Download limit allowance): How frequently will you use your Broadband service? Is it only for you, or for the family? What will you download, and how often will you download it? If you are unsure and would like further advice, Broadband Guide recommends that you visit our Conversion & Usage Tables section. Remember that most Download limits are flexible to change after commencing a Broadband service.

**Bundling Products:** Many providers will offer discounts for bundling services or products. For example, if you purchase a Broadband Internet product and mobile phone service from the same Provider, you may be eligible to receive a discount? This could be a % overall or an amount. Here are some hypothetical examples of discounts that may be offered when bundling services from the same Provider:

Examples

Broadband Internet:

$10 discount off standalone price when bundled with Home Phone service

Mobile Phone:

Receive $10 or 25 free SMS messages when Bundled with Broadband Internet

Pay TV:

$10 discount off standalone price when Bundled with Broadband Internet

**Contract Lengths & Hardware:** What hardware will you need to connect to Broadband, and how long do you want to commit to a contract? You may also wish to connect more than one computer to a Home Network. These are more options for you to consider when choosing your Broadband product.

Providers often include the alternative of supplying Hardware (at a price) to get you connected to the Internet. Single or Multiple Port Modems and Routers (including Wireless options) along with Mobile Cards are generally the main Hardware items to consider.

Another underlying factor to be considered is contract length. It’s not uncommon for Providers to rise or lower prices on Hardware depending on the contract term you select. E.g. A longer term might equate to lower hardware prices while a ‘no contract’ agreement could mean higher Initial fees or hardware costs. Typical Contract terms range from 6, 12, 18, 24 months while some Providers don’t require contract lengths at all.

Latest Articles: