Mobile, TV & Broadband

Your ultimate guide to all things broadband: what it is, types of broadband and what to consider when getting broadband.

WHAT IS BROADBAND?

• Broadband is the common name used for a modern connection for your computer/laptop/tablet/console/mobile phone or even your TV to the internet at the available speed through your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

TYPES OF BROADBAND

• ADSL Broadband (Copper Broadband) - stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line and is currently the most common type of broadband available.
• Fibre Optic Broadband - fibre-optic broadband is substantially faster than ADSL broadband and can offer broadband speeds up to 500Mbps.
• Wireless Broadband (Wi-Fi) - wireless broadband means that with your laptop, smartphone, tablet or gaming device, you can access your broadband connection around the house via your routers wireless capability.
• Mobile Broadband - mobile broadband gives you access to the internet using your laptop or smartphone together with a suitable 3G, 4G or the new 5G mobile phone connections that are available.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A BROADBAND PACKAGE

• The cost per month and once-off fees - we all want good value for our money, with any company, there will normally be a standard fixed monthly fee, although, in some instances, there may also be an initial one-off fee for installation or connection and delivery of the router/hardware.
• Broadband speed - this is a big one to consider. If you’re simply using your broadband connection for online shopping, email and social media, then an ADSL copper broadband connection with speeds up to 17Mb should suffice. If you’re a multiple household streaming TV, downloading films, gaming and social networking simultaneously, then the fibre optic broadband with speeds up to 38Mbp or higher is recommended for the best possible experience.
• Package combinations (bundles) - bundles are a common feature with broadband packages. Several providers offer a single price per month for Broadband, TV & Calls – and in some cases, Mobile SIM’s are also included.
• Monthly download usage limits - some Internet Service Providers offer unlimited monthly download usage whilst others impose a download usage caps and throttling for over-usage. If you don’t do much downloading, it will not really be something you need to give much consideration to. However, if you’re a heavy user, watch plenty of TV online on-demand, play online games, etc, then it is definitely worth considering the monthly download usage limits that can apply.

Should you choose to shop from the comfort of your home online, here are some tips and tricks to make sure you shop safely, securely and smartly:

• Shop with trusted online retailers or do thorough research before making purchases from unknown retailer sites.
• Never provide your credit card information if you do not see the ‘padlock’ on the upper left-hand side of your address bar, or if the address begins with “http://” instead of “https://”.

• Keep your information private. If the retailer asks for too much information such as your birth-date and social security numbers, do not complete the transaction.
• After shopping online, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on all your banking statements, checking them weekly rather than by the month, just in case something slipped to a hacker. Notify your cardholder service if there are any discrepancies immediately.
• Maintain good virus protection on your computer to prevent spyware and other hacks from accessing your information. Many trusted anti-virus services are available online for free so you can take advantage of convenient online shopping.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi to do your shopping, rather use secure connections.
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails and pop-up internet adverts with too-good-to-be-true offers. Use caution when a deal is drastically better than others and always double-check before clicking on ads.