How do I choose a broadband package?

Broadband marketing focuses on peak speed, which is rarely the constraint. What usually matters is whether the connection is stable, what happens when several people use it at once, and what you pay in year two.

What you'll need

• A list of who uses the connection and for what (optional)

Step by step

1. Estimate your actual needs by simultaneous use.HD streaming about 5Mbps, 4K about 25, video calls about 3, gaming needs low latency more than speed. Add up realistic simultaneous use.
2. Check what is actually available at your address.Full fibre, part fibre or copper. Availability varies street by street and determines what is realistically achievable.
3. Look at the guaranteed minimum speed, not the average.Advertised speeds are typically achieved by half of customers at peak times. The guaranteed minimum is the contractual figure that matters.
4. Check upload speed if you work from home.Many packages have very low upload. It affects video calls, cloud backups and sending large files, and it is easy to overlook.
5. Find out what the price becomes after the introductory period.Often a large increase. Compare the total cost over the full contract, not the first-year price.
6. Check the contract length and exit terms.Long contracts lock in a price but remove flexibility. Check what happens if you move house.
7. Consider latency for gaming and calls.Responsiveness matters more than raw speed for both. Fibre connections generally have much lower latency than copper.
8. Check whether a router upgrade is included.Provider routers vary enormously. A poor router wastes a fast line, and your own router often outperforms the supplied one.

Tips

• Set a reminder for a month before the contract ends. Out-of-contract prices are usually well above what new customers pay for the same service.
• If several rooms need good coverage, budget for a mesh system. It makes more practical difference than a faster package.
• Check for outage history in your area. A reliable slower connection beats a fast unreliable one for almost every real use.

Common mistakes

• Buying the fastest package available — Most households never use it. Money is better spent on a mesh system or a better router that fixes coverage.
• Comparing only introductory prices — The price after the introductory period is what you pay for most of the contract. Compare total cost.
• Ignoring upload speed — It matters for video calls, cloud backup and sending files, and some packages offer very little of it.

Questions people ask