When choosing broadband, it can be difficult to tell the difference between providers. There is now a greater range of broadband providers than ever, delivering what is ostensibly the same product using different technologies. To make the right choice about broadband, you should think about your budget, your level of usage, and your type of normal browsing.

Download limits

Because internet usage is increasingly data intensive, broadband usage is typically limited by a download limit (expressed in megabytes), rather than by time (as it was with 'dial up' internet). Most providers will therefore allow you to get a cheaper price for your package by choosing a lower monthly limit.

For example, In comparison, Sky Broadband Mid comes with a 40 GB allowance, but costs £5 for Sky Talk customers, and £10 for non-customers. A smaller package might well be suitable for you if you generally use the internet for text-based information, only occasionally downloading music and video. As a guide, 2GB would give you roughly 20,000 web pages worth of data, around 40 albums, or about 3 to 5 films.

Some providers offer 'unlimited' download allowances. These are necessary for those who use the internet every day, and who are likely to have data intensive needs. Be aware that most broadband providers will impose a 'fair usage policy' on their customers using these packages.

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This will not affect most users, only those who constantly use the connection at peak times (e.g. people running file sharing programmes all day, or those who always have media or gaming running). This is done to enable 'fairer' allocation of network bandwidth when demand is high, to ensure a reasonable speed for all users.

Some companies now offer 'true' unlimited packages, although there still might be restrictions on the type of usage (e.g. running a website or server over the connection).

Maximum Speeds

The maximum broadband speed might be of more concern if you do not expect to use the internet constantly, but if you do need a reliable service when you do need it.

Virgin Media currently advertises the 'fastest' home broadband speed in the UK, with a theoretical maximum speed of 50 MB/sec.The major downside to this service is that it is only available in those areas that have been wired for cable services.

However, ordinary ASDL internet lines are currently being upgraded across the country, and it is expected that other providers are likely to be able to rival those speeds in the near future. Currently, 20 GB is the maximum speed deliverable via the majority non-cable service providers, which should be more than enough for most users.

Other Considerations

As computers have become more prevalent, many people now expect to be able to use their connection for multiple users. if this applies to you, you should check whether your provider can offer a wireless router. Many now offer these free to new customers, and they can be an easy way of sharing a single broadband connection.

You should also compare the total price of broadband and phone between providers, as you may be able to afford a higher speed or better maximum download limit by taking both from the same company.