The truth about broadband

Posted on 20 Oct 2008 at 10:39

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Don't forget to check what's included with your broadband package. A modem is usually included (always, in the case of cable), but check if it comes with a WiFi router so that you can connect PCs without cabling; you can buy your own ADSL modem with built-in router from £40. You should at least get an email address, preferably several to accommodate family members, and some free server space to host your website or use for file storage. If you have your own domain name (such as myname.com), check if your existing provider will charge to transfer it; the new one shouldn't charge to take it over. All email should be checked for spam and viruses before it's delivered to you. If you need a static IP address for business use or gaming, check whether there's an extra charge.

If you want a broadband connection for business premises, you should be looking at business tariffs and perhaps symmetric (SDSL) options, but a consumer package will often suffice for working from home or even running a home-based business, as long as you don't mind a bit of a wait when sending (as opposed to receiving) large files. Bear in mind that you won't get any compensation, or even much sympathy, if the service unexpectedly goes off at any time; it should only happen very rarely, but consider having a backup plan in case it does happen at a crucial moment. Cable customers could use an ADSL service as a backup.

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Broadband is traditionally associated with landlines, but all the major mobile networks will now sell you a USB dongle that connects your laptop to the Internet. Coverage doesn't extend to the whole cell network yet, but finding reception is a lot easier than hunting for a WiFi hotspot. Speeds on offer range from 1.8 to 7.2Mbit, so it's not far off conventional broadband, with the same caveat that you won't get the full speed you've paid for. In the summer, we investigated mobile broadband and reviewed the tariffs on offer; you can read the results at www.computerbuyer.co.uk.

You'll pay a fixed monthly fee, ranging from £10 (on the 3 network) to over £40 depending on the speed and monthly limit. Even the priciest tariffs only let you download 10GB in a month, and limits go as low as 1GB. Orange and T-Mobile will send you a warning if you exceed the limit, but other networks charge per extra megabyte, which can mount up hideously quickly, especially on Vodafone - you really need to watch this. If you leave the UK, all data is charged by the megabyte, and anything more than an occasional quick surf or email will work out prohibitively expensive.

These charges are already coming down in response to threats of EU legislation, and in the near future we'd hope to see mobile broadband shed its lingering restrictions and become a painless way to get online anywhere. It could even replace fixed broadband for some users, just as people have swapped their home phones for mobiles. Whether the networks have the capacity to make this possible remains to be seen.

Author: Adam Banks