Home Broadband

Broadband

Home Broadband

What is home broadband?

Exactly what it says on the tin: broadband for your home. The name 'home broadband' has come about due to the surge in popularity of mobile broadband (which is mainly used by people out and about) and the need for users and providers to differentiate between the two.

What types are there?

Home broadband comes in two varieties - wired and wireless. The first of these has been around longer, and requires your computer to be permanently connected to your telephone socket. The second option, wireless broadband, is becoming increasingly popular due to the freedom it offers. Using a 'router' (basically a small box that sits near your phone line) to transmit a signal around your home, it allows you to access broadband in any room.

Who offers home broadband?

The leading providers are Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, Tiscali and BT, although there are many other companies who supply home broadband, ranging from small independent ISPs to bigger ones like AOL and Orange.

What should I look for in a home broadband package?

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when looking for a home broadband deal. These include:

• Speed (regular downloaders or gamers may want higher speeds)
  
• Price (only pay for what you are going to use - it is no use splashing out on a flashy package if you only intend to send emails)
  
• Wireless (do you really need it?)

What is the best package for me?

With deals on home broadband changing all the time, it is difficult to pinpoint the 'best' package. Look at the home broadband page on CompareBroadbandUK to browse through deals arranged according to the price, speed or contract length that suits you best.

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