Buying Mobile Broadband

One of the things that you should always check for when purchasing broadband is the actual speed rather than the advertised speed. When you compare broadband, initially on a superficial level at least, many broadband providers will show you speed of anything up to 50mb per second.

Such fast connections are more than enough for any of us, with even 10mb per second more than suitable for 90% of people's home requirements.

Broadband Speeds

Broadband is stated as any connection that offers a speed of over 2mb per second, so you would imagine that most companies are offering well over that - well not necessarily. When you purchase broadband you may not realise it but you are receiving an 'up to' speed from the company in question. This speed is the maximum pace you could expect from that line, though the chances of receiving the very highest echelons of such a speed are slim to none to be franks.

Most broadband and mobile broadband companies struggle to reach speeds of even half the advertised up to speed according to Ofcom in the UK. In fact, most companies will never reach such speeds, though will certainly not tell you this either. Of course, some companies are also far bigger offenders than others.

Traditional Broadband

Traditional broadband over telephone lines is the biggest offender and rates via this older medium are appalling when they are compared in tests. According to the Guardian, the average gap between advertised speed and real speed was 42% for all broadband with a far wider leap for the difference when only phone lines were included.

Fibre optic speeds, which use fibre optic lines specifically created catering for broadband, provide speeds much nearer to those expected from a quick look at the adverts. These are generally up to and around the speed advertised, take a few MB away at times. And, with many of these ADSL or fibre optic lines quoting up to 40mb per second, this is a massive leap against the pace of phone line based broadband.

No Broadband

The UK survey also showcased an even more interesting fact, it seems that nearly 25% of the UK can't even get broadband. This would mean that one quarter of the population can't get a broadband signal or their connection will not average above that of 2mb per second - the necessary speed considered to be broadband - so, compare broadband.

Satisfaction with broadband levels is often patchy, with many people suffering poor speeds, lacklustre reliability and poor customer service when something goes wrong. All of this can be a significant negative on your experience and really is a big reason why people need to compare broadband to get the best deal for their area and to encourage competitions between providers.

Quality Service

There are significant discrepancies and major differences between the levels of quality offered by providers of broadband. This is also not just specific to individual providers. Different providers offer better service in some areas than others and that's why a case by case basis is required when purchasing broadband

Fortunately, the Internet allows for broadband companies to be subject to criticism where needs be and there are numerous forums on the Internet that show independent analysis of broadband and mobile broadband quality in an area. Add to this the speed checkers available online or via phone apps and you have no reason not to compare broadband.

These can provide you with the speed you actually get from your broadband as opposed to the speed you can get up to. Most broadband companies offer you the opportunity to return the broadband within a set period, which allows you to use it, speed check it and then deem if you are satisfied before taking it. This should definitely be used for anyone who feels that their Internet connection is a little patchy.

So, take the above advice to heart and be open to the information. Always remember that you are paying for a service and should expect the best service possible. So, being aware of this can help and allow you the best broadband experience around.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The Article is written by Cormac Reynolds at www.MobilePhoneDeals.ie which lists and compares mobile phone deals and mobile broadband deals in Ireland.  Compare O2 Mobile Phones, Vodafone Mobile Deals, Meteor.ie Mobile Phones and Three.ie Deals. Visit http://www.MobilePhoneDeals.ie for more information. Copyright information. This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included.