Choosing an internet service for your home is not an easy task. You have to consider a wide range of criteria like cost, contract lengthy, speed, etc.  One of the most essential factors in selecting your internet plan is what type of internet user you are. The moment you have learned about your internet needs, you will find it simpler and easier to track down an internet service provider that meets your requirements.

Confused about how to do it? Don’t worry, we have got you covered! Here is a quick and easy guide to help you determine the right internet package for your home. So, let’s get started

Explore Broadband Types in Your Area

Any type of internet connection that is always on is termed as broadband, which is further divided into four different types: cable, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Satellite, and Fiber. All of these differ from each other on the basis of speed, costs, reliability, and availability. Let’s take a closer look at each one of them:

Cable Internet

It is a type of internet that uses coaxial cables to deliver a connection to your home. Speeds typically range from 3 Mbps – 100 Mbps, but vary drastically depending on your location. Its installation procedure is also pretty straight forward.

Digital Subscriber Line

DSL uses your phone line to deliver an internet connection. The speed is usually slower than cable internet, but you can easily play online games, stream Netflix, and browse the web. If you are low on budget, then DSL may be suitable for you as it is one of the most affordable internet options.

Satellite

For this typical internet type, you need to install a dish on your rooftop that gets signals from the satellite orbiting in space. It offers up to 15 Mbps download speeds and up to 3 Mbps of upload. The best thing about satellite internet is that it is available almost everywhere, but it may cost you a little more than cable or DSL.

Fiber Optic

Fiber internet is undoubtedly the fastest internet option available. It uses special light-speed technology to provide a connection to your homes. It offers up to 65 Mbps of upload speed and up to 300 Mbps download speed. The only issue is that fiber optic is only available in limited areas. So, it depends on how lucky you are based on your residential area.

Subscribe to the Best Package

After you are done with exploring different internet types available in your area, it is now time to choose a specific plan based on your internet usage. Here are the 3 most important things that you should consider:

Download Speeds

Speeds you need to download data and files on your computer are called download speeds. If you use the internet for playing games, downloading movies, or online streaming, then you need to buy a package with good download speed for a smooth experience. Otherwise, you may face dropped connections, freezes, and other issues.

Upload Speeds

With upload speeds, you can send data through the internet to anyone. If you use the internet for back-ups or cloud storage, then you may need to invest in an internet plan that offers good upload speeds.

Data Limits

A monthly data of approximately 1000 GB of is enough to meet all your internet needs.  You can browse the web, download some movies, and enjoy Netflix for certain hours a day, but there are 2 scenarios where you may unintentionally cross this limit – these are:

  • 4K Video: Watching a high-resolution video consumes almost 4 times more data than normal quality. So, you may not be able to use your data efficiently for other purposes.
  • Zombie or smart devices: Some devices like smart appliances, security cameras, and smartwatches keep using your data secretly in the background. This dramatically affects your data consumption speed.

In this world of rapidly evolving technology, we would suggest you choose an internet package with a data cap a little more than your current needs. This way, you could later ask your ISP to increase the data cap in case your data consumption increases.

Bottom Line

Apart from the aforementioned things, we would suggest you look for plans that offer maximum value for your money, like Spectrum packages. The internet plays a great role in our daily lives. So, you should learn about your requirements and usage pattern to select the most suitable internet package for your home.