A good Wi-Fi connection is a modern-day necessity. The internet is integrated into our lives to the extent that most of us struggle to imagine life without it. Given the importance of a good internet connection holds in our lives, choosing an internet service provider requires a lot of research. Many find the process of selecting an ISP incredibly daunting as there are too many options and little time.
What should you search for online before making a decision? Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when choosing an internet service provider.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an ISP
A lot goes into finding the right internet service provider. One wrong decision could leave you stuck with terrible internet service and a year-long contract backed by a nasty cancellation fee. You can avoid the nightmare by doing some research on your ISP before making any commitments. Here are a few factors you should consider:
Location
The first factorto consider is the number of ISPs providing internet coverage in your area. Thereis a difference in coverage between carriers. Look for fiber, hybrid, or cable internet providers in your area and make compare their performance to find the best one.
You can use a postcode locator or an online zip code finder to search if certain ISPs offer their servicesnear you. Keep in mind that internet plans, data caps, and terms and conditions can vary according to areas, so do not just rely on word of mouth do your research before investing in an internet plan.
Internet Speeds
The next most important thing is the download and upload speeds offered by the provider. What is the difference between the two? Well, decent download speeds are important for online gaming, downloading files, and browsing the web. With good download speeds, you will be able to do all these tasks swiftly.
Whereas, upload speeds affect video conferencing quality, the time it takes to upload large files, and more. Good upload speeds will streamline these tasks.Download and upload speeds are measured in Mbps and are advertised on the internet plan. In general, costlier plans offer better internet speeds.
While choosing an internet plan, consider your internet activity. What do you largely use the internet for? Select a plan that offers the best internet speeds for your internet usage.
Connection Type
Providers offer different connection types for different locations. If you are lucky enough to have access to multiple connection types, choose the fastest out of the lot. Most people are stuck with a single connection type that is painfully slow such as Satellite internet or DSL. Fiber internet is the best option as it is reliable, and offers symmetric download, and upload speeds. Fiber as of now has limited coverage. If you live on the West Coast, you are in luck as Wave Broadband offers fiber-backed internet plans with download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps. Click here to learn more about them.
Bandwidth
Who wants their internet service to be interrupted or for it to be so slow that it interferes with their everyday tasks? We all heavily depend on uninterrupted Internet service whether it is for work, school, or leisure. This makes bandwidth and speeds crucial considerations when selecting an ISP for your company.
If you have a smart home with multiple devices connected to the internet or a big household with heavy-duty internet users, you need an internet connection that can back this kind of usage. Without enough bandwidth, your home network would be congested and you would experience lag, latency, and slow speeds across devices.
Reliability
Internet plans do not come cheap and a stable internet service is the modern-day requirement. For this reason, nobody wants to be stuck with an internet connection that lags, experiences frequent backgrounds, or is prone to throttling. Before investing in an ISP, research their reputation and the quality of connection they offer. In case of a breakdown, a reliable ISP would keep its customers informed on how situations will be fixed and how many days it will take to set up a new connection.
Customer Service
You may need to get in touch with your ISP’s customer service for many reasons from installation to inquiries about billing, technical support, and plan upgrades. Excellent customer support from your ISP goes a long way. It is crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure that you receive high-quality support for your internet services.You can also judge the quality of their service bythe support team’s response time.
Check user reviews on websites like Quora and Reddit before purchasing an internet connection to get a sense of the customer service offered by various ISPs. You should also look into personal blogs, which might give you the right impression because several online platforms might be posting paid reviews.
Equipment
One of the most important considerations to make while choosing an ISP is the equipment they offer. If you plan to rent the equipment from your ISP, compare the equipment prices and specs across providers. Over time, high equipment prices can add up therefore, invest in an ISP with decently priced equipment.
Security
Data security isone of the most crucial factors to consider when selecting the ideal ISP for your home network. Your wireless connection should be encrypted so hackers are unable to gain access to your personal information. Furthermore, look for ISPs offering security add-ons like antivirus software to protect your devices against viruses and hacking attempts and to ensure a safe browsing experience.
Contract and Price
You might have noticed some exclusive promotional and bundle deals offered by ISPs. Such deals offer reduced prices for some time and typically require you to commit to a contract. While signing a contract, keep in mind that the prices will go up after the contract period is over. Furthermore, contracts can have hidden terms like cancellation fees. If you cancel or try to opt out of the contract before its duration is up, you will be fined.
When looking for an ISP, keep in mind that the upfront cost is usually less than what the actual internet installation would cost you. You do not just have to pay for the plan, there are installation charges, activation charges, and equipment rental charges if you do not own a router/modem.
The Fine Print
You would be surprised at how much is hidden in the fine print of the terms and conditions that people skip over. We recommend reading the fine print so you are aware of the small details like data caps, taxes, and plan limitations that affect your overall internet experience.
In a Nutshell
Selecting an internet service provider is an exhausting process of sorting through many providers and internet plans. However, as long as you follow these tips you should not struggle too much with it. For those of you living on the West Coast, we recommend giving Wave broadband a shot. Get in touch with Wave broadband customer service to learn about their internet plans and offerings.