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Internet connections have become an important part of most households and businesses. Like other utilities, you need to choose a package from one of the multiple Internet Service Providers. A simple search on any browser can overwhelm you once you explore the available options. But how do you go about choosing the best cheap internet service? You may be running an online business, working from home, attending classes online. In short, there are a lot of reasons why you may need an internet connection at your home. To better understand how to choose an ISP for your house, let us have a look at some key factors that have to be considered.
Number of Users
One of the main factors you have to consider is the number of users in each household. If it’s a single-person household, a connection with a speed of 3 to 8 Mbps is sufficient. This speed can allow a single person to stream videos, listen to music, hold video conferences, and browse the web simultaneously. According to Netflix, you require a minimum speed of 5Mbps to stream High Definition videos.
For two-person households, 3 to 8 Mbps speed is sufficientonly for basic tasks such as web browsing, checking, and responding to emails. For heavy-duty tasks, you will require an internet connection with speeds up to 25Mbps. For three to four users, 25Mbps speed is sufficient to operate on multiple devices. For multiple users with gaming needs, you may require even higher speeds.
Availability
Internet connections are not necessarily available in rural and suburban areas. You need to check what options are available in your location before you begin making your decision. Cable and fiber-optic networks may be harder to avail in rural areas, but you may be able to opt for satellite connections. Fortunately, satellite connections have improved vastly over the past few years. You can also opt for some type of broadband connection or mobile data plan.
Speed
If you are running an online business, you need an internet connection with sufficient speeds to ensure that you are in touch with your customers at all times. Speed is an important factor when choosing the package and should work quickly even at higher demands.
Gamers have high demands too. They require fast connections to access and play their games online without any lags or delays. If your area is covered by the ISPs,you can get a high-speed connection of up to 1000Mbps if you require it.
One thing you need to remember is that the speed advertised by the various ISPs is not exactly the speed that you will get. You should chat with a representative from the ISP to understand what speed you will be getting.
Download and upload speeds can vary as well. There are a lot of functions in the computer using up some of the speed in the background. You are left with a fraction of the speed to dedicate to your downloads and uploads.
Cost
The most suitable ISP for you has to have a balance between the internet speed and its price. The higher the speed of the connection, the higher it will cost you. If you need lower speeds, you can find an affordable package easily.
For multiple-person households, the cost of the internet package can be higher. The more the number of devices, the higher the internet demand. Lower internet speeds in such households can become a burden for everyone and cause excessive delays.
If you are running a business, you need an internet connection that doesn’t stall. You need to be in touch with your customers at all times and ensure that the business is online. An internet package that costs up to $1000 may be too much for a two-person household but seem like a no-brainer to a growing business.
Type of Connection
Internet connections are provided in various ways to all households. Fiber connections are the fastest options available and use fiber-optic cables to transmit large amounts of data at high speeds. Fiber connections are not available in all areas due to their high infrastructure costs.
Cable connections use the same cables that transmit TV signals to provide broadband transmission. DSL connections utilize the cables used for phone lines to allow broadband transmissions. 4G connections are available through your mobile provider if you live in an area with limited options.
The satellite connections are offered in many areas but are usually slower than other connections. This is understandable because, in satellite internet, your provider sends a signal to the satellite in the orbit, after which it is sent back to you via your satellite dish. This step takes a lot longer than the other connections and significantly reduces the speed of the connection.
Reliability
The reliability of internet connections is very important for many individuals depending upon their needs. In the case of online businesses, an unreliable network can cause them to lose customers and sales, which can greatly impact their website’s reputation. If you need a reliable ISP, you should opt for one that provides a Service Level Agreement (SLA).
A reliable connection is also necessary if you are working from home and need to be in touch with your superiors and employees at all times. A dependable connection is also critical if you are enrolled in an online university and are required to take classes to meet minimum attendance.
Final Thoughts
Once you are aware of your needs, the choice can get a lot simpler for you. You need to consider the users in the household, your demands, the packages you can afford, and the connection that you can get. After you have this figured out, you can make the decision easily. You can visit BuyTVInternetPhone to explore various internet providers and plans available near you.