For anyone living at home or running a business, having an internet connection is a basic necessity. Without it, you simply cannot function. This is why you are constantly making sure you have a reliable internet connection to meet your online needs at all times.
But while you are on your search to find the right internet connection, it can be quite a challenge. You are probably not happy with your current one and want to switch to a new one. Or, you are moving to a new place and aren’t familiar with the available providers.
Well, look no more. This guide empowers you with the necessary knowledge to find the perfect companion for all your internet related needs.
5 Tips on Finding the Right Internet Service Provider
Here is the step-by-step guide to consider when looking for an internet connection:
What Providers Are Available?
In the US, there are approximately twenty-eight hundred internet service providers.
Most of these internet service providers offer their services on a national scale but that doesn’t mean that their services are available in all zip codes.
Whatever internet service provider you were subscribed to back home; you won’t find the same one in your new locality. For instance, if you enjoyed being subscribed to Xfinity Internet, you might not be able to find Xfinity in your new location since Xfinity is only available in around 41 states in the US.
Hence, you need to determine first what zip code you reside in and what internet service providers are available in your region. And if you do find the same internet provider as the one back home, their internet service might cost more than it did in the other location.
However, it can be the other way around as well.
What Are Your Internet Needs?
What do you need the internet for? If you just need it for surfing through websites or apps or checking emails, then you can get away with using just the lowest-speed internet connection. For this, you don’t need to go for more than a 50Mbps internet plan.
However, if you are going to be streaming videos or playing online multiplayer games, then you need to look into a high-speed internet connection i.e., more than 100Mbps.
Another factor that must be kept in mind is that the kind of internet you get also depends on the number of devices that will be using the internet connection. If you live in a household that has multiple devices connecting to the internet, all busy with online activities such as videoconferencing, streaming, accessing cloud data, downloading/uploading, etc. then you need high-speed internet to meet all their demands and vice versa.
How Much Can You Afford?
Now that you have narrowed down your internet connection needs, you can start to assess the internet plans that internet service providers have designed for you. You can also compare the prices of these plans and choose the one that best suits your criteria.
Do keep in mind that the prices that ISPs have promoted in their internet plans only apply for a year or two, after which they are increased. While promotional prices are relatively affordable, you still need to prepare yourself for additional costs.
Along with the prices of the internet plans, you can check out other prices that are included such as the cost of equipment, their installation, exceeding-the-data-cap fee, etc. Moreover, a bundle option is also a possibility, since most internet service providers allow you to bundle your internet with a TV plan. This allows you to save more in the longer run.
Are There Any Special Features or Add-Ons?
Some internet service providers offer perks and benefits to help you continue to use their services. They might offer a free router instead of advising you to buy a new one. Or they might allow you to get your third-party router to connect to their internet service.
Other perks include online backup services, antivirus software programs, website hosting, free Wi-Fi hotspots, etc.
What is Their Customer Service Like?
You need to constantly make sure that your internet connection is reliable. Especially if you need it for professional gaming or work-related purposes. In such a case, you need a customer service team that helps you to get your internet running again in no time.
You can get an idea about the kind of customer service they have by calling them yourself to ask about their services. Or you can send them an email to learn how responsive they are.
However, do keep in mind that, for many internet service providers, customer service experience and reliability of internet service can vary in different parts of the country.
Final Word
Doing a little research on all these above-mentioned factors will get you a long way toward finding an internet connection that perfectly fits your online needs.
