Anna Maria Richards
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the need for a steady internet connection. Whether you’re working from home, binging the latest Netflix series, or helping your kids with their classwork, you want to make sure that you have the right internet plan for your household needs. Here are some tips to help you track down the best plan to satisfy all that you need to do online.
Understanding Internet Speed
The easiest way to figure out the service provider and plan for you is to explore iSelect internet plans. You’ll first want to assess what you’re using the internet for. If you live by yourself and only use the internet for work and social media, you won’t need nearly as much capacity as a family of 5 that has kids on their smartphones and laptops at all hours of the day. Applicants should be aware that the number of devices that are being operated within a household at a given time will impact the speed for most broadband plans, even if you have 10x power as advertised by an internet provider.
The times you log online will also affect your abilities to get on certain websites, especially streaming and gaming. If you’re using the internet during peak periods, like between 7 and 11 p.m., it’s recommended that you avoid downloading and uploading larger files as you could run into significant delays. Be sure to shut down applications that are running in the background. They could be slowing down your home page. Take a look at your modem. Simple settings adjustments, like removing “Quality of Service” or changing your Wi-Fi channel frequency can make a huge difference.
Access to the NBN
Beyond the usual Wi-Fi or phone connection to log on, more Australians are finding their way onto the National Broadband Network. The NBN is one of the largest infrastructure projects that Australia has undertaken. It’s designed to provide access to all of the benefits of fast and reliable internet services. The NBN uses a multi-technology mix to deliver a good thing to premises across the country. The NBN sells access to the network through internet service providers like Telstra and Optus.
Nearly 9 million Australian homes and businesses are able to connect to the NBN, with that number growing almost monthly thanks to comparison services. Completion of the project is closing in to allow for the user experience to be felt throughout the entirety of the country. By typing in your address to a compare page, you’ll be able to see whether the NBN service is available to your household or that availability is closer than ever.
Internet Providers and Discounts
When using a comparison service like iSelect, you’ll take solace in knowing that any quotes you receive are free and are not an automatic sign-on to a policy. Be sure to weigh what different internet providers have to offer you in terms of internet speed relative to the number of devices in your home and the frequency of use. If you are switching from a current service provider, be sure to check your contract to make sure that you’re not on the hook for any buyout fees or cancellation surcharges.
You can also learn of potential discounts associated with your internet connection. Based on the rankings, you may be able to bundle with a telephone line to save on both of those services. iSelect’s website makes you aware of any rebates that may be afforded to you based on the internet speed of your choice. It all starts by typing in your e-mail address and working through the options to find the right internet plan for your household.
