by Have you moved into your new, cozy home? Well, congratulations on the move! Hope you have settled in. Is it finally time to tackle the ultimate modern-age challenge yet? We bet it is and yes, we are referring to choosing the perfect internet plan for your house.
It will not be wrong to say that a steady internet connection is the backbone of a happy home. From accessing online courses for your children to attending your Skype and Zoom calls at home, there is no way we can do things without the internet. Not to mention the late night horror movies on Netflix with the lights off for a spine-chilling experience with your friends.
Nevertheless, with so many options out there, choosing the best internet plan for your house can be a total nightmare. Worried about facing slow speeds? Terror of data caps? What if there are hidden charges? Fret not, because we will help you consider all the factors that are important when settling on an internet plan.
Fun Fact: By Nov 2021, a whopping 82% of US citizens aged 25-44 were connected to the internet, while 69% of seniors aged 65 also enjoyed being online.
Key Considerations When Choosing Internet Plans for Home
Choosing the best internet plan might sound like a 5-minute decision but it needs time, thorough research, and consideration. You need to make sure that the final plan aligns with the usage and budget constraints. It is also important to double check the reliability of the provider, so that you do not face data limitations and other such issues in the future.
So, before further delay, let us quickly go through all the considerations.
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Speed of the Internet Plan
The first thing that you must pay attention to is the internet speed that suits and matches your needs and requirements. How many family members are there? Do you work from home and need steady internet access at all times? Or you just need it to casually scroll through Instagram and twitter?
For all the basic needs, a plan with 35-50 Mbps should be enough. This will include checking and sending emails, updating statuses on Facebook and making calls on WhatsApp. However, for households with a lot of people that enjoys streaming 4K videos, online games and work like cloud computing and graphic designing, speeds higher than 200 Mbps are necessary. It is best to go with a provider that comes with zero data limits, such as Xfinity internet. The plans are pretty affordable and speed will never be an issue with this provider. Additionally, the customer service is really good as they cater to customer queries promptly.
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Type of Connection
We know how much speed is required, which means next step is to choose the connection type accordingly. You might know that there are different types of connections, all with different speeds. It would be easier to choose internet plans for home if you are certain about the connection type. Below are some of the connection types:
Fiber-Optic: If you are looking for a high-speed internet that is reliable as well, fiber-optic is the best option for you. This connection offers up to 2000 Mbps. Great for streaming movies, playing online games, and work from home purposes.
Cable: For moderate to high-internet needs, cable is a reliable option. The speeds cable provide are up to 500 Mbps, which is not bad. Again a good choice for work from home and streaming 4K videos online.
Satellite: This is the connection type that is best for people living in the rural areas as it offers internet via satellite. The speeds are between 12 to 100 Mbps only, although the latency is pretty high. If other options are not available to you, satellite will do the job.
DSL: If the internet usage at your home is light, then DSL is a good option. The speeds are even lower in this case, ranging from 5 to 100 Mbps.
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Price of the Plan
Price of the plan is another important factor to keep in mind when making a purchase. Here is why:
Firstly, for many users, the cost of an internet plan must fit within a certain budget; otherwise, they will prioritize affordability over important features. Please don’t do that.
Secondly, there are some users that research and evaluate to see whether the price justifies the quality of service offered by the provider. This is a really good approach and you must do the same. Make sure to consider data limits, connection type, speed and contract type. It is always wise to go with a plan offering high-speed and reliable service at a competitive price.
Thirdly, make sure to compare plans offered by different providers. This way, you can get a hand on better deals while saving some bucks. However, pay attention to the hidden charges that we often forget to ask about and inquire.
Choosing an internet plan for your new home is indeed a difficult task. You need to double-check data requirements, the speed and budget. It is also important to assess the household’s internet usage, so that you can opt for a plan accordingly. Be careful when evaluating these factors and don’t decide in a hurry. Take as much time as you need, so that you won’t have second thoughts later.
Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments section below.
