If there is one thing we realized in 2020, it’s that we took the internet for granted. Stuck at home during the pandemic, we relied on our WiFi just about every single day from social media to working remotely to watching just about everything Netflix and Hulu had to offer.
When trying to figure out your home internet situation, it is important to see what internet providers have to offer for you in terms of speed, cost, and most of all, efficiency, to make sure that you’re not left scrambling for a signal when you need it most.
Connectivity and Speed
When deciding on an internet provider, it’s best to assess the internet usage in your home. If there are multiple people in your household, you want to be able to have enough internet capability for everything to work or play seamlessly without lag or interruption in service. For example, streaming on Netflix requires up to 3 GB per hour per device for HD quality videos and 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD.
Internet speed for a computer network depends on the amount of data your internet plan has access to, and the speeds it can reach. Some plans usually come with around 200 GB of data. This is serviceable for casual browsers on the World Wide Web, checking social media and electronic mail. However, it’s good to look into plans with a little more of a data cushion for streaming or work-related services like virtual workshops and online classes. Providers are now branching out into unlimited data plans among regional internet registries to best provide continued coverage no matter who is online at any time.
Cost and Discounts
You want the best internet service that money can buy, but you also don’t want to break the bank just to get online. Be sure to compare costs upon providers to see what can provide the right amount of your data for your household without forcing you to make other financial sacrifices.
There are broadband options available for access to the World Wide Web that is definitely much more inexpensive but is designed for basic internet usage. Rather than this fixed-line service, wireless internet, or Wi-Fi, allows quick access to apps like Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more. It often accesses a 4G or 5G network with limited wires and the use of a modem. This coverage comes with a variety of data packages, but also has the expense of equipment like modems and routers.
Some internet providers also offer discounts for bundling with other items in your home like cable and phone coverage. Some employers may also have discounts available that can cut into your monthly bill to keep you online.
National Broadband Network
The National Broadband Network, or NBN, is Australia’s wholesale internet provider that is being established in various areas across the country with each passing day. The NBN uses a multi-technology mix with existing hybrid fiber-coaxial networks, connecting it to high-speed fiber cables to create this network of networks.
The NBN sells access to ISPs like Telstra and Optus. Telecompanies will alert users to the presence of the NBN in their area, noting the top speed the NBN plan can achieve, as well as its average speed during the busy part of the evening of 7-11 PM.
ISPs promote the National Broadband Network with varying speeds and data coverage in place for their internet protocols. This can be a basic coverage option of up to 12 megabits per second in speed for a basic internet connection to the premium option of up to 100 megabits per second. Whatever your Internet needs are, there is something to cater to any internet usage.
