For most people internet connectivity is an integral part of their lives, be it for their work or for staying connected with their friends and family. Having a slow or unreliable internet connection can greatly impact your day-to-day functioning and with a number of internet service providers and plans available, it is no longer something that you need to put up with.
Here’s how you can get the perfect internet connection for your needs:
Selecting the Right Internet Provider
Cable Internet: Cable Internet is a high-speed internet option that is easily available with most people getting internet connectivity from their cable provider.
Direct Subscriber Line: Direct Subscriber Line (DSL) is a reliable and affordable option that is delivered through your phone line.
Satellite: Although widely available, satellite internet services tend to be expensive and work well for areas where other providers may not be available.
Fiber Optic Service: Fiber Optic Services use light-speed technology via an optic network to deliver what are, by far, the fastest speeds available.
The best internet experience is provided by Fiber Optic Services. However, these are only available in 16 states at the moment. The next best alternative is getting cable internet which tends to be faster than DSL services.
Selecting the Right Internet Plan
Download Speeds: This is the speed at which you are able to download data to your computer and is required for smooth streaming, downloading, or playing video games.
Upload Speeds: This is the speed at which you can data from your computer to somewhere else on the internet, and is required if you are running a server or regularly accessing cloud-based storage.
Data Limits: ISPs today cap the data that you can download as part of your plan. While 1000 GB a month is a standard rate and usually sufficient, you can opt for a higher or lower data limit depending on your usage.
Plan for The Future: With technological advancements, you can expect your data consumption to rise with time. This is especially important to consider if you are looking to sign a long-term contract with your internet service provider.
Service Level Agreement: Before selecting an internet plan, check the terms of your copy of the Service Level Agreement. A few important terms to keep in mind include the minimum speed and service availability that is to be guaranteed by the ISP.
