Why choose broadband?

Choosing broadband allows you to open the door to fast access to the world, all at the click of the mouse. Whether you want the quick answer to a burning question, to order your shopping online or listen to the latest music, choosing broadband makes all this possible. Read on for more ways you can benefit by choosing broadband today.

One of the main complaints about dial up internet is the download times – sometimes it can take hours to download software updates or music files. This is because dial up internet uses a 'narrowband' connection through an analogue modem that has a maximum speed of 56 kilobits per second.

Broadband internet, however, uses a wider bandwidth connection that allows more data to be transmitted in a shorter space of time at a speed of at least 512 kilobits per second and even faster. This makes broadband perfect for downloading software, security updates, music and films, sending large email attachments or simply surfing the internet without having to wait ages for the pages to download.

Another problem with dial up internet is the actual 'dial up' part. Dialling up every time you wish to use the internet can be very time consuming. A big advantage of broadband is that it is 'always on' – there is no need to dial up because your broadband connection is ready to use from the moment you log onto your computer to the moment you log off, all day every day. However, if you don’t want to have your connection on all the time then broadband still connects very quickly, so you can't lose.

When you sign up to broadband you aren't just signing up to an internet service. Broadband allows you to explore the full potential of the web and gives you access to a whole new entertainment channel full of media rich content such as film trailers, music and interactive presentations.

It doesn't have to be expensive either – with broadband you are able to sign up to a set monthly subscription. This way, you are able to use your broadband connection as much as you want, day or night, without having to worry about additional call charges and unexpectedly large phone bills. Some broadband packages do have restrictions on the amount you download or time online. The uSwitch.com broadband comparison and switching service allows you to refine your search to have no restrictions and our results clearly indicate any service restrictions that apply to a broadband package.

We've all been there – trying to get through to someone on the phone only to get a constant engaged tone, or being unable to use the phone because a family member or housemate is on the internet. Broadband has the answer to this – a broadband connection uses filters that allow your phone and internet to share the same connection, so you can use the phone and internet at the same time. This also means that you don't have to get an extra phone line – broadband internet uses filters that allow your phone and internet to share the same connection, so you can use the phone and internet at the same time!