Choosing the right broadband package can be a difficult proposition, with so many access companies on the market today and an infinite number of tariffs. Although it may initially look like a daunting task, actually choosing the right deal for you is not that difficult if you consider some of the following points.

If you are resident in the UK, the first thing you should consider if you are not a BT customer, is whether the supplier you intend to use can actually provide you with a broadband service. Many suppliers can only provide the service if you have a BT line. If a cable company supplies your phone line your choice of supplier is greatly diminished, but there are still several companies out there for you to consider. Once this has been established you can now dive into the market and search the vast array of offers and deals that are available.

Most internet suppliers generally offer 3 types of packages, the cost of each package increases as the amount you can download per month increases. The basic package usually starts by offering a 2mb connection allowing you to download 2Gb of information per month for around £17.99 a month; this is normally enough to service the needs of the average family and many suppliers are now offering unlimited download time. Packages then increase in price as the amount of information you can download increases and as the package becomes more advanced, the more is offered to you, therefore, it is important to choose the right package for your specific needs.

Broadband suppliers are currently offering deals that include: 3 months usage at a reduced rate, free anti virus and firewall protection, up to 500 minutes free home phone usage per month, free access to music download sites for 1 month, £150.00 off a new laptop computer and much more. The more you spend within a given package the more you are offered. It is well worth searching through the various companies to see exactly what is available.

Broadband can also be accessed using wireless technology. This enables you to connect to the Internet through an enabled device such as a laptop or mobile phone from anywhere in your home. With wireless technology a receiver outside of the premises sends the signals through to connection points inside. These connection points then send data through to the computer.

If you are travelling and need to pick up important documents via email, you can access the Internet through a wireless connection at large number of public hotspots. A hotspot is an access point that is available in cafes, hotels airports etc. They broadcast a standard wireless frequency up to approx 100 metres, enabling a connection to be made to the Internet through your equipment. Most of the major broadband suppliers now offer a wireless broadband option.

Some broadband access suppliers now offer a facility where you can use your broadband connection as an extra telephone line. By using your existing broadband connection it is possible to route calls via a telephone exchange to the number dialled. Effectively this technology gives you the benefits of having an additional phone line without the need to have a new line installed. Using a telephone adaptor appropriate to your broadband connection and a standard handset you can make calls without the need for microphones and earphones. It is possible to call local, national and internationally and also to mobiles; the cost is reasonable and can be covered either per minute or by a one off monthly payment.

The market to supply broadband is very competitive and this can only be a good thing for the consumer. As companies offer more and more within their packages, a little research of the market will ensure that you get a good deal when you sign up to the services and you will find the package that is right for you.

Norbert Wartle writes on consumer issues for Cheapest Utility Suppliers.

You can read his other articles on Internet Access.