If you are looking for a new internet service and are struggling with the questions “there is internet available near me?” or “do I have an ISP near me?”, now you can stop worrying. We have your back.
Knowing which is the best internet plan in your region is never an easy task. There are several factors that influence this answer, such as: price, coverage, product technology, among others. To help you in this search, we have separated some tips of what to look for. Check out!
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What you need to think about when you choose an ISP?
1 . Local providers and large national operators
Local internet providers have become popular in the country in recent years and have gained a large share of the market. They are present in smaller cities and regions further away from the capitals. Some smaller providers are also present in urban centers and offer cost-effective plans with good connection speed.
Large operators are still an option for consumers who need speed, greater offer of plans, connection stability and can pay extra for it. They also have an extensive customer service network and specialized technical assistance, which can make a difference in case of network unavailability problems.
2 . Consumption needs
First, it is important that you assess your usage needs. This helps you understand the access, upload and download speed you should be looking for in the market. Also, consider how many people will be using the service. We have some recommendations to help you understand your profile:
- 1 Mbps internet: suitable for those who use the network little, just for emails, news and social networks;
- 5 Mbps internet: best for viewing videos, light downloads and video calling;
- 10 Mbps internet: suitable for those who are always connected, ideal for watching a lot of videos, social networks faster;
- 20 Mbps internet: faster data loading, even long movies, and use for online games;
- 50, 100 and up to 300 Mbps internet: aimed at those who have many connected devices (a family with many users, for example) and for uploading high quality videos.
Remember that many plans offer unlimited access but reduce download or upload speed. So, ask about the difference in speeds for each plane. Also, always consider the number of people and devices connected to the internet to choose your plan.
3 . Negotiation
Many people who are searching “internet available near me” or “ISP near me” are content to research the packages offered by companies and choose the most cost-effective one to hire. While it is possible to achieve attractive values like this, there is a way to go further.
Our tip is to negotiate with companies, especially if you have a favorite — whether for signal quality, good service or other reasons. Take advantage of the quotes other companies have given you to make a good deal.
Get in touch with the company you like and inform them about competitors’ prices. Therefore, it can offer better discounts to win her subscription. Thus, it becomes possible to get an ideal plan for your use and pay less for it.
The best strategy to be able to trade well is to be armed with information. Find out which is the ideal data package for your home and write down all the values offered by the different companies. By doing this, you avoid unnecessarily contracting larger plans or facing problems with insufficient internet in the package that is contracted.
4 . Different technologies
As you start researching internet services you will notice that there are different technologies in this area. The characteristics of the plan, as well as its quality and price, can vary from one to the other.
Considering this, the best thing is to know each of these technologies. That way, it’s easier to decide which one best suits your home’s needs. See the main details involved in this.
- Cable internet
This is usually the internet offered by large and traditional companies in this area. In this case, the internet is transmitted by cables connected to the property’s electrical network. The advantage of this technology is the higher speed.
However, the dependence on the electricity grid generates the disadvantage of facing a fall on the internet when there are energy problems in the home.
- Optical fiber
Fiber optic internet uses a light pulse technology. As a result, it is independent of the power grid and does not present instabilities when there are outages in the electricity service.
This type also has good speed, but has the disadvantage of not being available in many places. This is because the fiber network is not easy to install.
- 4G broadband
4G internet — which is often used on cell phones — is also available for homes. Due to its wireless technology, it is normally used in more distant locations, where there are no cable or fiber optic connections.
In addition, some telephone operators or pay TV companies offer combos with 4G internet. It is worth checking the discounts promoted by them. Disadvantages are the limit for data consumption and possible signal instability.
- Internet via radio
Radio internet services also work without the need for cabling. In this case, the internet signal is transmitted by antennas. The benefit of this option is that you don’t face problems related to cable difficulties.
However, the radio connection generally has more limited speeds. And it may be necessary to face instabilities in the signal after the occurrence of rain. It is important to be aware of these details before contracting a plan.
- Satellite internet
Finally, there is satellite technology. This is another alternative for locations away from services that use cabling. As the signal is transmitted via satellite, there is no need to install wires.
One downside of this type of service is that prices are generally higher than other options. Signal instability is another problem.
From the analysis of these points that we present throughout the text, it will be easier to choose the ideal residential internet for you and your family.