Student Broadband- The reason why Compare UK Offers
Why don't we first caters for the dilemma of broadband internet; considering examine UK promotions? The fundamental purpose is always to spend less. Students tend to be on a tight budget and may make use of all of the enough cash they are able to obtain, as well as looking at offers will probably indicate being sure getting the lowest prices you can get on a package, and that could end up saving you hundreds of pounds per year.
There is also the question of getting exactly what you need though. Students have fairly specific needs in terms of choosing a package, and so we are looking for something which is pretty well defined. This does make the comparison process easier, however, and it should not take you too long to find what you need for a good price.
The good news is that with so many broadband providers in the UK (you can find a full list of options here) and so many different packages, you should be able to find the perfect deal for you who will give you exactly want you want for an affordable price.
What Are We Looking For?
There are a few things which we are specifically looking for in a student broadband plan, and we will identify them one by one below.
When it comes to what kind of Internet you want (ADSL, cable, fibre optic, mobile) students often find that their choices are restricted. If you are living in rented accommodation you may not be able to install a new phone line, or cable TV connection, for example, so you might find that your method of getting broadband is limited to the connections which are already in your house. Generally, this is going to mean going with an ADSL connection that uses existing phone lines, though you should discuss this issue with your landlord.
Download limits are another concern. Chances are that you are going to be online a lot, and many students are looking for connections which are going to be shared between flatmates, so really you should be looking at plans which are unlimited, or that at the very least have high download caps, around 15 GB for a two person shared connection. You do not want to risk extra charges or slowed speeds because you have exceeded your monthly limit.
Are you going to bundle? Many broadband plans are going to give you more than just an Internet connection, often including home phone services or cable TV services as well. These deals can be cheap, but again, if you are in rented accommodation you may not be able to use them. Do not opt for a package which is going to give you something you do not need, since that is just going to be a waste of money.
Finally, you will need to think about contract length, and this can be a big problem for student broadband. Probably you are not going to be in the same accommodation for a long time. You might be planning on moving at the end of the school year, or spending your summer holidays away from your flat. This can make signing long, two year contracts unrealistic.
You will find shorter contracts; there are even providers who give you monthly contracts, which may be more convenient for you since you can cancel the service whenever you want, though a monthly plan will be a little more costly than a yearly one. You will have to think carefully about signing a long contract, since defaulting on the contract can harm your credit rating, and cancelling a contract will cost you big time.
How to Compare Your Deals
Fortunately, using the Internet makes it pretty easy to compare your options. All you need to do is find a broadband price comparison site. You can then filter the kind of packages you are looking for and find out which is going to be cheapest and best suited to your needs. Do remember though that many of these sites quote online prices, since prices are cheaper for signing up online, so you might need your credit card to do a little online shopping for your broadband package.
What are Some Great Student-Friendly Deals?
One of the best deals on the market for students comes from TalkTalk. It is an ADSL connection, so you will only need a phone line, and it is also an unlimited download contract, so no worrying about limits. It does include phone services, but you only have to pay for calls you actually make, so you are not paying extra for a calling allowance. It is also a twelve month contract, so it is less than the two year average, and it only costs ?2.50 per month.
Another great student option comes from EE. It is also a twelve month contract as well as having unlimited downloads, and again it is an ADSL connection. You will get some phone services included, unlimited free weekend calling this time, and you will get a free wireless router and free installation as well. All of this is going to cost you just ?3 per month.
If you are looking to get TV services with your broadband, your options are more expensive and more limited if you are looking for short term solutions. The cheapest twelve month contract which includes TV is from Sky, costs ?16 per month and only gives you a 2 GB download cap, which is small. You do get over forty premium TV channels, however.
Going up to an eighteen month contract including TV you get much better deals, like this one from BT. Unlimited broadband, seventy TV channels, and free weekend calling for only ?5 per month. The contract length may, however, prove a problem if you are not sure about next year's accommodation yet.
