At a time of high cost of living, bill payers need to find ways to trim excess expenses off their outgoings. 7.4 million broadband customers are out of contract and could reduce their bill without having to compromise on quality.

Broadband options in Rother

Full fibre broadband is available to 65% of households, and Superfast broadband (30Mb) is available to 97% of the area.

However, your options may be more limited if you’re the 3% that can’t get these speeds. As a guide, here are the average download speeds you should be aiming for, depending on the size of your household: .

• 1-2 people: 35Mb
• Up to 3 people: 50Mb
• Up to 5 people: 100Mb
• 5+ people: 100+Mb

If anyone in your house often carries out data-intensive online tasks, such as gaming or downloading or uploading large files, budget a bit more. But remember, with more speed, will come a higher price.

Receive Benefits or on Universal Credit

If you receive benefits and Universal Credit, it’s likely you’re eligible for a broadband social tariff.  These are normal broadband contracts but at a discounted rate.  More information and how to sign up can be found through Broadband Genie’s guide

Wireless broadband options

If you’re unlucky enough to live in an area where a decent, fixed-line connection isn’t available, there are some options available to you:

1. Mobile broadband

Widely available wireless broadband providers such as Three, EE and Vodafone have home contracts available which come with a router.

These services use a 4G or 5G connection. Use a network coverage checker before signing up. Mobile broadband is a good option for flexibility, as you’re free to take your Wi-Fi router with you, whether you go.

2. Starlink (SpaceX satellite broadband)

Starlinks low orbit broadband can beam a connection capable of 100Mb wherever you are in Rother, the UK and a large amount of the world.

However, it doesn’t come cheap. Set up costs start at £199 and then a monthly subscription is £70 a month. Because of this, we wouldn’t suggest this as a first choice, only if you have no other alternative and are able to afford it.

How to switch and reduce your bill

Broadband contracts usually run for 18 or 24 months. Once you complete this minimum term, you’re moved to a monthly rolling contract. This is usually at a higher monthly cost, also known as the loyalty penalty.

To avoid this, it pays to switch. Customers can save over £200 a year by switching providers.

In the majority of switches, when you purchase a new broadband contract, your new provider will take care of cancelling your old contract. However, this only works for providers using the Openreach network (this includes the likes of  BT, TalkTalk, Sky Broadband and EE). If you’re switching between providers out of this such as Virgin Media or an altnet like Hyperoptic, you’ll need to notify your provider you’re leaving.

You can start your switch by using trusted comparison sites such as Broadband Genie to compare deals in your area.

If you’re happy with your current provider, you may not want to leave. But it still pays to get in touch. You can still get significant savings by simply renewing your existing deal.

However, providers save their best deals for new customers, so don’t expect the deal advertised on their homepage. You can haggle this down. Remember, you don’t have to accept their first offer, and you get the best results by being kind.

Go out there and grab those savings

Reviewing your broadband contract may seem daunting, but it’s really not. A little bit of research goes a long way. It’s worth remembering, if you end up with a provider you’re not satisfied with, you have 14 days from your activation date to cancel the contract, no questions asked.

Published: 18th January 2024