During this unprecedented time, working from home has become the new norm. We have found that many are having problems with poor internet connections due to the new load on home internet connections.
Choosing an internet service provider (ISP) can be a daunting task, as there are many to choose from and no one provider necessarily suits all needs. Therefore we have compiled a list of some with good service and reliable connections.
When choosing a home internet connection, keep in mind the amount you will use it and the speed that will meet your needs. For most people working from home, the following points are true:
- Fibre (also called FTTC) and cable connections are best.
- Older broadband (also called ADSL) connections are around four times slower, but may be the only option in rural locations.
- A minimum download speed of 20 Mbps is recommended.
- Higher speeds of 60–80 Mbps are better for multiple users, and these speeds should be possible with standard fibre and cable connections.
- Fibre connections that come into your home (also called FTTP) can offer even faster speeds of 300+ Mbps, although these are less widely available.
- Ensure that you choose a service that has a usage allowance large enough for both your home working and other uses – an unlimited service is best as there’s no allowance to worry about and no hidden charges.
Andrews & Arnold
You’ve probably not heard of them but A&A have been rated the very best ISP in the UK for many years running. A&A provide great connections, excellent and personal customer service, although they are more expensive than other mainstream providers as a result.
Circa £35–65 per month
Zen Internet
Zen has been reviewed as one of the best mainstream ISPs, with outstanding customer service, and their services are widely available. Zen offer good services for the home with 10–300 Mbps speeds, depending on the type of connection.
Circa £30–50 per month
Hyperoptic
Hyperoptic is a relatively new ISP, which provides extremely fast connections (50 Mbps to 1 Gbps (that’s 1,000 Mbps!) at a low price by installing their network directly into buildings. The down side to this is that their coverage tends to be in large city centres and apartment buildings only. You can check their availability for your home here.
Circa £22–60 per month
Virgin Media
Virgin is the only mainstream cable ISP and provides some of the best broadband speeds for the residential market – 54–362 Mbps. It is important to note that the speeds they show are actually “average speeds”, and your connection will likely be around 50% of the listed service speed. Virgin connections also suffer from slowing down during peak times of use because of the way the cable technology works. To check if cable is available for your home, enter your postcode here.
Circa £28–43 per month
Sky
Sky is quite a reliable choice and is worth considering if you wish to use their TV services as well – as you can choose a service that bundles phone, internet and TV together. They offer comparable prices to most, but lower broadband speeds of 11–59 Mbps.
Circa £22–27 per month
All the above prices include VAT.
You can find the providers available to you at your specific location via this handy website. You can also check your location’s capabilities for fibre here.
