The UK broadband market is more competitive than ever. Connection speeds are going up while subscription charges are coming down.

But shopping around for cheaper broadband Internet access can be perilous as it is all too easy to find yourself falling foul of false economy, or paying for something that looks good but that you just don’t need.

To help you navigate these oft-perilous waters we at TECC have compiled the top 5 secrets for selecting the best home broadband package.

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Get as many free extras as you can

You can get some fantastic freebies if you shop around for your broadband Internet access package.

Most providers will give you a free wireless router when you sign up for broadband access. This piece of kit is absolutely essential as without it you will not be able to connect your computer to your broadband enabled phone line.

Other freebies you can often find included with broadband packages are:

ADSL filters

These are little boxes that you must connect between your telephone(s) and the telephone sockets. They stop any interference between your phone and broadband services. You will need one ADSL filter for each phone socket to which a device (telephone, answering machine, fax machine etc.) is connected.

Free security software

Most, but not all, ISPs will offer free security software when you subscribe to a home broadband package. This software will protect your computer and all the data stored on it in the case of a malicious attack on your machine. Viruses, worms and bots are more and more prevalent every year so signing up for a broadband package with a good antivirus suite will save you a lot of trouble and a lot of heartache.

Inclusive calls

You may also qualify for free or reduced rate phone calls on certain bundles so make sure to check out all the different deals on our broadband page. These days most of us get a hefty call allowance with our mobile phone deals so land line usage is something that we often don’t consider.

However, if you do still like a good old natter on the phone you may be able save some real money by opting for inclusive calls for a small additional charge.

Data Backup

Sometimes called a Digital Vault, an inclusive data backup service is a great way to avoid the horrors of losing valuable data. With a Digital Vault you are given access to a folder of several GB into which you can backup your favourite photos, essential work documents etc. so that you will always have backup copies should your computer fail. If you take many hundreds of photographs each year then you’ll be very glad if you opt for a large data backup allowance and remember to make use of it.

Inclusive Wi-Fi access

Some ISPs will let you use your laptop or iPad wirelessly at hundreds of Wi-Fi hotspots in bars, restaurants, hotels and airports across the UK as part of your home broadband package. A lot of people never want or need to use their devices in places like this but if you travel a lot, especially for work, you may find that this option soon becomes indispensable.

Get the right download speed for your needs

In principle you should always go for the fastest connection that is available.

With a faster connection you can download files faster than with a slower connection. While this may seem obvious you may not realise that your connection speed is too low until the time comes when you need to download a large file, such as a movie, for the first time.

Over the coming years we are going to see a surge in the provision, and take-up, of on-demand content such as movie rentals. You may not be interested in services like these now but can you be sure you still won’t be in 12, 18 or 24 months time?

So, if you want to ‘future-proof’ your broadband subscription then you should sign up for fibre optic broadband if you can.

However, if you really are a light Internet user, say, someone who literally just uses their home broadband for checking their email, or for social networking through sites such as Facebook or Twitter then you really won’t need to pay through the nose for broadband packages that promise connection speeds above 8Mbps. With light usage you really wouldn’t notice the difference between this type of service when compared to an up to 100Mbps service, so why pay more than you have to?

And by opting for a slower service you can pay up to 75% less for your broadband access than you would for the fastest broadband packages.

But do be careful. As mentioned above your broadband habits may change so don’t fall into the trap of false economy.

Get the right download allowance for your needs

This can be an area where you come unstuck. You see, all broadband services come with a download allowance in one form or another, unless you opt for an unlimited allowance service.

For example, if you opt for a 10GB allowance you may find that you will incur some pretty big surcharges if you go over this limit by downloading a lot of data such as movies, especially those in high definition.

So, if you know up front that you will be downloading a lot of data then make sure that you take this into account. For example, hardcore gamers and HD movie buffs should sign up for unlimited monthly downloads.

But even then you can still get caught out.

Most ISPs include a ‘Fair Usage Policy’ in their terms and conditions. This means that, when you sign up, you are agreeing to have your monthly downloads restricted by your ISP under certain circumstances. Sadly, unlimited broadband is often not unlimited at all, so make sure to read the small print before you sign up for your broadband service.

Now for the good news: as with connection speeds, if you use the internet sparingly, or if you only use it for Facebook, Twitter and email then you can save a lot of money by opting for a monthly download allowance of10GB, or maybe even 2GB.

Consider a Broadband TV Phone bundle

Again, you will not be surprised to find that you can save money by combining your broadband package with a telephone and digital TV service.
With the digital switchover proceeding apace we are all making the switch to digital if we haven’t done so already.

By opting for a subscription digital TV service such as Sky TV, Virgin Media or BT Vision you can unlock a whole world of extra channels and great on-demand content at costs lower than you’re probably expecting.

And you can very often get great inclusive land line call deals when you go for a broadband/TV double package such as Virgin broadband and TV.

So, while you may never have thought about paying for digital TV before you may find that it makes perfect sense to do so now.

Compare Broadband Providers

This may seem to be the most obvious piece of advice so far but it is also probably the most important.

The competition in the broadband market is at fever pitch. Internet service providers are practically falling over themselves to land new customers, or to woo customers away from their rivals.

This is, of course, fantastic news for consumers. So take the time to compare broadband providers and make sure that you get the best broadband service to suit YOU.

Happy surfing!