Whether you want to stream your favourite movies and TV shows, listen to your Spotify playlists or study for your course, good broadband is one of the main things you’re going to want to sort out when you move into your new student/shared house.
Here at Split The Bills, we’re here to help you navigate the world of student broadband, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your needs. Let’s have a look at the different types of broadband and what makes each one unique.
Student broadband is no different to the regular broadband you’re probably using at home but it provides a number of benefits that are unique to students.
For example, normal broadband packages require you to sign contracts that can last up to two years. When you’ve only signed to live in your shared house for 12 months or less, these long-term contracts are no good for you!
When you’re looking around for a student or professional let broadband deal, you might find there are different types of broadband available.
All broadband providers and services offer the same thing – connection to the internet. However, the speed and connectivity can vary.
You may find that, depending on where you live, you have access to different types of broadband, so understanding what’s available to you can help you choose the best deal for your student home.
ADSL broadband
This operates through the telephone lines with varying upload and download speeds. It’s perfect for light web browsing and streaming standard-definition videos, but isn’t always powerful enough for more strenuous usage.
Fibre optic broadband
Also known as optical fibre broadband, this type of broadband uses thin glass or plastic fibres to transmit data through light signals.
It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for high-speed and reliable connectivity – something that’s going to be essential if you’ve got a deadline to meet! It’s also great for a house where you’ve got multiple people and devices accessing the internet at the same time.
While fibre broadband is available in most big cities, if you’re living further out, you might not have access to it.
Mobile broadband
This type of broadband uses cellular networks so you can access the internet on devices such as your smartphone or tablet. It’s great for providing you with connectivity on the move – for example if you wanted to study somewhere other than your student house for a change of scenery.
However, speed and reliability can vary depending on the coverage in your area and the usage of the network. It’s great for quick browsing on the move but won’t offer you the same speed or reliability as fibre optic broadband.
What should I go for? If you’re living in a student/shared property with three or more people accessing the internet at the same time to stream, make video calls, study or play games, fibre optic broadband is probably going to be the most reliable – it has a good chance of stopping arguments or frustration if someone has a deadline and can’t get on the internet!
While you’re at uni, you’re going to be downloading lecture documents and resources. You’ll probably also be streaming TV shows or movies during your downtime or even taking part in some online gaming – and so will your housemates!
So, depending on the size of your house, you’re going to need a broadband package that offers a decent speed. If your download speed is too low, you and your housemates are likley to become infuriated when you can’t watch your favourite movies or, even worse, watch your favourite TV show after a long day of studying.
Here are the speeds available and how many people they can be used for:
When do you need to sort broadband?
Once you have a move in date for your shared house or you know when most people are going to start living there, start sorting out your package and get an installation date set as soon as you can! The last thing you want is to be moving in when you’ve got assignments to start and have to live without an internet connection for a few weeks!
How do you set up student broadband?
You’ll need to find the right package for you and your house as well as decide between you and your housemates about who is going to sort payment or how you’re going to pay for your package on a monthly basis.
Once you’ve signed up and sorted the contract, an engineer will usually visit the property if the connection the last tenants used was from a different internet provider.
Your provider will send the equipment you need and you’ll be able to get set up and running within a few days of your contract starting.
Choosing the right broadband package can be tricky, not to mention trying to work out how you’re going to split the payments between all of your housemates. A bill-splitting service can often be the simplest solution to avoid arguments and sort your household bills with minimal hassle.
Our bill package at Split The Bills includes uncapped energy, water, your choice of broadband speed and the option to include a TV Licence (if you want to watch live TV). We offer Virgin Media Fibre broadband with speeds from 80 Mbps to 1000 Mbps, so choosing the perfect internet speed for your shared house couldn’t be easier.
Get a monthly price for your household bills today. Or speak to a member of our team if you’re still unsure which type of broadband will work best for your shared house – we’ll be happy to help!
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
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