Today, many service providers offer broadband packages that cater to the growing market of people who download huge amounts of data every month. If you're someone who loves music, movies and peer-to-peer downloading, and you're fed up with continually going over your data allocation, a heavy-use broadband plan may be the best choice of plan for you!
Top Broadband Plans for Heavy Internet Users
Over recent years, more and more of us have become reliant on broadband services for a wide range of purposes from casual use and entertainment to business use. People of all ages are using broadband these days for a range of different purposes and at all times of the day. The always on connection that comes with broadband means that people can get online in a flash and do the things that they want, whether it is sending an email or two, social networking, browsing the web, streaming data, conducting transactions or playing games.Whilst the popularity and use of broadband has soared over the past few years, one thing that can vary from user to user is the level to which the broadband service is used. For example, some people who have a broadband service tend to be light users who simply do things such as check and send emails, do a little surfing and perhaps use social networking sites to see what friends are up to. However, there are others who use their service for things such as online gaming, streaming data and businesses purposes, which could result in them requiring heavy use
broadband plans.
What is heavy-use broadband?
Heavy-use broadband is a type of internet plan which either has an extremely large data allocation (500+ GB) or is without any data limits (also known as unlimited broadband). Heavy-use broadband users can download, stream, watch, game and surf to their hearts' content without having to worry too much about capped speeds and excess usage fees! Many businesses run their operations through heavy-use and unlimited broadband plans because they are given complete peace of mind. Today, many service providers advertise heavy usage plans for a relatively minimal cost, starting from $50 + per month.
Who is heavy-use broadband best for?
Heavy-use broadband is particularly aimed at heavy bandwidth consumers like families, gamers, multimedia users and business people. Such a plan would be ideal for families and businesses with multiple users and different data usages, as well as being perfect for heavy downloaders and gamers who want to enjoy their movies and their games without any strings attached.
Which heavy-use broadband plan is best for me?
Unlike many unlimited plans (which are not available through the large service providers like Telstra and Optus for various reasons), all service providers sell heavy-use broadband plans. Entry level heavy-use plans give data allocations of 120GB per month but can range up to 1TB. If you're looking to bundle home phone and/or cable T.V., then Optus' Fusion plans cannot be beaten for value, starting off at $64.95 per month. If you're simply looking for
naked broadband, heavy use plans typically start at around $50, but can increase to $80 for 1TB data allocations.If you're looking for unlimited plans, you may need to turn to the lesser known companies like Dodo and TPG for your broadband needs. TPG's flagship unlimited
ADSL2+ plan starts at a ridiculously low $29.99 per month for a 6 month fixed term, with optional additional home phone bundling costs bring it up to $59.99. Similarly, Dodo's unlimited plans start from a lowly $39.90 per month, over a 24 month fixed term. If you are looking for naked broadband with no lock in contract, iPrimus may be your best option; they are offering unlimited plans starting from $69.00 per month.
Choosing the right heavy use broadband plan – what to look for when you compare broadband
The broadband plan that you should choose to suit your needs will depend on a number of factors. Of course, it is important that you do choose the right plan for your needs, particularly if you use the internet a lot and for a lot of high bandwidth activities. If you feel that you are classed as a heavy user of broadband you need to ensure that you do not opt for a plan that is going to be unsuitable in terms of speed and data allowance, as this could otherwise interfere with your ability to do the things that you need to do online. Some of the things that you need to check when you are looking for heavy use broadband plans include:
- The speed that you get with the broadband plan: For heavier broadband users, the speed of the broadband plan is an important consideration, as this can impact on the things that you can and cannot do online. For those who like to do things such as stream content and play games online, speed can be one of the most important considerations
- The data allowance that you get with the broadband plan: You need to ensure that you get an adequate data allowance as part of your plan, otherwise you could quickly find yourself going over your allocated allowance and having to pay the price either in monetary terms or through being penalised for exceeding your allowance. As a heavier internet user you will need a higher data allowance and you may even consider opting for an unlimited plan but doe bear in mind that this may still come with fair usage limits, so be sure to familiarise yourself with these
- The cost of the service: Of course, you need to make sure that you choose a plan that is affordable and falls within your budget in order to maintain your heavy use broadband plan. It is therefore important to make sure that you check the cost of the plan so that you can be sure it fits in with your budget as well as your needs
- Find out the contract period options: Different providers offer different contract period options, so this is something else you will need to take into consideration. Some people do not want to be tied in for long period so it is essential that you compare contract periods to see how long you will have to sign up (minimum contract) in order to get the plan that you are considering
- Check if you can get your heavy user broadband plan bundled: If you are considering taking out other services such as home phone it is well worth checking to see whether you can get your heavy user broadband plan as part of a bundle, as this can offer greater value for money whilst also ensuring that you enjoy convenience and ease when it comes to your services
The importance of comparing plans
Comparing different heavy user plans is important in order to determine which is the best plan for your needs based on the factors listed above. You will be able to see at a glance which plans are likely to suit your needs and you can therefore make an informed decision on which plan to go for before you make any commitment. You should not only compare different heavy user plans but also different providers, as the cost, features, benefits and specifications of the different heavy user broadband plans can vary from one provider to another.
The final word
Say good bye to capped browsing and laggy internet connections, but beware of how much you're spending as heavy-use plans can get expensive very quickly. Make sure you shop around for service provider quotes and identify your needs; often, paying slightly more for an unlimited plan may be a better option than a 100GB heavy use plan. Also, if you're looking to bundle in additional services, you could save a fair amount of money every month, so stay on the look-out for promotional offers and freebies.
