Student Broadband

One of the technological advancements that has made a huge difference to many groups, including students, over recent years is broadband. This is a service that a huge number of us not only use on a daily basis but have come to rely on for both work and pleasure. For students, the benefits of broadband are huge, giving them easy access to research, study, and even to prepare themselves for a career as they come to the end of their time at university. It is also the ideal tool to enable them to communicate with friends and family, even over larger distances, and even to enjoy some entertainment.

Broadband Plans Comparision

Plan	Details	Data (Peak/Offpeak)	Speed (Kbps)	Price	Sign Up
Dodo Mobile Broadband 500MB 24 Month + Pendo Pad	Mobile internet data (500MB) and Pendo Pad bundle over 24 months. 7” in size, weighing 360 grams, equipped with Wi-Fi and built-in 2GB memory storage. The Pendo runs on an android operating system which makes an ideal device for high quality mobile internet surfing. $9.90 monthly over 24 months	Unlimited	3600 / 256 kbps	$9.90
Amaysim Mobile Broadband Data Pack 4GB	4GB mobile broadband plan for 30 days (1MB data rounding). Suitable for moderate internet users of websurfing, email and online multimedia content (music and videos). No contract.	Unlimited	3600 / 256 kbps	$29.90
Vodafone 14GB + Pocket Wifi 12 Month	Both a portable modem and a WIFI router, for up to 5 simultaneous users. 14GB suitable for medium level users for online access for web-surfing, emails, moderate online multimedia content (music & video streaming) Term Available on 12 Months	Unlimited	3600 / 256 kbps	$49
TPG ADSL2+ Standalone 500GB	High speed broadband without costly line rental fees. (shaping speed after capped usage 1mbps/1mbps) Terms available 6 or 18 months.	250 GB / 250 GB	24000 / 1000 kbps	$49.99
TPG Naked ADSL2+ Unlimited	Unlimited High speed broadband without costly line rental fees (uploads not counted). Terms available on 6 or 18 months. Special Offer: Pay only $14.99 per month for the Mobile 49 Cap Saver Plan (includes $300 worth of calls, text, and data) when you register for any of the Naked ADSL2+ plans, usually valued at $19.99 per month	Unlimited	24000 / 1000 kbps	$69.99

Whilst the majority of students are eager to have a good broadband plan in place so that they can benefit from reliable, fast and high quality broadband services, most of them also have to be budget conscious, as life isn’t cheap for full time students and keeping costs to a minimum is important. Most students are therefore looking for low cost, affordable student broadband plans that will enable them to get value for money on their broadband service but without having to worry about compromising on the level of service that they receive.

There are many providers who offer broadband plans for students, catering not only for students’ needs but also for their rather limited pockets. This is great news for students, as it means that they get to benefit from having broadband for their work, communication and entertainment needs whilst also being able to keep costs down. If you are a student looking for broadband compare deals from a range of providers, as this will boost your chances of finding a great deals at the right price.

So you’ve finally moved out and now you’re looking for a broadband plan for your new place? Browsing all of the individual broadband plans may be a horror, so we’ve compiled a helpful list of criteria that will help you in selecting the cheapest, but best broadband plan for your budget.

What is student broadband

Student broadband isn’t a specific broadband package that gives you access to all of your half-yearly answers; it’s simply a regular broadband plan that is marketed towards students, focusing specifically on price and flexibility.

What should you consider when selecting the right student broadband plan?

When you are looking at broadband plans for students there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration. Many of these things are the same as for non-students such as the features and benefits of the plans. However, there are also a few key points that may be more important to students because of their situations and circumstances. Some of the key areas that students should look at when choosing broadband plans for students include:

• Contract length -

As a student, do you really want a 12 or 24 month fixed term commitment? Chances are, if you are renting or living in student accommodation, that you won’t even be living there a full year! So, consider a no contract plan or a wireless broadband plan that you can take with you wherever you go, as opposed to a long term fixed broadband connection.

• Cable, ADSL2+ or mobile broadband?

ADSL2+ and cable broadband are both super-fast but generally require proper installation and longer fixed term contracts. Consider whether you are willing to pay the extra costs associated with the faster speeds of ADSL2+ or cable, or whether you are happy with a cheaper, but less-strings-attached wireless broadband modem. Also, remember that many ADSL2+ plans require you to bundle a home-phone! The only downside to wireless broadband is that ultimately, it is much slower than cable and may not be able to handle high-speed processes like gaming and multimedia downloads!

Cable and ADSL2+ plans typically start at $50+ per month on a 12 and 24 month contract, while wireless broadband modems start from $29 per month, and can be purchased on monthly contracts.

• Bundling

Many fixed broadband plans offer discounts when bundling in services like cable T.V., mobile and home phone. If you’re looking for the full multi-media experience, bundling your services together on the same provider may save you some money and make your bills easier to manage.

• Sharing is caring

Moving out can be a daunting experience, but why not share your bills around with your flat mates! Rather than individually spending $40 on several wireless broadband connections, why not communally purchase a $60 fixed cable connection! That way, you save some pocket change and you’ve got a great fixed broadband connection (as opposed to that dodgy wireless modem!).

• Download allowance

Are you a gamer and a heavy downloader? Or do you just want to browse Facebook and check email? Choose your internet plan based upon your usage! There is no need to purchase a super heavy usage plan if you’re just going to check your blog twice a day; a more optimum plan would be a 2GB wireless broadband plan! Alternatively, there is no use having a 5GB wireless broadband plan when you’re playing games for 6 hours straight! If this is your calling, definitely head towards an unlimited usage fixed connection.

There are also other things that you need to consider when you are choosing one of the broadband plans for students so that you can get the plan that not only fit in with your pocket but also suits you perfectly in terms of your needs. Some of the things that you need to look at when you compare broadband plans for students include:

• The speed of the broadband: If you want to avoid frustrating delays when doing research or enjoying entertainment via your broadband service then you should make sure you check the speed of the service that you will get, as this will make a big difference to what you can successfully do via your broadband service
• The download limit: If you use your broadband service not just for research and studies but also for entertainment such as streaming content and perhaps even online games you need to check that you have an adequate data allowance to enable you to do what you want without going over your data limits
• Any additional features and benefits: The features and benefits that providers offer on student broadband plans can vary from one provider to another, so make sure you look at what’s available from the different providers in order to try and make your student broadband plan even better value for money

The final word

Make sure you shop around when considering your options. Fixed term home broadband may be a better option for the heavy downloader or gamer, but ultimately these plans offer very little flexibility. No contract plans in general are much more expensive than their contract counterparts, while wireless mobile broadband plans are cheaper and more flexible, but lack good value for money in terms of data.