Choosing an ISP?

Choosing an Internet service provider (ISP) can sometimes be an overwhelming decision. Most offer a number of Internet access arrangements. Before you make a decision about an ISP, it is worth spending some time to think about the arrangements that best suit you.

The following areas are important:

  • Price and billing
  • Performance
  • Help and installation
  • Security of service

It is unlikely that any single ISP will be the most efficient at all of these key features. It’s a good idea to think about which of these features is most important to you.

Here is a list of possible questions to ask your prospective ISP:

  1. If I change my ISP, what happens to my old email address?
  2. If I change my ISP, are there any exit fees?
  3. What broadband services do you offer?
  4. What do I need for broadband?
  5. What type of modem do I need?
  6. Is ADSL available to me?
  7. Is cable broadband available to me?
  8. Can I connect to the internet via wireless or satellite?
  9. What do I need to check before I sign up to an ISP?
  10. What is the typical data-rate that I can expect?
  11. What is the contention ratio for my service?
  12. What flat fee (limited/unlimited data amount) accounts do you have?
  13. What are the call connection costs?
  14. What facilities do you have to keep track of my internet costs?
  15. What other costs do I need to incur to get your broadband service?
  16. Are there any usage limits placed on download and upload before additional charges are incurred?
  17. What is the maximum size email you can send or receive?
  18. Does browsing ('surfing') the internet contribute to any usage allowance?
  19. Does playing games online contribute to any usage allowance?
  20. What is being done about unsolicited bulk email (‘spam’)?
  21. What do I need to know about downloading or sharing music?
  22. What do I need to know about downloading videos?
  23. What do I need to know about technical support?
  24. Do you have any software that can protect my privacy on the internet?*
  25. Do you have any 'firewall' software to protect my computer when I am on the internet?*
  26. How is the privacy of my personal information protected?*
  27. Do you have any software that will protect my computer from viruses?*
  28. What can I do to protect children from inappropriate content
    on the internet?*

* For more information on internet security and protection please visit our NetSecure website.