Allie was an avid traveler before the world turned upside down. During her time stuck at home she started researching and learning new things. Now she enjoys writing about her travels and what she has learned during quarantine.

Americans pay some of the highest broadband prices in the world, for service that isn’t always top-notch. A lot of that is due to outdated infrastructure. Sometimes, it’s such a pain to get service, that people stick with the same subpar service provider for years.

But there are better choices in Allentown, and everyone should look into the options available to them, that cater to their specific needs. Are there multiple users in your household? Do you stream often, or just scroll through social media? What is your budget?

All of these aspects come into play when choosing the best broadband option for you so keep them in mind when comparing providers.

Look into who services your location

The very first thing you want to do is check what providers are available in your location. Some unlucky few have very limited options in their area. But for most urban and suburban locations, there are multiple choices available.

In Allentown, there are several major internet providers that can service your needs, the best of them being Viasat, Verizon, Earthlink, RCN and Hughesnet. These providers all offer different types of connections, different top speeds, packages, and features, so take the time to look through all your options and how popular they are in your area before making a decision.

Assess how much bandwidth you need

A big part of narrowing down the best type of internet service for you is to determine what bandwidth you need. And for that, you need to assess how much you use the internet, and for what.

First, look at how many active users there are in your household. Is it just one person using the internet? Do you have kids who use it for school? A spouse that is online all day for work? The number of users and devices that use the internet is very important, because whatever bandwidth you’re paying for gets divided between all users.

Then, you have to think about what you actually use the internet for. Is it just checking your emails from time to time? Do you work from home and have video calls often? Do you ever download large files? What about streaming services? Online gaming is also a big bandwidth hogger.

Casual users can get away with at least 3 Mbps, but if you’re going to do any video streaming, you want at least 10 to 25 Mbps. For heavier use, like online gaming or heavy video use, it’s best to opt for 50 to 100 Mbps.

Determine what type of connection you prefer

You may also be aware of the fact that there are different kinds of internet connections available. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the perfect one for you comes down to your needs and your priorities.

• Cable internet – cable internet is classic and dependable. Because there are cables involved, it’s a very stable connection that is less likely to be impacted by weather conditions. On the flipside, the speeds aren’t great, and if your area does not have the existing cables yet, then coverage is not available.
• Satellite internet – satellite internet is great because you’re not constrained by the lack of cable availability. That enables remote areas to enjoy internet service that would not be possible via other methods. The drawback is that the signal can be interfered with and interrupted, which can cause issues.
• DSL internet – DSL is affordable, and a lot of users are used to it because it’s been around for a long time. However, speeds are limited and often don’t cut it for today’s high demand, particularly if you’re working from home or gaming.
• Fiber internet – fiber internet is by far the fastest available type of connection, which makes it the best candidate for users with intense internet usage needs. The downside is that the infrastructure is not yet available everywhere, and it can be more expensive.

Compare different prices

Since all these providers offer different types of connections, different speeds, packages, and different coverage levels, you’ll want to perform a price comparison between your top picks.

Most of them offer competitive pricing but depending on what you’re looking for and what your priorities are, some of these options may just price themselves out of the running.

If after the final assessment, you determine that your current provider or package is still the best option, you can still try to get a better deal. Phoning them up to try to negotiate your package will usually result in them offering you a better price, a bump in speed, or some other additional perks that you didn’t have before.

Compare customer service experience

Since internet service is so important, customer service is also an essential aspect to take into consideration. There are certain companies that will remain unnamed that are infamous for their frustrating customer service experience. Even if they do offer the best prices, it may not be worth the hours spent on hold whenever you need to get something fixed.

Factor experience into the price – how important it is to you? How much do you value it, and how much are you willing to pay for the convenience? The results may surprise you. There’s no use having the best internet connection in theory, if in practice, you can never get the company over to perform necessary maintenance.

Bottom line

In 2021, we rely on the internet so much, for so many different things, that having an unsatisfactory or sub-par internet connection is unthinkable. Many users stick with their mediocre internet provider, because they don’t know what other options they have.

That’s exactly why it’s so important to take the time to study the market and assess your needs and your options. Things have come a long way since the internet first became commercially available, and it’s time to enjoy better service, better speeds, and a satisfactory broadband package.

Compare all your options according to coverage, speed, price, and package diversity, and you’ll be able to gain ownership of the tech you’re bringing into your household.