Choosing a Broadband ISP - Look beyond the price

   

Broadband customers will be aware of the number of discounted offers for broadband that continue to flood the marketplace. It is worth digging behind the headlines to discover exactly what is on offer and then relate it to the solution that you require to help you make the most of your Internet opportunities.

The Internet Service Provider’s association (ISPA) states that it is not advisable to choose an ISP on price alone. They make the point that you get what you pay for and therefore service levels, consistent speeds and quality should also be considered.

When it comes to value, customer and technical support issues should be key to choosing a broadband supplier. Your business needs to work out the cost to your company if connectivity should be lost for an hour, a day, a week, and then balance it against going with a cheaper supplier who offers low levels of support and reliability. It is important that you get the reassurance that if something does go wrong you can easily contact a helpful and well qualified member of staff who will be able to help you.

Support is vital for businesses. You should look for ISPs who are able to make problems disappear rather than shifting the blame. Check if the ISP has premium rate support rather than local rate support lines which are designed to generate further cash for the company. Web sites such as The ADSL Guide will help you to look at issues such as these.

Iain Johnstone, Sales and Partner Programme Manager, at ISP Zen Internet told Bytestart:

“Pricing is highly competitive and there are multiple offers to choose from. I would always ask though if the lowest price actually offers the best value – and the answer will almost invariably be no! It is only good value if it actually delivers what you want it to. The price issue, whilst a consideration, is not the absolute definition of value when a business is considering its Internet options. The key to value is determined by working with an ISP who can supply a robust solution to your requirements, backed up by quality support throughout.”

He continued: “It is useful for customers to look at things like the awards that various ISPs have won as these will help to reflect things like the quality and reliability of the services on offer. Awards presented by bodies such as the ISPA are a good indicator of the quality of services on offer. These awards are unique, as they are awarded to people and organisations in the industry by their peers and reflect the broad nature of the service provider sector.”

In the ever changing broadband market, it is important to look at whether the cost of a service has much affect on its value to the business. Before choosing a provider get the views of existing ADSL subscribers on sites such as The ADSL Guide, look for press and magazine reviews and check independent speed tests.