Mobile Broadband and Home Broadband Prices & Packages Comparison

1What is Broadband Genie?

Broadband Genie is an invaluable online resource for anyone interested in getting a high-speed Internet access account and who needs to quickly compare the many and varied broadband providers before signing on the dotted line. You'll find an unbiased, independent and plain-English environment that'll help give you an overview of all the leading broadband Internet service providers in Australia along with the less well known ones too. Where we do have to mention technical jargon you'll find that it's quickly demystified, while our guides to broadband pricing and packages offer invaluable guidance and advice.

The Broadband Genie website contains a wealth of tools that'll ensure you're able to compare the best deals whether you're a first-time broadband consumer or simply looking to change or upgrade an existing service. This free-to-use comparison website allows you to quickly and easily compare the broadband deals you're interested in and also check that the services offered are available in your geographical area. Living in a country as big as Australia, it's crucial to know that the package you're after is going to suit your surroundings. So, our best beginners advice is to spend some time doing your homework within the Broadband Genie site and this will then enable you to make an informed decision on the best package for you and your family.

2What is broadband?

Broadband is a technology that offers fast and dependable access to the Internet for carrying out all manner of everyday computing chores. A broadband account allows you to browse the web, send and receive emails, download online content and also carry out more advanced tasks such as playing games across the web or even accessing your office PC.

However, there are a multitude of different broadband options to choose from and knowing which one to go for can be confusing to say the least. In short, there are three main options for you to consider: fixed broadband, mobile broadband and wireless broadband. A fixed broadband connection can offer high-speed Internet access and is piped into your home through a network cable connection using either copper wires or fibre optic cables in much the same way as a traditional landline. These packages often allow you to have a phone line and other features such as TV services through the same source.

Mobile and wireless broadband offers similarly speedy access to the Internet but allows you more freedom than the fixed line packages. Wireless broadband means that the connection is transferred from your ISP to a router device. This then distributes your online supply through the airwaves to one or, indeed, multiple machines throughout your house or business, whenever they're situated. Mobile broadband, meanwhile, allows you to have Internet access on the go simply by plugging in a small stick device into a laptop or netbook computer. This provides you with the ultimate in broadband access freedom, although one thing to remember is that it'll only work if you're in an area covered by the mobile provider you're signed up with.

3What types of broadband are available?

There are various types of broadband available in Australia and they come in a variety of different pricing and package arrangements, depending on your needs. There are options available for light home users, families, online gamers and people who love to download lots of online continent, plus business packages that are tailored more to professional people. Working out what you want to do with your broadband supply using a comparison website like Broadband Genie can help you identify your needs before you commit to a particular package.

Choosing which type of broadband supply is going to be best for your needs can be daunting if you're not quite sure what you want. There are a whole host of different options, including ADSL, ADSL2+, Naked DSL, Cable along with Satellite Wireless and Mobile Broadband too. ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line delivers broadband through a network of copper wiring, dominated by Telstra and Optus while other companies, called Internet Service Providers or ISPs can also sell their services using the available network.

The ADSL2+ service, where available, is often faster than its ADSL counterpart. Naked DSL offers a digital subscriber line service (or DSL) but without an accompanying telephone line or, for that matter, available dial tone through the ISP's service network. Meanwhile, cable networks can offer significantly faster broadband speeds thanks to more efficient fibre optic networks being available, although these tend to be more predominant in the larger Australian cities and metropolitan areas.

Another major growth area for broadband access has been through the wireless and mobile marketplace, although this is an area dominated by just a handful of key players including providers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Hutchison - branded as '3'. As a result, pricing plans are often highly competitive. However, despite all of these options, there are several crucial factors you'll need to consider before deciding which service is going to be the best one for your needs.

4Tell me more about mobile broadband

It's no surprise that demand for mobile broadband services in Australia have gone through the ceiling in the last couple of years because of the freedom and flexibility it offers. There are two ways you can start using mobile broadband and both are good for different reasons. A prepaid mobile broadband service means that you have to spend the money upfront in order to get access to the provider that you're interested in accessing, but without a regular contract. Meanwhile, a contract option means that you have a constant source of mobile broadband and pay for the service, usually monthly, over the duration of a fixed contract period. So it's good to get an idea of how much you think you'll use it before committing to the latter option.

Having a fixed line broadband supply is all well and good, but it's mobile broadband that affords much more freedom in terms of providing online access while you're on the move. At the core of mobile broadband is 3G technology, which is improving in speed and efficiency all the time along with becoming increasingly competetive pricewise. With an even more powerful successor on the horizon in the shape of 4G technology, it's likely that mobile broadband will continue to grow in popularity. Getting set up for mobile broadband is quick and easy if you've got a laptop or similarly portable computer such as one of the smaller new netbooks. Simply plug in a small plastic modem device into an available USB port on the computer and you'll be able to access the internet wherever you are, as long as you have mobile phone coverage at that location. These modems can come in the form of a small plastic 'dongle', an even more compact USB stick and, in a few cases, a mobile data card that uses 'plug and go' software to work. Generally speaking, you can plug this 'dongle' device into any of your available computers either at home or on the move, so it'll also work with a desktop-based machine too.

Mobile broadband does require decent signal strength in order to work as fast as some of the speeds ISP's quote in their advertising and the supply can also be affected by higher than normal volumes of network traffic too. Of course, you don't need a static landline to access mobile broadband services, but on the downside, there can often be a lot more expense involved if you plan on using a mobile broadband service overseas, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of any package you're interested in, along with looking out for data caps and usage limits.

5How do I compare broadband prices & providers?

There are a lot of different broadband providers and pricing plans, all of which vary greatly depending on factors such as the length of the contract, the download speed and any restrictions, or caps, on the amount of data you're allowed to download. You'll often find that it's easier to get a more competitively priced broadband deal if you bundle the supply with a television or phone service. What's more, deals are changing all the time, so it's worth using the services of a broadband comparison website because it allows you to view what's on offer and compare the different options, all within the space of one web location. In order to get started, you'll want to use a broadband availability checker to see what's available in your locale.

Once you've established that and decided on the sort of budget you have available, you'll be ready to start comparing the deals. There are several factors to be mindful of when comparing providers. For example, consider the brand and what sort of customer reviews the ones you're interested in have been getting. Word of mouth is everything, and the web is the perfect place to check up on what ISPs have been up to, both good and bad. You should also place a big emphasis on speed. One of the greatest benefits of broadband is that it can revolutionise the way you get online so an ISP with a proven and hopefully dependable service record is the one to aim for. Be sure to check the small print about how long contract lengths are, and also check for those download limits and any associated penalties should you go over them.

6How do I switch broadband providers?

The competition between Internet service providers who offer broadband packages is fierce and getting more so as new technologies such as 3 and 4G become more prevalent. Therefore, it may not make sense to simply stay put with your current provider once your contract has reached the end of its term. At the very least, it's worth spending some time enlisting the services of a broadband comparison website like Broadband Genie in order to quickly compare the latest deals. Chances are that they've changed quite considerably since you first signed up for a broadband deal.

A bit of time spent comparing what's on offer might bag you a better service, a faster speed of broadband supply and much more freedom when it comes to capping and what you can download without facing penalties. Switching Internet service providers can be more straightforward than you might think. Be sure to check the date that your contract ends, so as to avoid complications or penalties being charged for premature cancellation of your contract. You'll then need to contact your ISP and advise them what you wish to do - if you're moving a broadband contract then they should give you a migration code which will be needed in order for your new service provider to get three ball rolling at their end. While you're doing this, the current ISP you're with may even decide to offer you more of an incentive to stay put.