What do you need to know if you want to switch broadband suppliers?

If you want to switch broadband, start by finding out whether your current deal charges an exit or cancellation fee as part of the contract, or expects you to return any equipment. If they do, you’ll need to work out whether you’ll still save money by switching.

If you are out of contract, it’s still good to review the terms of your existing deal to understand download speeds, any usage limits and the current monthly costs. You can find this information on your original broadband contract or your bill.

Knowing how fast your broadband is, and whether it’s too slow for your household’s needs will give you a good idea of what to look for in a new contract. Speeds vary with the type of broadband installed, and what you could switch to depends on the types of broadband available in your area.

Types of broadband and speed:

ADSL is the most common type of broadband and uses your phone line. It can provide speeds of up to 24Mb, although this depends on how far you live from the telephone exchange.

Fibre uses fibre optic cables. There are two types: Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) is the most common, providing speeds of between 38Mb and 76Mb. Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) is faster, providing speeds of up to 1Gb.

Cable uses a mix of fibre optic and coaxial cables to give speeds of up to 152Mb.