A slow internet is no joke. Trust me, I have been there and I hated every second of it. As an introvert with very few friends, my favorite pastime after a hectic day is to watch as many shows as humanly possible. I have stayed up late at night just to watch a few more episodes and I have wasted a lot of time doom-scrolling about my favorite shows and the memes.
Therefore, when the internet is acting up, my whole day is screwed. To avoid this, I have a three internet connection including my 5G mobile internet. In addition, I have switched between five different ISPs over the last seven years. So, trust me when I say I have a love-hate relationship with internet service providers.
I have seen ISPs offer all kinds of packages and I have experienced fights with customer service as well until I stumble upon my current connection. Last month, I got rid of all the other connections just because my current ISP was offering me everything that no other ISP has offered me in the last seven years.
Are you curious about what connection I am using and what helped me seal the deal? Read on to find out what helped me choose my current internet service provider and what you should look for in your ISP.
Top 5 features to look for in your Internet Service Provider in Your Area
For everyone curious, I am currently using Xfinity. As an Alabama resident, I feel there is nothing better than Xfinity. With its affordable and diverse plans, add-on options, reliable connection, and 24/7 friendly Xfinity customer service, you feel invisible.
In case you have other options in your state or you just want to shortlist another option, here is a checklist that can help you find the best internet service provider in your region:
1. Speed
If you tell me that you are looking for slow internet or you do not want to enjoy fast speed, I won’t believe you. In the current era, everyone is looking for ways to get rid of the buffering wheel and having fast internet speed is what they all need.
While looking for an ISP, do not confuse upload speed with download speed. Most companies offer the best download speed but hardly mention upload speed. Eventually, when you have to send a file or upload a video, it takes a lot of time. To avoid this, read the speeds and connection options.
2. Customer Service
Good connectivity or affordable prices can never compensate for bad customer service. Yes, good service means you will have fewer complaints but on days when you have complaints, there will be no one to listen. This is a recipe for disaster and if you ignore these simple cues, prepare to regret your decision in the future.
While choosing an ISP look for a company that offers Omnichannel customer service. This will help you get quicker response and you will be able to avoid any accident.
3. Price
Price is also one of the most important decision-making factors when it comes to internet connection but do not confuse price with price tag. When you see a price, always try to compare it with the value and only then, you can see if the service is worth it.
In such a competitive niche, you always get what you pay for, so when a company openly tells you that they are offering the cheapest rates, it should be your priority to see what features they are offering.
As a customer, check the speed, connectivity option, device compatibility, data cap, and even hidden charges. Nearly all the ISPs in the market have hidden charges that they don’t show in the advertisement but you will see these hidden charges in your bill.
4. Versatility
Most people think that versatility means the company is serving a very diverse population so the representation is versatile.
However, in the case of ISP, you need to look beyond the company ethics. In terms of versatility, a company must offer versatile packages and services. For instance, most of the ISPs stick to the basic internet packages that might have a good download and upload speed but nothing more.
This is where you need to wear your Sherlock hat and find out what else they are offering. Choose an ISP that offers not just the internet but also phone, entertainment, and mobile connection. Moreover, go through all the available packages and see how you can pair up different services and packages to save more. You will be shocked at how much you can save if you focus on the versatility of packages rather than just skim through the price tag.
5. Area Availability
Most people think that area availability means if an ISP is serving in your area and that’s about it. Well, technically, it’s right but there are so many other things that you need to consider.
When you are considering area availability, you also need to look at the different features and the type of technology available in that region. Some ISPs only offer cable internet in some regions while they offer cable backed by fiber in other and complete fiber internet in other regions. So, before you decide to sign your contract, ask your ISP what they are offering in your region.
Moreover, some ISPs do not have a good service in one state but they are popular in other states, so keep that in account as well. If an ISP is famous in your region, this means they have invested heavily in the infrastructure and they are more likely to have a solid local representation, offering you the best service.
Wrap Up
Finding the ideal ISP is very challenging especially if you are looking for an all-rounder option. In search of ISP, the above-mentioned features will help you prepare the best checklist, so you can avoid any confusion.
