Achieving Home Internet Utopia:
By Chris Ikimis-Healey
Selecting the best Internet plan for your home
A fast and dependable home internet service for your family is non-negotiable. Combine this with great value and prompt customer service, and you have reached ‘Internet Utopia’!
Just as families come in all shapes and sizes, so do internet plans. And there are eight simple questions that will help you find the best solution for your family.
1. What’s your typical usage?
Knowing who, when and how your family uses the internet will help narrow down the best plan for you. Ask yourself:
How many people
in your family use
the internet?
What activities do
they use it for -
gaming, streaming,
video conferencing?
What time of
day do you rely
on it most?
Need help choosing the right plan? Call 1300 783 313
2. Do you need speed?
There is no point paying for excessive bandwidth if it’s not required. But if you need speed during busy times of your day when most of the family is online, prioritise a family NBN plan that supports this.
The goal here is to balance speed and affordability.
To help you work out the internet speed required to support your online activities, here’s a great guide. It’s calculated for one user, so if more than one family member is watching Netflix in HD, then just multiply this number accordingly.
Need help choosing the right modem? Call 1300 783 313
3. How much data is enough?
With multiple users in a household, keeping tabs on data usage can be challenging and cause undue stress!
SpinTel offers unlimited data on all home internet plans, which helps take the guesswork out of the decision-making process and lets you enjoy your online activities without the worry of exceeding restrictive caps.
But it is interesting to know how much data the most common online activities require, so here's a breakdown:
Netflix:
● Standard Definition – 1 GB per hour
● High Definition – 3 GB per hour
● Ultra High Definition - 7 GB per hour
Spotify:
● Normal quality – approximately 40MB per hour
● High quality - approximately 70MB per hour
● Video Conferencing: One-on-one video call over Zoom requires roughly 540MB per hour
● Online Gaming: ddddDepends on the game, but generally 40MB to 100MB per hour
● Web Browsing: Basic web browsing uses about 60MB per hour
Notes:
Data usage can vary: Factors like video resolution and game complexity impact these numbers
Estimate your needs: Consider how many hours you spend on each activity per month to figure out your ideal data allowance.
4. 5G vs NBN?
Both options are now more readily available across the country, so deciding whether to opt for NBN or 5G is creating a dilemma for many families!
Where you live largely influences the decision, but here are some facts that may help your decision-making:
● NBN offers fixed-line broadband, which can provide an edge in reliability in most cases, while 5G home internet utilises cellular networks, which can help get you up and running with a fast connection in a pinch if you’re in an area with good 5G coverage.
● NBN has been rolled out across most of the country, but 5G coverage is less common.
● 5G operates through cellular towers and generally has low latency, which is great for gaming but can be affected by weather and physical obstructions, particularly if you are further from a tower.
● Price variations between NBN and 5G are not dramatic, but NBN plans are generally a little cheaper than 5G home internet plans.
● 5G generally offers faster maximum speeds than NBN, depending on your provider and their network load.
5. What about reliability?
Cost-effective, high-speed home internet is excellent, but if the connection is prone to dropouts or lags, it’s of little use.
Check out awards and customer reviews from legitimate and trusted sites, and you’ll get insight into the provider’s network reliability and the customer support available. Find a provider with a reputation for reliability and one that prioritises customer satisfaction.
6. Have you considered bundling?
Your hard-earned dollars can be saved when mobile and internet services are packaged. Consider bundling if your family will use the services - monthly savings certainly add up!
PSST. WE HAVE A SPECIAL BUNDLE OFFER,
WANT TO SAVE ON YOUR MOBILE TOO?
7. Are discounts and promotions worth it?
We love a bargain, but when it comes to home internet, discounts and deals are only worth it if they apply to the plan you’ve identified as the best fit for your family. Try to resist deals on a plan that won’t work for you in the long term, it will potentially cost you more.
Other incentives are worth checking out, including seasonal promotions, introductory rates or referral bonuses, which can be a nice benefit, especially if the perks go straight to your hip-pocket!
SpinTel’s Refer a Friend program allows customers to save big on their monthly home Internet bill by referring friends, family members or colleagues. In fact, some customers are neutralising their monthly bill by receiving the equivalent in rebates.
8. Have you read the fine print?
A family’s internet needs may change abruptly or over time, so opt for plans with flexibility and scalability without hefty penalties or cancellation fees.
A little time spent upfront using focused questions will help you sift through the plethora of options on the market and land the right internet plan for your family. Happy surfing!
Get the best value home internet for your family at the best price – explore SpinTel's plans today.
