Let’s face it, neither of us can imagine modern life, especially in a megalopolis like London without the Internet. We rely on it desperately every day of our lives. From checking the news and the social media feeds, to watching our favorite shows, to staying closely connected to those we care about – online has become a significant part of our daily routine.
This is especially true for those of you who have just moved to London or are planning their relocation as getting to know a new city with everybody you know back at home can be a nuisance.
Be resourceful
Before we dive deeper into the world of London’s Internet providers, we’d like to bring your attention to a cool little fact: you’ve got everything you need to stay connected since day one and that particular “everything” is probably in your pocket right now.
Yes, we are indeed talking about your Smartphone. Picking a package with decent Internet connection is one of the simplest things you can do in London. And it really should be the #1 thing on your to-do list.
Sure, you won’t be able to watch all the Netflix and YouTube in the world on your mobile device, but you’ll have access to Google, Skype, Social Media and a wide plethora of business websites that offer lifting, repairs, plumbing and, of course, Internet services!
Alternatively, you can use a USB dongle. This option is slightly more expensive, but it can make your laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot that powers all of your devices. Obviously, you could do the same with your smartphone, but the speed would be slower and you’ll get much less traffic so a USB dongle is the better option.
At least for now.
Broadband
Now that you’ve settled in, it’s time to talk about a Big Boy Internet Provider. Picking one is much harder than poking a finger into the list of broadband services in hopes of randomly finding the best one.
You see, the deals service providers offer, their connectivity speed, added services like TV channels, phone lines, etc. all vary from one company to the other.
That’s why we recommend you doing a throughout research before making the decision.
Pro tip: check for providers available in your area from the get-go as few internet services are available across the entire city of London.
- Sky. You can get the Sky Broadband Unlimited for as little as 18 quid per month if you sign an 18 months deal. That said, their average speed is 11 Mb/s which is enough to browse the internet, watch a movie or download some stuff from the web, but it isn’t anything to write home about, really.
- Hyperoptic. This internet provider offers much more in terms of speed. You’ll get 30 Mb/s of download speed from as little as 19 pounds with even faster options like 150 Mb for £40, and 1 Gb for £49.
- Vodafone. Vodafone brings the better of two worlds together – decent speed and lower pricing models. You, as a user, will get a 35 Mb/s average speed for £22, or an average speed of 63 Mb/s for £26. The deal includes unlimited traffic, a home phone line, and a Vodafone app to manage your online endeavors.