The pandemic in 2020 accelerated the world’s transition into remote working. As a remote worker, it is crucial that you have the ability to work as seamlessly as you would from an office.

Having a reliable and high-speed internet connection can ensure that your work gets done stress-free.

If you aren’t familiar with the details of good broadband, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ll talk about why having the best broadband is so important and what to look out for when selecting providers.

How to Choose the Best Broadband for Working from Home?

Understanding what makes a good broadband service is important when choosing the best broadband for working from home.

Some key aspects to consider are the following:

1. Connection Type – determine which type of broadband connection is available in your area, whether that be ADSL, FTTC, Satellite or even FTTP. If you have FTTP in your area, then you’re in luck! This is widely considered the best connection type for speeds and reliability. Vital if you are working from home.

2. Speed– understand what current speed you are on now so that you know which speeds to avoid. The rule of thumb is the higher the Mbps the quicker your internet connection! If you are currently on 60Mbps, seek out packages of 150Mbps (or more!)

3. Data Limits – check if your desired plan has any data caps or fair usage policies. If you are working remotely, you’ll probably need to be on an unlimited data plan to avoid disruptions in your workflow.

4. ISP Reliability and Customer Service – research the internet service provider (ISP) to understand their customer service. Check on TripAdvisor or other trusted review platforms. This can give you an insight into how they will treat you as a customer as well!

What is a Good Broadband Speed for Working from Home?

The ideal broadband speed for working from home depends on the type of tasks you perform regularly.

Generally, the higher the better when it comes to broadband speed and if you're looking for the best then look no further than fibre broadband. Some younger couples with fewer connected devices can work off a lower amount such as 150Mbps (or less depending on their reliability).

Some workers with families will have more connected devices and therefore their broadband contention ratio will be higher.

This means that the bandwidth their device receives will be less in comparison.

If you are thinking of upgrading broadband for a quicker connection, get the most that you can afford!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Broadband When Working from Home

To ensure that your new broadband package stays fast and optimised, here are some tips to help keep your broadband speed sharp:

1. Router position matters – avoid placing your router in a cupboard or in an enclosed space. Walls/doors can interfere with a device’s connection.

2. Use Ethernet cables – for a further broadband boost, you can use ethernet cables. This is where you directly plug your device into the router. This can help give a speed boost on those rare occasions you may need more!

3. Manage connected devices – to keep speeds high, be sure to manage the number of connected devices. Remember when we spoke about contention ratio? By keeping this low (the number of connected devices) it means a larger slice of the bandwidth can go to the remaining connected devices.

4. Secure your network – to avoid unauthorised devices accessing your network, be sure to password protect your network. Additional devices can slow down your connection.

5. Consider Mesh Networks – to really amp up your entire property’s broadband speed, consider investing into mesh networks. These are multiple access points across the home that act as one singular, larger network.

Having a fast and reliable full fibre broadband connection enables seamless communication, efficient task completion, and increased productivity. By carefully choosing the right broadband package, you can create an ideal work-from-home environment that maximises your work output and efficiency.