Broadband Guides: Understanding Broadband

What are altnets?

Altnets provide an alternative to Openreach-powered ISPs – but should you consider their services?

The pros and cons of different broadband contract lengths

Different broadband contract lengths have unique merits. We explain which might work best in different scenarios

What is RAM, and why do I need it?

What is RAM? It’s the foundation stone of everything you do on a computer, tablet or smartphone

Can you still live without the internet in 2025?

Does living in a rural region mean slow broadband?

There’s a popular misconception that living in a rural region automatically means slow broadband, yet full fibre can be found everywhere

What can I do if my street has slow broadband?

Slow broadband affects entire communities, so what can you do if you live on a street with inadequate connections?

What’s the difference between bytes, megabytes and gigabytes?

Understanding the difference between bytes, megabytes and gigabytes makes purchasing new hardware like phones and tablets much easier

What is Twitch, and why should I watch it?

We answer a couple of significant questions: what is Twitch, and why does it have over 140 million monthly users?

What does the World Broadband Association do?

You probably haven’t heard of the World Broadband Association, but their mission is to improve global internet access and connection quality

What is live streaming?

What is the Wayback Machine, and how can I use it?

The Wayback Machine is more than just a glimpse of bygone times – it’s a genuinely useful resource

Should I consider no-contract broadband?

Signing up to no-contract broadband frees you from long-term commitments, but it does involve some compromises

How is broadband defined?

If someone asked how is broadband defined, only 16 per cent of Brits would know what to say

What are paywalls?

Paywalls are the main alternative to advertising when it comes to making online services economically viable

A beginner’s guide to chatbots

Our beginner's guide to chatbots explains what these automated tools are, how they help us – and why they’re occasionally infuriating

What are hyperlinks, and why do they matter?

What’s the surface web?

We rely heavily on the surface web every day, yet it’s only a tiny part of the wider internet

Why don’t we have broadband in our cars?

In-car infotainment systems continue to evolve beyond mere music players, but broadband in cars remains beyond our reach.

What do the lights on my broadband router mean?

Broadband router lights aren’t just a flickering irritation – they’re conveying important information

How is ‘full fibre broadband’ defined?

The definition of full fibre broadband is a mystery to many consumers, despite Ofcom’s attempts at clarifying it

What causes buffering?

The question ‘what causes buffering’ is often asked – but only usually once it’s already happened…

How to get a better broadband deal by understanding jargon

Broadband terminology is often confusing. We explain what it all means, to help you negotiate a better deal on your next contract.

A guide to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide a bridge between home broadband and your car’s infotainment system

Automatic updates might be causing your slow broadbad

Automatic updates might not seem an obvious cause of slow broadband, but they can dramatically slow down your system.

How does UK broadband connect to the wider internet?

UK broadband only works as part of a global network, buried beneath the seabed around our coastline.

The importance of internal links and backlinks to website SEO

Many factors influence website SEO, but hyperlinks are a vital component of ensuring pages rank highly in search results

What is ChatGPT?

We get under the skin of ChatGPT and put the headline-generating AI to the test for ourselves.

How to recognise and avoid modern spam emails

Avoiding spam emails is easier than ever, because ISPs have invested huge amounts of time and energy in combating them.

Could you save money by lowering your broadband speed?

Many of us don't really need the top speeds we pay for - you may be able to save on broadband without any real drawbacks.

House hunters should consider ever-changing available broadband speeds

Residential broadband speeds aren’t just a key factor in property marketing – they’re also constantly changing.

How to get broadband without without a landline in 2023

It’s quite possible to live without a landline nowadays, and in many cases, it won’t affect your broadband provision.

What broadband speed do I need for working, streaming and gaming?

Minimum broadband speeds determine what type – and speed – of home internet connection you need.

What is the World Wide Web?

To understand what is the World Wide Web, we need to go back to an age when the internet existed but web browsing didn’t.

What are URLs?

Many people wouldn’t know how to answer the question ‘what are URLs’, yet the answer is surprisingly straightforward

What is the metaverse?

You’ve probably heard about it online, amid lots of excitable chatter. But what is the metaverse, and what will it involve?

What’s bonded broadband?

As ISPs struggle to improve broadband infrastructure in remote or sparsely-populated regions, bonded broadband offers a workaround.

How fast do I need my broadband to be?

There’s no definitive answer to the question of how fast should broadband be, but it’s possible to calculate minimum requirements fairly easily.

What are Crown Jewels sporting events?

Despite attempts by streaming services to muscle in on crown jewels sporting events, the government are determined to maintain a degree of free-to-air coverage

Do you know your broadband connection speed?

Broadband connection speeds might seem mysterious, but there are easy ways to check your home’s upload and download speeds.

Broadband and WiFi are not the same thing

Broadband and WiFi are often confused, yet the differences between them deserve understanding – especially when faults arise.

How to avoid overloading your broadband router with too many devices

Overloading your broadband router is easily done if you attempt to connect too many devices, but how many is too many?

What are symmetrical broadband speeds?

Symmetrical broadband speeds represent a key advantage of full fibre broadband services, but how do they work?

Common broadband myths exposed

Common broadband myths range from misunderstandings to absurdities, and separating fact from fiction is vital for consumers

A beginner’s guide to broadband routers

Broadband routers are the gateway to the internet, but they can be a source of mystery for people unfamiliar with this technology.

Broadband in new homes

Broadband in new homes tends to be faster than in comparable resale properties, and connectivity is often a key selling feature among developers

What is Gigabit broadband?

As the current gold standard of connectivity, gigabit broadband offers a future-proof solution to domestic internet access

What is build to rent, and how does it affect broadband access?

Build to rent schemes are growing in popularity, and they offer tenants a shortcut to the fast lane of the internet superhighway

Online backups – how to protect your data

Data storage has come a long way since the days of Zip drives and USB sticks, but online backups come in a variety of guises – with varying drawbacks and limitations

How does free public WiFi work?

Free public WiFi has become big business, as a way of attracting and retaining customers for longer

What’s the difference between a mobile dongle and a MiFi hub?

There’s more than one difference between a mobile dongle and a MiFi hub, which is worth understanding if you need temporary (or portable) internet access