Important Things to Ask Before You Decide to Change Your Internet Provider

If you have been an internet user for the past decade or so, then there is one thing that you would know –not all ISPs ensure the same quality of service. Hence, it is safe to say that some ISPs are indefinitely better than others in terms of connection, network, infrastructure, and value among plenty of other factors.

So how does one find out, if their existing isp offers nothing less than a top-notch service?Simply,contact customer service & air your concerns.

Why One Should Switch Their ISP?

It’s important to know thata subscriber usually doesn’t jump from one ISP to another. If so, then it is better to contact service support – anytime you want and express all your concerns, confusion, or service queries so that these are optimally sorted. Unfortunately, most customers only contactthe support center when they are tired of consistent network-related issues like constant outagesin the area, equipment issues, or something as simple as slow service.

And hence, want to troubleshoot and resolve network issues on their own, without involving professional help.But does that mean that they are more liable to change service now and then, just because a new and considerably better provider has arrived in the area? Not always so. However, if you do think this way, then we suggest that you walk through this article and check out the various pointers before you decide to opt for a new connection.

Things to Consider Before Making a Switch

Are you switching internet services because you are moving from one city to another? Or maybe you are changing service because your current one seems to have never-ending Issues?

If you just nodded yes in agreement to both the statements above, then here are some things that you shouldtake care of – before getting a new service provider. To begin with, you need to ask yourself: is the service change necessary? Maybe there is the option, where you can shift your current ISP to the new location. All you need to just check if the provider offers connectivity in the new location. For instance, you are relocating with your family to a new job in a new city.

And so decided to switch from your current ISP to Optimum servicesbut are not sure about the various details associated with the provider or the move in general. Hence, in that case, the only thing that you need to do is to contact customer support and speak to a customer representative, who should be able to address all your questions regarding the concerned matter and should be able to furnish you with the right information for the upcoming transition.

If You Are Unsure About Asking The Right Questions, Don’t Worry We Got You! Here’s How to Get Started:

What Kind of Internet Connection Are You Planning to Get?

At the moment, two different kinds of internet connections are popular in the U.S. One is a copper-based internet service, mostly subdivided into cable internet and DSL. These are relatively slow when it comes to delivery methods, which is why the industry is working hard with the government to replaceslower types of internet. If you have been using a cable-based internet network, then you will surely enjoy the finer speeds offered by faster internet types, namely fiber optic.

The advantage that comes with fiber is that besides being highly wanted, setting up its infrastructure is not that easy. And in fact, is quite expensive. But the telecom industry is working on the gradual expansion of fiber optic across the country. And that’s because customers pay only for the speed that they get. This means that your connection speed will be considerably high – no matter what!

And since fiber optic wirelines go directly to your place, which means that you don’t have to worry about sharing the connection with anybody else. However, it is always advised that customers read the print in black and white before they sign up with any internet service provider, even if it is one as robust and reliable as Optimum Internet.

Can Internet Service Vary From One Area to Another?

This is an important pointer that all customers may have to take care of – before they opt for any ISP. Irrespective of the kind of connection you want for the entire household, checking the area where you are located makes a huge difference. For instance, if you are located in a cosmopolitan city, then you will not just have easier access to a larger variety at hand but get to enjoy faster connections as well. Simply put, you will have choices in selecting the type of connection you want and you will even have a large variety of providers to select from.

For instance, if you are residing in the quaint desert city of Marfa, TX, then some of the top residential ISPs that will be available to you are AT&T Internet, EarthLink, and HughesNet among a plethora of others. And if the said customer is relocating to a financial hub like the city of San Francisco, then they will have access to residential ISPs like Xfinity, AT&T, HughesNet, Astound Broadband Powered by Wave Broadband, Google Fiber Webpass, Viasat, and EarthLink to name a few.

However, if you reside in a rural region or are relocating to even a less connected one, then you may have easy access to fewer connection types like satellite or even DSL. Not only are these comparatively slower, but they are only available in farmlands and backwoods for that matter, and may not offer a wide variety of ISPs either. Still, these are copper-based, so you can expect fine internet access, even though it is slowly becoming outdated as a piece of tech.

Another reason why such kind of connection types are available is because they are located at shorter distances. Though the expectation is that these will soon be replaced by better and faster connection types so that every nook and corner of the country can be accommodated by the latest internet tech. however, it is still easier said than done. Plus, if an area is not able to connect to something ultra-fast like fiber optic, then they can surely utilize a connection like a cable, which is as said before – super-fast as an internet connection. And allows you to share among different home technologies –internet, TV, and home phone – for these, all require the same cable internet to connect.

How Much Do Internet Speeds Vary?

While this is slightly a technical issue, internet speeds are extremely crucial when selecting an ISP. Copper-based ISPs like DSL and cable are unfortunately slower technologies. Nonetheless, these are just one of the most widespread forms of the internet, so switching to a fiber-based internet, which is speedier and glitch-free is going to be a pleasant surprise to the customer, who might be more used to slower speeds. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t cause much of a hassle, especially if you are located in an area where the network service doesn’t experience issues like loss of signals or regular slowdowns. However, if you are using a connection type like satellite internet, most widely available in rural areas because most wired internet connections have a hard time reaching here, then you may have some speed issues. But you can still fix satellite internet latency or slow speeds. Simply upgrade to a mesh network or upgrade your internet equipment, like your router/modem combo unit and you are good to go!

Clarify a Slew of Queries Related to the Service Connection

Interested in a new ISP but confused like anything. Some queries that you can always ask customer service before opting for a new internet connection:

• Does the new ISP offer a promo price tag?
• Have you observed a price hike after the promo offer ends?
• Do you have to purchase a brand-new modem/router combo unit that’s compatible with the new service?
• Can you use the internet equipment already in use at home?
• What is the response rate of customer service, especially if regular outages take place in the area?
• How soon can one expect the service network to get fixed in case of major breakdowns or even if they are facing the occasional glitch?
• What about billing-related concerns that can randomly pop up?

Wrapping It Up

These and a lot more questions may come to your mind before you choose a new ISP for your home. That’s when you should contact the customer support center and let the service representative guide you, who will not just iron out glitches or related concerns but smoothen the process for you within no time. Furthermore, contacting support services is usually quite straightforward.

The selected ISP could have a few phone numbers, one for English-language customers and one for Spanish speakers, so it is easier for either one of them to contact the support center whenever they have any concerns. Most ISPs are known to have more than two numbers, so it can get a little tricky to reach out to them. But that’s not the only way you can get in touch with customer support. Subscribers have the option to email them or even contact them via their social handles and get their issues sorted within no time! Well, these are just some of the things that you can ask customer support and make the entire process simpler.