Upgrading to ultrafast broadband

The availability of ultrafast broadband is increasing across Norfolk at a rapid rate.

Depending on which suppliers are active in your location you can either:

• Upgrade your service with your current broadband provider
• Change to a new broadband provider

There's already a lot of information available about how to upgrade broadband packages. If you want to find out more you can try these websites:

• www.ofcom.org.uk
• www.uswitch.com
• www.broadbandchoices.co.uk

We've also got a few hints and tips that you may find useful.

Check your current contract

If you're upgrading with your current provider, your existing contract length is unlikely to be an issue. But check with them when you place your order.

If you're switching providers you may have to pay a cancellation fee. This is if you end your contract before the minimum term.

Consider cancelling your landline telephone

Fibre optic cabling brings ultrafast broadband to your home. Most people have mobile phones and landlines are not used as much.

So you may not need the landline's old copper cabling and your old ADSL or FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) broadband service. If you only use your landline for occasional calls, you could save money by cancelling your landline telephone.

But do ensure there are no other services in your home that also use your landline. Examples of this might be alarm systems or assistive technology. Also remember to update your contact information for schools, the NHS, services, etc, if you choose to cancel.

Access to your email address

If you're changing your network provider you may lose access to your old email address. Or you may only be able to access your old email from a web browser, rather than the email app on your device.

Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can explain how to access your old email address if you choose to change provider.

You might want to make switching easier for now and in the future. We recommend using an ISP independent email provider, such as Gmail.com or Outlook.com. You can then switch your contact, sign-in, or security information to this new address.

If you do lose your old email address, remember to copy any important emails or contacts before you change service.

Compare deals and packages

Check for reviews of your chosen ISP. This will ensure you get the best service possible, as cheapest is not always best.

Consider the total cost of the service. This includes installation charges, or increases in monthly rental once you get past the initial term.

Some providers will give good deals on add-ons. This could include video streaming or telephony services. But you may not need them. Don't forget to consider the other value added services they may offer as standard, such as:

• Parental controls
• Firewalls
• Anti-virus software for your PCs
• Out-of-home access to public wifi hotspots

Think about where to have your service installed

Sometimes, the existing copper cabling into your home is in an inconvenient place. It may not be in the best spot for a wireless router or near a power socket for your new fibre optic router.

You may be able to have your new fibre optic service installed in a better position, so it's worth considering the best place to put it.

Make it easy to switch providers

If you're choosing to switch provider, check with your new provider on the migration process. Will they handle the cancellation of your old service? Or will you need to cancel it yourself?

You may need to book the best time to migrate your service to limit any disruption to your internet.