The Internet has become more of a necessity than a choice for users of all types. For those living in retirement communities, it is a way to keep in touch with loved ones and be able to speak face-to-face. All banking can be done online. And retirees can entertain themselves and their friends by watching movies and listening to music. How do seniors select the best internet service provider (ISP) for their needs? We have compiled this guide to assist you.
Availability Of ISPs
The first factor that will narrow your range of choices is to determine which ISPs are available in your area. Rural areas are often impacted by a lack of availability of ISPs, especially fiber optic and cable internet. You may have the opportunity of satellite internet. Although it wasn’t very good in the past, it has seen many recent improvements.
Similarly, fiber is still being rolled out at many locations, so you need to check if it is in your area yet or likely to be rolled out soon. For example, internet providers Sun City AZ have rolled out fiber internet for local residents and businesses.
Speed
Buffering when streaming is extremely annoying. Waiting for a movie to download can also be frustrating when you are waiting to watch it as a group and your friends have already arrived. Speed is important. Bear in mind that you will pay more for higher download and upload speeds. You may choose to go with 25 down and five up, for example, if you don’t do a lot of uploading. However, that won’t work if you are upstreaming your own games or music. Compare different options and their prices. You can do a free speed test at this link.
Price
In the USA, the average monthly charge for internet is $64. While some plans start at $40 per month, you can add an extra $15 for equipment, fees, and taxes. There may also be an installation fee, although some services offer free installation with specific plans.
Price per type also varies, but so does speed, so keep this in mind when making a choice. DSL will cost an average of $50 monthly, cable $52, fiber $59, and satellite $123 per month. However, some plans start at around $100.
Ultimately, you will have to choose the specific service you want, at a price that you can comfortably afford. Prices vary widely among ISPs, as do the services they offer. Where you live or work (for an office solution) may limit your choices. You should also consider how many devices will be used on your network. A larger family will require greater speed and bandwidth. You can keep costs lower if you only need capacity for a laptop and mobile phone. Decide how much download and upload speeds you need as these may not be identical.
Know what you need before you start looking and don’t be tempted by offers for more speed, for example, than you need.
