First compare broadband with "dial up": going from 56 kb/s to 512 kb/s gives you 9x the speed
Comparing broadband with dial up, it isn't just the speed difference that you will notice. Your whole attitude to surfing the internet changes, when you are not having to watch the minutes. With broadband, the moment you switch your computer on, you can be connected to the internet. Sending and receiving attachments by email is less of a hassle as you are not sitting waiting for the files to go through.
There are some stunningly "cheap" offers in the market, but the old maxim applies: you get what you pay for! So you need to compare broadband specifications to look at what lies behind the dazzling marketing offers.
Compare broadband supply methods to see key differences:
Local Loop Unbundling: Some companies are investing in BT exchanges with their own equipment (so-called "DSLAMs"). This allows them to offer lower prices, but only where they have coverage. One of the problem areas in LLU to date (judging from people writing on internet forums) is determining whether a service fault is down to the LLU operator's own DSLAM; a fault on the copper line rented from BT; or simply that a specific line is not able to support that speed of service.
Datastream: Providers install a Virtual Path ("VP") to a telephone exchange (eg a 2Mb link), resulting in lower costs as the service leaves the BT network at this point. However, lower cost has often been at the sacrifice of quality if too many subscribers are provisioned on the link and there isn't capacity for demand at peak times. This has resulted in a "pile 'em high" style service performance for many operators.
To simplify things, imagine that an internet service provider (ISP) offering datastream has rented a 2Mb VP which would have up to 100 ports to support 100 1Mb users (100 x 1Mb at 50:1). This ISP has paid for the VP and therefore wants to put as many users as possible on to the VP to maximise their profits.
User 1 signs up with the ISP for a 1 Mb connection and has a nice new shiny 2Mb VP alll to themselves. Speeds are good, and User 1 is happy. User 2 signs up for another 1Mb connection. Things are still good. User 3 signs up: now we have 3 x 1Mb users all sharing the same connection, but it is unlikely that all 3 will require bandwidth at the same time, so things are still fine. But as Users 4, 5 and 6 come on board, we start to see some slow downs, and things then soon start to get worse.
This is exactly what happened with some of the major datastream providers, who saw customer relations starting to sour. Some ISPs who have tried Datastream went back to using IPstream. However, if it is managed correctly, Datastream can be better suited to provide Quality of Service (QoS) and we make this technology available for uncontended service.
IPStream: the broadband connection is made over the BT main network, resulting in a very resilient service but at a small price premium. Any faults that arise which are not with the end users' PC or router become BT's issue, thus removing the ambiguity that arises when faults occur with both Datastream and LLU services. This is the primary service that we have selected.
Having looked at delivery methods, you should also compare broadband bandwidth.
Depending on whether you are looking for home, home office, small office, or larger office network, will determine the bandwidth you wish to select. We recommend going for the largest amount of bandwidth you can afford, but you can always upgrade on our service.
 Compare broadband prices and bandwidth
To properly compare broadband you also need to look at "contention": it makes a substantial difference to the actual speed if there are 20 or 50 users sharing the service at peak times. And, when you compare broadband, please take into account that we offer a 1 month contract and do not tie you in to a year or more.
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