There are a wide variety of broadband options in Meath, with several broadband providers offering a number of packages and bundles for the home. We take a look at what’s available to you and compare packages across areas like price and speed to help you decide.
How do I compare broadband deals in Meath?
Before signing up to any deal, it’s really important to compare all of the broadband deals available in your area to make sure you get the best broadband package for you. Think about the price, broadband speed and contract length and consider whether or not you want to bundle your broadband with other products - like TV or phone - too.
Broadband providers in Meath
The Irish broadband market is extremely competitive at the moment. And, luckily, Meath is well-served in terms of broadband, with all of the main providers offering broadband there.
As well as broadband-only plans, some of these internet providers also allow you to add on a home phone or TV plan, too. It’s just a case of choosing the right broadband package for you and your needs.
What is the fastest broadband in Meath?
Broadband speed is really important and will have a massive impact on your experience of using the internet.
In terms of high-speed broadband, SIRO and Virgin Media have both rolled out their networks fairly widely across Meath, so speeds of up to 1,000Mbps are available in many areas. However, if you don’t happen to be in an area served by these networks, it’s very likely you’ll still be able to get speeds of up to 100Mbps through a fibre connection from one of the other providers.
Cheapest broadband Meath
Price is obviously one of the main things to think about when it comes to choosing a broadband package - nobody wants to overpay for their household services, and broadband is no exception. Consumers have loads of deals to choose from in the Irish broadband market at the moment, as internet providers come up with new offers all the time to compete with each other, which drives prices down.
However, before you choose the cheapest deal, make sure you look at all of the plan features so you can be confident it’s suitable for your needs.
Broadband Types in Meath
Depending on what you’re looking for, there are a wide variety of different home broadband options available in Meath. The type of broadband you go for will have an impact on the price and speeds you can get.
What are the different types of broadband?
ADSL/ADSL2 broadband
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband uses an existing home phone line to provide an internet connection of up to 24Mbps.
As this technology uses the phone line in your home, you’ll need a home phone line installed in order to avail of it. It’s also important to note that your distance from the nearest telephone exchange and the quality of your phone connection could impact your speed.
Providers of ADSL broadband include Digiweb, eir, Pure Telecom, Sky, and Vodafone, and introductory prices start at €25 per month. This type of broadband is generally good for those in rural areas as anyone with a phone line can avail of it.
Cable broadband
Cable broadband is another name for fibre broadband - with cable broadband, broadband is delivered to your home using fibre-optic cables. The fastest type of fibre connection is Fibre-to-the-Home, but Fibre-to-the-Cabinet is more common and can still offer speeds up to 500Mbps.
At present, cable broadband is available from many providers, such as eir, Digiweb, Magnet, Sky, Virgin Media, and Vodafone. The likes of SIRO, eir, enet and Virgin Media are continually working to roll out superfast speeds across Ireland, which means it’s getting easier and cheaper than ever to access high-speed internet.
However, in certain rural areas throughout the country, some fibre & superfast broadband packages still may not be available. If the broadband you want is not currently available in your area, consider the other types of broadband that are available - for example satellite broadband or ADSL - and see if one of these might work for you.
Fibre broadband
Fibre broadband is the quickest type of broadband connection, and as a result it can be more expensive than the likes of ADSL broadband.
With fibre broadband, broadband is delivered to your home using fibre-optic cables. The fastest type of fibre connection is Fibre-to-the-Home, which brings the fibre cables directly into your home - this can currently deliver speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
Other connections are known as Fibre-to-the-Cabinet, which delivers fibre to your nearest cabinet and then usually uses copper cables to bring the connection to your home. Speeds from up to 100Mbps up to 500Mbps are available through these types of connections from the likes of eir, Sky, Virgin Media and Vodafone. The actual speed you get will depend on your provider and your distance from the cabinet.
This type of broadband suits consumers who require fast speeds, but want to get broadband without having a phone line installed.
Mobile broadband
Mobile broadband means mobile internet access which is provided to customers through a mobile phone signal.
As the technology used to provide mobile broadband is the same as the one that lets you use your mobile phone, many mobile network carriers offer mobile broadband via mobile dongles and 4G SIMs. Dongles can enable mobile broadband access on laptops and PCs, while 4G SIM cards can be used to gain access to the internet on a tablet.
Mobile broadband can be useful for people who need access to the internet on the move, however bear in mind that if your mobile phone signal is bad where you live, you’ll likely get poor mobile broadband signal, too.
You’ll also need to keep an eye on data allowances if you opt for a mobile broadband plan, as these can be quite low, and the charges for going above the limit tend to be steep.
Satellite broadband
Satellite broadband is set up in a household through the installation of a satellite dish, and provides speeds of up to 50Mbps.
Although it is slower than other types of broadband, satellite broadband is that it can provide an internet connection to any home - this can be particularly important in rural areas, where laying cables is not possible. Unlike other broadband, satellite packages will have a cap on downloads - at the moment, these range from 10-100GB per month.
Why is the type of broadband and deal I want not available in my area?
Although Meath is well-served in terms of broadband options, if a certain type of broadband is not available in your area, it is likely because the broadband providers don’t have the infrastructure in place to service where you live just yet.
With the continuing rollout of superfast broadband from the likes of SIRO, eir and Virgin Media, it’s getting easier and cheaper than ever to access high-speed internet - so if you’re not able to avail of lightning fast speeds just yet, hopefully they’ll be coming your way soon.
Best broadband packages in Meath
If you’re used to getting your phone, TV and broadband from the one provider, you might want to opt for a package like this again - combining all of the elements into one manageable bill can be convenient, and you will generally get the best discounts if you opt to do so, too.
Phone and Broadband Deals
In terms of the best broadband and phone deals, you’ll need to think about what types of numbers you want to be able to call (i.e. landlines, mobiles or both) and whether you need an unlimited call plan or are happy with a set number of minutes.
Broadband Only Deals
If you’re happy with a standalone broadband product, and you don’t want to have a landline or traditional TV plan, you could opt for a broadband-only plan. There are loads of options in Meath and with the quality of streaming services nowadays, ditching the TV plan doesn’t mean going without great content.
Broadband and TV Deals
If you can’t live without TV, take a look at the TV and broadband packages available. It’s very likely that you will make bigger savings by opting for a broadband and TV package, rather than signing up to them both separately. You could also decide to add on extra sports or movie channels if you like, depending on what your needs are.