Make sure you get the best broadband package in Offaly by comparing the best broadband deals.
Several broadband providers offer broadband in Offaly, so there is a wide variety of options available. Given the amount of choice, finding the right broadband package for you can be a challenge.
This is where Switcher.ie comes in. We show you what’s available so you can compare packages across a variety of criteria and choose the right plan.
Compare broadband deals in Offaly
Not all Irish broadband providers’ plans will be available in Offaly, but there are still lots of options to choose from, so you’ll need to think about what’s important to you before you choose a deal.
Research shows the three most important things people consider when they’re looking for a broadband deal are price, broadband speed and the length of the contract, so comparing these things is a good place to start.
Broadband providers in Offaly
There are several internet providers offering broadband packages in Offaly. The right broadband package for you will depend on your household’s needs. When you’re thinking about providers, you should consider whether you want to opt for a package - including TV or phone - or you’re happy with broadband-only.
Broadband Packages Offaly
You can get decent discounts by opting to bundle your TV and/or phone with your broadband, and some people also find it convenient that they only have to deal with one provider for all of these services, rather than dealing with several.
Broadband and Phone deals
When you’re comparing packages, think about the type of phone plan you need, the broadband speed you want and the price of the plan. All of these factors can help you to decide what the best broadband and phone deal is for you.
TV and Broadband Deals
If you like to get your TV and broadband from the same provider, there are lots of plans out there, so you should find one to suit you. There are also added extras you can consider, like Sky Sports, Sky Cinema or multi-room viewing, so make sure you think about all of these options before signing up.
Broadband-only deals
If you’re not interested in going for a bundled package, and think that a broadband-only plan would work for you, we’ve got information on the best standalone broadband plans in Offaly.
Broadband speeds Offaly
Most of us want the fastest broadband available - speed is generally the most important factor that people consider when comparing broadband, after price.
The likes of SIRO, eir 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.
In Offaly, Virgin Media has already rolled out plans with speeds up to 500Mbps in Tullamore. However, if you’re living outside of Tullamore, you may still be able to get high-speed broadband from one of the other providers operating in the county.
What broadband is available in Offaly?
If you’re looking for home broadband in Offaly, there are plenty of different broadband options to choose from. Remember, the type of broadband you have will impact on the speeds you can get, so carefully consider this before signing up.
What do the different types of broadband mean?
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.
Wireless broadband
Wireless broadband is a term that’s widely used - some people use it to refer to broadband that you can connect to via WiFi (so multiple devices can be connected at any one time), while others use it as another way to describe mobile broadband.
When we’re talking about broadband that you can connect to via WiFi, this works by using a wireless router, which converts an incoming signal and transmits it throughout your home. This signal is then picked up by any wireless-enabled devices within the transmission area, enabling them to connect to the wireless broadband.
The vast majority of broadband providers these days will provide a router to allow you to connect many devices to your home broadband via WiFi.
Cheapest broadband Offaly
The Irish broadband market is extremely competitive at the moment, with many internet providers offering significant introductory discounts to consumers signing up with them. This means that, if you’re signing up to a new broadband package, you should have some great deals to choose from.
However, price isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a plan, so make sure you don’t opt for the cheapest plan without taking other important details - like broadband speed - into account first.