Choosing home Internet: what should you ask before installation?

Check your address before comparing prices

An advertised price is not yet a quote for your home. The same plan can cost more in inner-city than outlying areas, and installation depends on available infrastructure.

Tammi keeps “from” prices and coverage conditions next to each plan. A lower starting price does not make a plan the cheapest nationwide.

1. Choose 2–3 plans from the home Internet category.
2. Send your installation address to each provider’s official channel to confirm service availability.
3. Request quotes at the same time and for the same service period.

Separate Internet speed from Wi-Fi coverage

The plan’s speed is only part of the experience. Router location, obstacles and receiving devices also affect wireless connectivity. A multi-storey home may need a coverage survey rather than simply a higher-Mbps plan.

Note where you usually study, attend meetings or watch TV, and which devices are used at the same time. If you often upload videos or back up files, compare upload speeds as well as download speeds.

Compare the total cost, not just the monthly fee

Use the same comparison table for each option: service charges, connection fees, equipment or Mesh, bundled services and the amount due in advance. Separate one-off fees from recurring costs.

Tammi’s suggested calculation: total cost over 12 months = service charges payable for 12 months + initial fees + confirmed additional charges. If a plan includes extra months, record the total service period separately; do not treat this as the same as the listed monthly fee.

1. Ask whether VAT is included.
2. Ask how long the promotional price lasts and what the price will be afterwards.
3. Ask about fees for moving home, changing plans or ending service early.
4. Check the contract to see whether equipment is loaned, rented or sold to you.

Confirm the contract and check after installation

Keep the quote and commitment terms before paying. Confirm whether you are getting standalone Internet or a bundle, the number of devices and the scope of support.

After installation, test in the places where you actually use the connection. If you have a suitable computer and cable, also test over Ethernet for comparison. Tammi measures the connection to Cloudflare, so its result is one diagnostic check, not a replacement for acceptance testing under your contract.