Latest news with #serviceproviders
Zawya
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Zawya
Unlocking efficiency: The case for integrated service providers in mining
Given the threat of international decline, mining companies are under increasing pressure to streamline operations without affecting production as costs come under continual scrutiny. Despite this, many organisations still depend on a fragmented network of service providers, each with its contracts, processes, and communication protocols to meet their equipment, staffing, and maintenance needs. While working with multiple service providers might seem like a good way to access flexibility and specialist expertise, it often leads to duplicated efforts, increased costs, ineffective communication, and frustrating delays. A more practical approach is to utilise an integrated service provider. This simplifies operations by reducing friction, lowering costs, and enhancing service quality and uptime through a single central point of management. The hidden costs When services are split between different vendors, mining operations face an uphill battle to keep everyone on the same page. Meetings are repeated, data is siloed, and communication becomes a constant back-and-forth between various teams. The result is an unnecessarily bloated administrative burden, where every vendor must be managed, vetted for compliance, and evaluated for performance. Response times are slower when emergencies such as critical equipment failure arise, as responsibility is dispersed across multiple parties and projects stall while teams wait for updates, clarification, or coordination. Something as simple as repairs could involve several service provider touchpoints and redundant site visits, dragging out timelines and driving up costs. The power of simplification An integrated service provider brings together essential functions such as equipment supply, maintenance, safety audits, and staffing under one contract with a unified management structure. This streamlined setup delivers immediate benefits, and in high-pressure situations like unexpected equipment failures, the value of having a single, reliable point of contact becomes especially clear. Instead of scrambling to coordinate between multiple service providers, companies can rely on a cohesive team that already understands their infrastructure, protocols, and priorities. This can significantly reduce the time to resolution and mitigate operational risks. An integrated approach also reduces the administrative burden as fewer contracts, invoices, and points of contact mean less paperwork and more time for strategic tasks. Such an approach also results in enhanced quality control, as instead of managing multiple suppliers with varying standards, companies can work with one provider to ensure consistency across the board. More importantly, it gives the service provider the visibility to spot opportunities for synergy and efficiency that might be missed when services are split across different vendors. For example, maintenance schedules can be aligned with staffing and equipment supply, minimising downtime and maximising output. Cost savings and quick wins When services are bundled under a single umbrella, cost savings follow naturally. This is because where service volumes are consolidated, mining companies can increase their bargaining power. Instead of negotiating separately with each provider, a mining company can unlock value through economies of scale with reduced rates, rebates, or more favourable contractual terms. With fewer vendors to manage, they can also reduce the number of audits, training sessions, onboarding processes, and compliance checks required, which cuts down on both time and expense. The hours once spent coordinating multiple supplier relationships can instead be redirected toward core business tasks. Quality management also becomes more streamlined, with the ability to audit one provider's systems across multiple services, rather than assessing each supplier individually. Lifecycle value An integrated approach also makes it easier to tailor services to strategic goals. Whether that's improving safety, increasing equipment uptime, or supporting sustainability targets, there is greater alignment and clearer accountability across teams when one provider is responsible for multiple facets of the operation. Regular safety audits and quality assessments can be centralised to ensure consistency and reduce audit fatigue. The most compelling advantage of service integration lies in lifecycle value. When one provider manages an asset from cradle to grave, covering procurement to maintenance and repair, they're better positioned to optimise its performance over time. Additionally, there's no need to re-onboard new vendors at every stage or renegotiate terms with each new requirement, as everything is managed through one trusted partner with a big-picture view of the mine's operation. In this way, the total cost of ownership can be reduced, which helps mining companies plan and manage their assets more efficiently, minimising unplanned downtime and extending the useful life of critical infrastructure. Future-proofing mining operations As mining operations evolve, the need for seamless service delivery and tighter cost control will only become more pronounced. Integration provides a scalable solution that helps companies meet today's operational demands while positioning them to meet future challenges with agility and confidence. Through the simplification of their service provider portfolio, mining companies can move faster, respond better, and produce more with less friction. Choosing the right partner is key, however, and factors like local availability, strong logistics, technical capabilities, and a proven track record must all factor into the decision. The goal is to build a strategic relationship that supports everything from emergency response to long-term efficiency and performance improvements. In such a competitive, high-stakes industry like mining, reducing complexity can create a powerful advantage. Integration becomes more than operational convenience; it is a deliberate, forward-thinking strategy to cut costs, improve uptime, and future-proof mining operations.
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Zawya
Oman: New TRA campaign urges proper telecom wiring in buildings
Muscat: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has underscored the critical role of internal telecommunications wiring in ensuring high-quality and uninterrupted services inside residential and commercial buildings across the Sultanate of Oman. As part of an awareness campaign aimed at educating the public on the importance of proper internal telecom connections, the TRA noted that poor internal wiring is the leading cause of subscriber complaints received from various governorates. The Authority urged property owners, developers, and service providers to adopt the technical guidelines it has issued, which outline installation requirements and standards for internal wiring depending on the building type—whether it is a single-storey house, multi-storey building, commercial property, or an integrated residential compound. The guidelines aim to enhance network efficiency and boost the performance of digital services in homes and offices by ensuring reliable infrastructure from the outset. Recommendations by building type Single-storey residential buildings: The TRA recommends the use of copper cables of category six (CAT-6) or higher, extending from the main distribution box to all telecommunications sockets. A dedicated infrastructure should be installed to connect each wireless access point (Wi-Fi) to an independent cable, improving coverage and performance. It is also advisable to allocate a separate RJ45 cable for each television, security camera, ground-floor window, and main entrance to support smart home integration. Multi-storey residential buildings: A main distribution box should be installed on the ground floor, connected via vertical conduits to distribution boxes on each level. In larger buildings, the Authority suggests replacing individual boxes with a dedicated telecommunications room. Each housing unit should also have its own distribution box, connected through structured cabling ducts. Commercial buildings: Given the higher demand and specific nature of telecom services in commercial facilities, a dedicated telecommunications room should replace the main distribution box to manage the network effectively. Residential compounds: For larger housing developments, a central telecom room should be established at the heart of the compound. This room must connect to the external boundary via specialised conduits, with optical fibre cables linking it to all residential or commercial units within the compound. This setup ensures the delivery of high-speed, high-quality data services. The TRA affirmed that adherence to these technical standards will help create robust internal telecom networks that support the country's digital transformation efforts. The Authority further warned that failure to follow the approved specifications could result in continued poor service coverage within buildings, negatively impacting the end-user experience. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CNET
01-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Stop Overpaying for Internet: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Internet for Big Savings
You don't need a computer science degree to make sense of the internet plan you're paying for, but you do have to do a little research. ISPs often use flashy advertising or marketing to distract you from the hidden fees or price increases in your internet bill. Often, the clues to what your internet service bill will look like and the plan's speed are right in front of you, albeit engulfed in jargon; you just need to know what to look for. In the past year, as a broadband writer, I've spent hours reading through internet service provider offerings -- and the customer service reviews about those offerings. It can be boring, but the key to getting a decent internet deal -- one that saves you money and comes with enough speed -- is reading the fine print. If you share the sentiments of thousands of Americans who hate their internet service providers, you're probably not thrilled about the prospect of sifting through ISP promotional offers for hours. When the time comes to shop for home internet, it can be tempting to just buy whatever convenient internet plan your friends and neighbors are using and move on with your life. While our internet options are sorely limited depending on where we live, keep in mind that you'll have to live with the internet plan you pick. If it's too slow, you'll be picking up the phone in a few months to call customer service again. If you're getting lured into a plan with hidden fees and promo pricing, you might find your bill doubling after a year or a few months have passed. We rely on the internet for nearly everything these days. With fears of a looming recession and prices rising due to tariffs, it's crucial to find ways to save a little money on such an essential service. Here's my fool-proof method for finding the best internet plan for you. Locating local internet providers 10 common mistakes made when picking internet plans A little patience and some reading will go a long way with buying an internet plan -- but there are some specific terms to look out for. Before you even start shopping, you should have a good idea of how much speed you'll need and your budget. Here are the top 10 mistakes I've noticed people making when picking out an internet plan: We'll go over each of these in depth below so that when it comes to finding a good internet service provider, you'll be a pro. 1. Paying for internet speeds you don't need Getty Images Internet is already expensive once you factor in the equipment fees, hidden fees (more on those later) and potential yearly price increases. Don't overpay for internet speeds that you just won't use -- but you shouldn't settle for a low tier only to go crawling back to customer support for an upgrade to a higher tier later. The easiest way to avoid that strife is to take stock of how much internet speed your household is actually using before you begin shopping for a new plan. To start, count the number of gadgets and smart home devices in your home. Smart devices can be sneaky bandwidth hogs, often overlooked when considering internet usage. If you have more than 10 devices online concurrently during a typical day, with internet usage involving more than just browsing the web, a good rule of thumb is to stick to speeds of 500 megabits per second or higher. If you only have one or two devices on during the day and only one or two internet users working remotely, browsing the web, streaming or gaming at a time, you should be safe with 150 to 300Mbps. Since I work remotely and typically only use two devices simultaneously, AT&T Fiber's cheapest 300Mbps tier works just fine for me. If you've experienced excessive lag, buffering and Wi-Fi issues with your current tier, it might be time to size up. Your Wi-Fi setup could be to blame for your internet connectivity issues, so run down the list of possible solutions before upgrading. Advertised vs. actual speeds On that note, keep in mind that what your ISP is advertising as a maximum speed (in my case, 300Mbps), may not be the actual speeds you'll get consistently. Your actual speeds will likely be much slower -- especially if you're relying on Wi-Fi and connecting multiple devices to your network. Even 1,000Mbps tiers may face congestion and slowdowns, as CNET's Trisha Jandoc discovered in her home. When looking for a reliable internet plan, make sure you're taking a holistic look at your speed usage and factoring in slowdowns you may experience depending on the number of devices, the type of internet users in the house and the internet connection type. 2. Not considering the internet connection type Did you know there's more than one type of internet connection? You may have multiple internet connection types at your address; evaluate them all instead of opting for whatever is most convenient. Here's a quick rundown: Fiber internet : Typically considered the gold standard of broadband, fiber internet can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds -- a feat no other internet connection type can boast of yet. You may be eligible for fiber internet at an address previously only serviceable for cable, so it's worth asking your landlord or calling a fiber provider to see if you can get fiber. : Typically considered the gold standard of broadband, fiber internet can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds -- a feat no other internet connection type can boast of yet. You may be eligible for fiber internet at an address previously only serviceable for cable, so it's worth asking your landlord or calling a fiber provider to see if you can get fiber. Cable internet : Since fiber internet is much less available than cable internet, you're much more likely to be serviceable for cable instead of fiber. Cable is a decent second-best option, with speeds that can reach multi-gig levels (though upload speeds remain sorely lacking). : Since fiber internet is much less available than cable internet, you're much more likely to be serviceable for cable instead of fiber. Cable is a decent second-best option, with speeds that can reach multi-gig levels (though upload speeds remain sorely lacking). 5G or fixed wireless internet : If you can't get either fiber or cable, consider 5G internet. Wireless internet is becoming increasingly popular, and Verizon 5G and T-Mobile Home Internet have dominated the space in recent years. Verizon's 5G home internet plans claim to offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps and T-Mobile just boosted its speeds and added a new speed tier. : If you can't get either fiber or cable, consider 5G internet. Wireless internet is becoming increasingly popular, and Verizon 5G and T-Mobile Home Internet have dominated the space in recent years. Verizon's 5G home internet plans claim to offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps and T-Mobile just boosted its speeds and added a new speed tier. Satellite internet: With nearly 100% availability, satellite internet is a safe bet for rural communities or those on the go, but it tends to be high in costs and is prone to network congestion. Unless you don't have another option, consider satellite and DSL internet a last resort. 3. Falling for promotional pricing and flashy advertising A recent CNET survey found that 63% of adults are paying more for their internet than they paid last year. Internet providers are profit-motivated first. If you stumble upon a cheap internet plan or deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, if you decide to call before you do some research, your customer service representative will probably try to talk you into either upgrading to a faster (more expensive) plan or adding some services you simply don't need. Xfinity's FCC-mandated broadband nutrition label displays the "post-introductory price" after one year of service: the monthly cost jumps from $55 to $89. Screenshot by Cierra Noffke/CNET Pricing traps and promotional bait are popular among ISPs. Your best defense is to always read the fine print -- especially before you pick up the phone to sign up for a plan. If you're not careful, you could be roped into a two-year contract, with your bill increasing exponentially in the next year. Cable providers Xfinity, Astound and Spectrum are notorious for price increases that can range from $20 to $30 more after a promotional period. In the case of Xfinity, your bill might double after the first year, unless you sign up for a price-lock. If you closely examine the FCC-mandated broadband nutrition labels, you can see what your monthly bill will look like after the promo period ends. 4. Not reading the fine print to look for contracts, hidden fees or data caps OK, I know it's boring and arguably the worst part about picking a good internet plan, but reading through the terms of service is the best way to figure out what the internet plan you're looking at actually entails. Consult your ISP's broadband nutrition labels for basic facts and read their full terms of service for any follow-up issues you uncover. If you still have outstanding questions, write them down and make sure you ask them when you call. First, make sure you're not signing up for a contract unless you have no other option. Contracts require you to stick with an internet service for the entire term. If you decide your internet plan isn't working for you halfway through, you'll either suffer for the next six months or pay a hefty termination fee. Screenshot of Sparklight's broadband nutrition labels across three plans. Notice how Sparklight describes the data included with each plan as "Unlimited." If you read the fine print, you'll find it actually enforces a soft cap of 5TB. Screenshot/CNET Next, make sure you're checking for data caps. The broadband nutrition label should indicate any data caps, but sometimes, ISPs won't use the broadband labels to clearly state whether they're enforcing a data cap (looking at you, Sparklight), so you'll have to read through the fine print. Also, sometimes ISPs enforce "soft caps" or use "priority data," which means your internet speeds will be throttled once you max out your allotted data. Lastly, are there any hidden fees or junk fees you should worry about? That promotional price of $30 a year for 150Mbps may seem attractive initially, but if your provider leases equipment for an additional $15 and enforces a maintenance fee of $12 monthly, you're looking at $57 monthly. In some cases, you may be able to call and negotiate with your ISP to waive a few of those fees. If you're trying to cut back on initial internet costs, consider installing your internet yourself. 5. Not calculating the cost per Mbps The cost per Mbps is a great way to gauge how good of a deal your internet plan is. Internet prices fluctuate depending on the internet connection type, regional pricing or related market issues. The cost per Mbps is the ratio between the monthly rate (excluding taxes and extra fees) and the advertised speeds -- or the price you're paying for 1Mbps of speed. You can find the cost per Mbps by dividing the monthly rate by the plan's max speed. A good rule of thumb is to stick to a cost per Mbps between 10 and 25 cents or lower -- if you can. Anything lower than 10 cents per Mbps is usually a good deal. I'll caution that the high speeds of fiber internet plans can make using the cost per Mbps approach confusing. For example, AT&T's fastest tier of 5,000Mbps costs $245 a month. That's a hefty price for a lot of speed. The cost per Mbps of that plan comes out to 5 cents, which is pretty good by broadband standards but an unrealistic monthly rate for home internet. If you're thinking of picking a plan with promotional pricing, compare the cost per Mbps for both the introductory and post-introductory rates. Spectrum's $50 for 500Mbps plan comes out to a decent 10 cents per Mbps, but if you stick with that plan for a year, your monthly rate will jump to $80, which is a much higher 16 cents per Mbps. In that case, consider shopping around after your promo period ends. 6. Not comparing internet plans or reading customer reviews I know, I know, I've already asked you to read the terms of service for one ISP, and now I'm asking you to cross-analyze the offerings from multiple ISPs. It's tedious work but the only way to ensure you're getting the best deal is to carefully read and compare the terms of service of all the ISPs in your area. Now that you know what to look for, you can compare the cost per Mbps and terms of service across different ISP plans. If you're one of the lucky few who can choose between more than one or two decent internet providers, you should choose carefully. The terms of service will give you a good sense of what to expect from your internet plan but those words are written from an ISP perspective. You should always take customer reviews with a grain of salt but they're usually an honest portrayal of how those service terms actually play out. For example, if people express consistent confusion about price hikes, consider that a red flag about promotional pricing traps. You can turn to resources like Reddit for city-specific threads about ISPs or the Better Business Bureau for a closer look at what people didn't like about their service. 7. Ignoring tech support and security We usually don't think about our internet until something starts going wrong. Like most internet shoppers, you're probably not planning for connectivity issues and if you pick a good ISP and speed, hopefully, you won't have to deal with those issues. But internet connectivity problems are inevitable, whether it's a problem with your equipment, your Wi-Fi setup, outages your provider is experiencing or more significant problems beyond your control. If you can choose between a good ISP without free tech support and a good ISP with free tech support, opt for the support. You'll never know when you'll have to make a phone call to troubleshoot your connection or your equipment. 8. Not buying your own routerBefore I started writing about home internet, I never considered my router and I couldn't tell you the difference between a modem and a router. But now I know that it can save you money to buy your equipment upfront instead of paying an extra $10 to your ISP every month. Most routers cost $200 or less, which will pay for itself in a little more than a year. Plus, you won't have to worry about racing to return your equipment when your plan ends. There's also a chance your router can offer better performance than the one your ISP offers. CNET's Joe Supan saved nearly $1,000 by buying his own router instead of renting from Xfinity and he noticed improved upload speeds after doing so. Just note that if you buy your own router, you likely won't be eligible for tech assistance from your ISP anymore, and they may even try to blame your internet connectivity issues on your router. Most router manufacturers -- notably TP-Link, Netgear, and Linksys -- offer their own customer service support anyway. 9. Not looking at mobile bundle discounts (or other deals) The best home internet discounts typically come from bundling with your ISP's mobile service. Switching over your mobile service provider can be a hassle if you don't already get service from the same company but you could save as much as $35 each month on internet by doing so. Astound and Mediacom offer some of the best mobile discount opportunities but you may have other options, too. ISPs often try to lure customers with low pricing or other add-ons, and while some deals aren't worth signing up for, others, like T-Mobile's $300 gift card and Frontier Fiber's $30 plan for 500Mbps, are worth a try. 10. Not thinking twice about your router placement Last but not least, after you've done your research and committed to a plan, you'll have to pick a date for installation. Most people trust that the technicians who install their equipment will pick the best place in the house, but that's not always the case. Wi-Fi works best with an optimized setup. If you can place your router/modem in a central spot in the house, closest to where you're working or where your most used TV is located, work with your technician to make that happen. You can always invest in some Wi-Fi extenders or a mesh network if you think the connectivity will be an issue but don't assume your technician knows what's best. After all, this is your internet plan, and you'll be using it every day. FAQs Should I rent or buy my modem or router? It may seem daunting to buy your own router, but the decision could save you money in the long run. Most routers cost around $200, which should pay for itself after a year since many ISPs charge $10 to $15 for equipment rental. If you buy your own router, your ISP won't be able to offer tech support if there's an issue with the equipment, but router manufacturers often come with their own tech support anyway. Plus, newer routers often perform better than the routers ISPs rent out -- CNET broadband writer Joe Supan bought his own router (which saved him nearly $1,000), and he saw improved upload speeds with his cable internet.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
ITC underscores the importance of providing valet parking services exclusively through licensed operators
Abu Dhabi – The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), affiliated with the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has issued a notice stressing that all entities offering valet parking services must obtain official licences from the ITC before commencing any activity within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It clarified that providing such services without a licence, or misusing an existing one, constitutes a violation of the approved laws and regulations and subjects offenders to legal accountability. The ITC explained that its field inspection teams continue to carry out regular monitoring campaigns at service locations to ensure compliance with regulations and to maintain a safe and organised environment that reflects Abu Dhabi's quality of life standards. In this regard, the Integrated Transport Centre urged relevant entities such as hotels, shopping centres and service providers to review their legal standing and verify the validity of their permits in line with the approved requirements. The Centre also emphasised the importance of the public choosing licensed providers when using valet parking services, to safeguard their rights and ensure the safety of their vehicles. The ITC confirmed that any reports of illegal practices or violations related to valet parking services will be received through the official communication channels. This comes as part of the Centre's ongoing efforts to enhance oversight, regulate service provision, and preserve the Emirate's civilised image. This directive forms part of the ITC's continued efforts to improve service quality, reinforce adherence to legislation, and ensure a safe, integrated mobility system that supports smoother traffic flow and contributes to enhancing overall quality of life. -Ends- About Integrated Transport Centre: The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), affiliated with the Department of Municipalities and Transport, is the legislative, regulatory, and supervisory authority responsible for managing and developing the transport sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It formulates policies and frameworks aimed at establishing a smart, safe, and integrated mobility system that supports the Emirate's aspiration to be among the most advanced cities in the world. ITC oversees all land, maritime, and aviation transport activities across the Emirate, ensuring the integration and advancement of the mobility system in line with urban expansion and population growth. It also strives to harness the latest technologies, innovation, and sustainability tools to meet future mobility demands, enhance quality of life, and redefine urban living standards by embedding advanced solutions and promoting sustainable mobility practices.
CNET
21-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
You're Buying Your Internet Wrong: Avoid These Top 10 Mistakes To Save Money
You don't need to be a genius to pick out a good internet plan, but you do have to do a little research. Important information is often buried in the terms of service beneath marketing and industry-speak. I've spent hours reading through internet service provider offerings -- and the customer service reviews about those offerings. It's boring, but the key to getting a decent internet deal -- one that saves you money and comes with enough speed -- is reading the fine print. If you share the sentiments of thousands of Americans who hate their internet service providers, you're probably not thrilled about the prospect of sifting through ISP promotional offers for hours. When the time comes to shop for home internet, it can be tempting to just buy whatever convenient internet plan your friends and neighbors are using and move on with your life. While our internet options are sorely limited depending on where we live, keep in mind that you'll have to live with the internet plan you pick. If it's too slow, you'll be picking up the phone in a few months to call customer service again. If you're getting lured into a plan with hidden fees and promo pricing, you might find your bill doubling after a year or a few months have passed. We rely on the internet for nearly everything these days. With fears of a looming recession and prices rising due to tariffs, it's crucial to find ways to save a little money on such an essential service. Here's my fool-proof method for finding the best internet plan for you. 10 common mistakes made when picking internet plans A little patience and some reading will go a long way with buying an internet plan -- but there are some specific aspects of the plan to look out for. Before you even start shopping, you should have a good idea of how much speed you'll need and your budget. Locating local internet providers ISPs often use flashy advertising or marketing to distract you from the hidden fees or price increases in your internet bill. You don't need a computer science degree to make sense of the internet plan you're paying for. Often, the clues to what your internet service bill will look like and the plan's speed are right in front of you, albeit engulfed in jargon; you just need to know what to look for. Here are the top 10 mistakes I've noticed people making when picking out an internet plan: We'll go over each of these in depth below so that when it comes to finding a good internet service provider, you'll be a pro. 1. Paying for internet speeds you don't need Getty Images Internet is already expensive once you factor in the equipment fees and hidden fees (more on those later). Don't overpay for internet speeds that you just won't use. And don't settle for a low tier only to go crawling back to customer support for an upgrade to a higher tier later. The easiest way to avoid that strife is to take stock of how much internet speed your household is actually using before you begin shopping for a new plan. To start, count the number of gadgets and smart home devices in your home. Smart devices can be sneaky bandwidth hogs, often overlooked when considering internet usage. If you have more than 10 devices online concurrently during a typical day, with internet usage involving more than just browsing the web, a good rule of thumb is to stick to speeds of 500 megabits per second or higher. If you only have one or two devices on during the day and only one or two internet users working remotely, browsing the web, streaming or gaming at a time, you should be safe with 150 to 300Mbps. Since I work remotely and typically only use two devices simultaneously, AT&T Fiber's cheapest 300Mbps tier works just fine for me. If you've experienced excessive lag, buffering and Wi-Fi issues with your current tier, it might be time to size up. Your Wi-Fi setup could be to blame for your internet connectivity issues, so run down the list of possible solutions before upgrading. Advertised vs. actual speeds On that note, keep in mind that what your ISP is advertising as a maximum speed (in my case, 300Mbps), may not be the actual speeds you'll get consistently. Your actual speeds will likely be much slower -- especially if you're relying on Wi-Fi and connecting multiple devices to your network. Even 1,000Mbps tiers may face congestion and slowdowns, as CNET's Trisha Jandoc discovered in her home. When looking for a reliable internet plan, make sure you're taking a holistic look at your speed usage and factoring in slowdowns you may experience depending on the number of devices, the type of internet users in the house and the internet connection type. 2. Not considering the internet connection type Did you know there's more than one type of internet connection? You may have multiple internet connection types at your address; evaluate them all instead of opting for whatever is most convenient. Here's a quick rundown: Fiber internet : Typically considered the gold standard of broadband, fiber internet can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds -- a feat no other internet connection type can boast of yet. You may be eligible for fiber internet at an address previously only serviceable for cable, so it's worth asking your landlord or calling a fiber provider to see if you can get fiber. : Typically considered the gold standard of broadband, fiber internet can deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds -- a feat no other internet connection type can boast of yet. You may be eligible for fiber internet at an address previously only serviceable for cable, so it's worth asking your landlord or calling a fiber provider to see if you can get fiber. Cable internet : Since fiber internet is much less available than cable internet, you're much more likely to be serviceable for cable instead of fiber. Cable is a decent second-best option, with speeds that can reach multi-gig levels (though upload speeds remain sorely lacking). : Since fiber internet is much less available than cable internet, you're much more likely to be serviceable for cable instead of fiber. Cable is a decent second-best option, with speeds that can reach multi-gig levels (though upload speeds remain sorely lacking). 5G or fixed wireless internet : If you can't get either fiber or cable, consider 5G internet. Wireless internet is becoming increasingly popular, and Verizon 5G and T-Mobile Home Internet have dominated the space in recent years. Verizon's 5G home internet plans claim to offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps and T-Mobile just boosted its speeds and added a new speed tier. : If you can't get either fiber or cable, consider 5G internet. Wireless internet is becoming increasingly popular, and Verizon 5G and T-Mobile Home Internet have dominated the space in recent years. Verizon's 5G home internet plans claim to offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps and T-Mobile just boosted its speeds and added a new speed tier. Satellite internet: With nearly 100% availability, satellite internet is a safe bet for rural communities or those on the go, but it tends to be high in costs and is prone to network congestion. Unless you don't have another option, consider satellite and DSL internet a last resort. 3. Falling for promotional pricing and flashy advertising A recent CNET survey found that 63% of adults are paying more for their internet than they paid last year. Internet providers are profit-motivated first. If you stumble upon a cheap internet plan or deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, if you decide to call before you do some research, your customer service representative will probably try to talk you into either upgrading to a faster (more expensive) plan or adding some services you simply don't need. Xfinity's FCC-mandated broadband nutrition label displays the "post-introductory price" after one year of service: the monthly cost jumps from $55 to $89. Screenshot by Cierra Noffke/CNET Pricing traps and promotional bait are popular among ISPs. Always read the fine print -- especially before you call. If you're not careful, you could be roped into a two-year contract, with your bill increasing exponentially in the next year. Cable providers Xfinity, Astound and Spectrum are notorious for price increases that can range from $20 to $30 more after a promotional period. In the case of Xfinity, your bill might double after the first year, unless you sign up for a price-lock. If you closely examine the FCC-mandated broadband nutrition labels, you can see what your monthly bill will look like after the promo period ends. 4. Not reading the fine print to look for contracts, hidden fees or data caps OK, I know it's boring and arguably the worst part about picking a good internet plan, but reading through the terms of service is the best way to figure out what the internet plan you're looking at actually entails. Consult your ISP's broadband nutrition labels for basic facts and read their full terms of service for any follow-up issues you uncover. If you still have outstanding questions, write them down and make sure you ask them when you call. First, make sure you're not signing up for a contract unless you have no other option. Contracts require you to stick with an internet service for the entire term. If you decide your internet plan isn't working for you halfway through, you'll either suffer for the next six months or pay a hefty termination fee. Screenshot of Sparklight's broadband nutrition labels across three plans. Notice how Sparklight describes the data included with each plan as "Unlimited." If you read the fine print, you'll find it actually enforces a soft cap of 5TB. Screenshot/CNET Next, make sure you're checking for data caps. The broadband nutrition label should indicate any data caps, but sometimes, ISPs won't use the broadband labels to clearly state whether they're enforcing a data cap (looking at you, Sparklight), so you'll have to read through the fine print. Also, sometimes ISPs enforce "soft caps" or use "priority data," which means your internet speeds will be throttled once you max out your allotted data. Lastly, are there any hidden fees or junk fees you should worry about? That promotional price of $30 a year for 150Mbps may seem attractive initially, but if your provider leases equipment for an additional $15 and enforces a maintenance fee of $12 monthly, you're looking at $57 monthly. In some cases, you may be able to call and negotiate with your ISP to waive a few of those fees. If you're trying to cut back on initial internet costs, consider installing your internet yourself. 5. Not calculating the cost per Mbps The cost per Mbps is a great way to gauge how good of a deal your internet plan is. Internet prices fluctuate depending on the internet connection type, regional pricing or related market issues. The cost per Mbps is the ratio between the monthly rate (excluding taxes and extra fees) and the advertised speeds -- or the price you're paying for 1Mbps of speed. You can find the cost per Mbps by dividing the monthly rate by the plan's max speed. A good rule of thumb is to stick to a cost per Mbps between 10 and 25 cents or lower -- if you can. Anything lower than 10 cents per Mbps is usually a good deal. I'll caution that the high speeds of fiber internet plans can make using the cost per Mbps approach confusing. For example, AT&T's fastest tier of 5,000Mbps costs $245 a month. That's a hefty price for a lot of speed. The cost per Mbps of that plan comes out to 5 cents, which is pretty good by broadband standards but an unrealistic monthly rate for home internet. If you're thinking of picking a plan with promotional pricing, compare the cost per Mbps for both the introductory and post-introductory rates. Spectrum's $50 for 500Mbps plan comes out to a decent 10 cents per Mbps, but if you stick with that plan for a year, your monthly rate will jump to $80, which is a much higher 16 cents per Mbps. In that case, consider shopping around after your promo period ends. 6. Not comparing internet plans or reading customer reviews I know, I know, I've already asked you to read the terms of service for one ISP, and now I'm asking you to cross-analyze the offerings from multiple ISPs. It's tedious work but the only way to ensure you're getting the best deal is to carefully read and compare the terms of service of all the ISPs in your area. Now that you know what to look for, you can compare the cost per Mbps and terms of service across different ISP plans. If you're one of the lucky few who can choose between more than one or two decent internet providers, you should choose carefully. The terms of service will give you a good sense of what to expect from your internet plan but those words are written from an ISP perspective. You should always take customer reviews with a grain of salt but they're usually an honest portrayal of how those service terms actually play out. For example, if people express consistent confusion about price hikes, consider that a red flag about promotional pricing traps. You can turn to resources like Reddit for city-specific threads about ISPs or the Better Business Bureau for a closer look at what people didn't like about their service. 7. Ignoring tech support and security We usually don't think about our internet until something starts going wrong. Like most internet shoppers, you're probably not planning for connectivity issues and if you pick a good ISP and speed, hopefully, you won't have to deal with those issues. But internet connectivity problems are inevitable, whether it's a problem with your equipment, your Wi-Fi setup, outages your provider is experiencing or more significant problems beyond your control. If you can choose between a good ISP without free tech support and a good ISP with free tech support, opt for the support. You'll never know when you'll have to make a phone call to troubleshoot your connection or your equipment. 8. Not buying your own routerBefore I started writing about home internet, I never considered my router and I couldn't tell you the difference between a modem and a router. But now I know that it can save you money to buy your equipment upfront instead of paying an extra $10 to your ISP every month. Most routers cost $200 or less, which will pay for itself in a little more than a year. Plus, you won't have to worry about racing to return your equipment when your plan ends. There's also a chance your router can offer better performance than the one your ISP offers. CNET's Joe Supan saved nearly $1,000 by buying his own router instead of renting from Xfinity and he noticed improved upload speeds after doing so. Just note that if you buy your own router, you likely won't be eligible for tech assistance from your ISP anymore, and they may even try to blame your internet connectivity issues on your router. Most router manufacturers -- notably TP-Link, Netgear, and Linksys -- offer their own customer service support anyway. 9. Not looking at mobile bundle discounts (or other deals) The best home internet discounts typically come from bundling with your ISP's mobile service. Switching over your mobile service provider can be a hassle if you don't already get service from the same company but you could save as much as $35 each month on internet by doing so. Astound and Mediacom offer some of the best mobile discount opportunities but you may have other options, too. ISPs often try to lure customers with low pricing or other add-ons, and while some deals aren't worth signing up for, others, like T-Mobile's $300 gift card and Frontier Fiber's $30 plan for 500Mbps, are worth a try. 10. Not thinking twice about your router placement Last but not least, after you've done your research and committed to a plan, you'll have to pick a date for installation. Most people trust that the technicians who install their equipment will pick the best place in the house, but that's not always the case. Wi-Fi works best with an optimized setup. If you can place your router/modem in a central spot in the house, closest to where you're working or where your most used TV is located, work with your technician to make that happen. You can always invest in some Wi-Fi extenders or a mesh network if you think the connectivity will be an issue but don't assume your technician knows what's best. After all, this is your internet plan, and you'll be using it every day. FAQs Should I rent or buy my modem or router? It may seem daunting to buy your own router, but the decision could save you money in the long run. Most routers cost around $200, which should pay for itself after a year since many ISPs charge $10 to $15 for equipment rental. If you buy your own router, your ISP won't be able to offer tech support if there's an issue with the equipment, but router manufacturers often come with their own tech support anyway. Plus, newer routers often perform better than the routers ISPs rent out -- CNET broadband writer Joe Supan bought his own router (which saved him nearly $1,000), and he saw improved upload speeds with his cable internet.
