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5 Things to Look For When Choosing an Internet Plan

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This article was brought to you by TIME.

Selamat Datang to the cultural melting pot that is Malaysia! Now that you’ve arrived, it’s time to start setting up your home. We know how much of a hassle it is to pick out your furniture and electrical appliances, and applying for utilities. Thank goodness it’s so much easier now with the Internet. But wait, you don’t have an Internet connection yet? These 5 tips will have you all set up in a jiffy.

1.    Internet Connection – Mobile or Fixed?

As far as Internet connections go, you can choose from either mobile or fixed line providers in Malaysia. As an Internet aficionado, you’ll know that a fixed line connection is the way to go go if you’re after speed and stability for a heavy user or are looking for something that will cater to you and your family. You can rest assured that your online games won’t lag and you won’t experience buffering while you’re streaming your TV shows and movies using a fibre home broadband connection.

If you live alone or are constantly on the move, then it may make more sense for you to consider a mobile plan. However, mobile plans do come with a data limit, so you’ll have to be mindful of that.

2.   Faster is Better

When choosing an Internet plan, we normally ask about the kind of speeds that the Internet Service Provider (ISP) is able to provide. This is because we equate a higher speed with a better Internet connection. Let’s briefly revisit the point above – mobile ISPs’ fastest offering is 4G which translates to average download speeds of 14Mbps and upload speeds of 8Mbps. Fixed ISPs, however, are capable of providing plans that reach speeds of up to 500Mbps.

Just know that while fast is good; it’s not always necessary. For most online activities, a 100Mbps connection is more than sufficient. However, again, if you’re a heavy gamer or there are many members in your household, then, a higher “speed” or bandwidth is a better choice. This is because the speed you’re looking at can also be seen as a multi-lane highway. The more “lanes” you have, the more users your Internet connection can accommodate.

3. Value for Money

Let’s take a 100Mbps Internet plan as an example. The price can range from around RM150 to RM350 a month, depending on the ISP. Some plans offer Internet and voice only while others come packaged with other services that you may be interested in. It depends entirely on your needs and wants.

4. Speak to Your Loved Ones

Image from Flickr.

Moving to another country is never easy. The best cure for homesickness is picking up the phone and calling family and friends back home. You don’t have to worry about paying for extravagant IDD calls as most Internet plans also come with voice calls at excellent IDD rates. There are even voice plans bundled with services that allow you to carry your fixed line around with you so remember to ask and see what options are available to you.

5. Who’s Got Your Back?

When we subscribe to any service, one factor that is not always mentioned but plays a huge role in determining how happy we are is support. You want the reassurance that, regardless of the time of day, you’ll be taken care of. It also really helps if customer service information can be easily located on a website.

P.S: We’ve even included a link to give you a head start on finding the perfect Internet plan for you. Go check it out here.

 

 





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