Just like other developed parts of the world, remote work also surged in the UK after the COVID-19 pandemic. While currently it’s not as high as it was in 2020, 14% of professionals in the UK still work remotely, and 26% work in a hybrid environment.
There are many studies out there, suggesting that remote work can boost your work efficiency. But if your broadband connection is unreliable or slow, it can seriously disrupt your workflow.
That’s why we’ve compiled this guide. It’ll help you understand how to choose the best broadband in your area and optimise it for the best performance.
Choosing the Best Broadband in Your Area
When exploring the best broadband deals in your area, it’s important to consider the following key factors to opt for the right option.
- Evaluate Your Internet Usage: Determine how much bandwidth your home office needs based on activities like video conferencing, file uploads and downloads, and simultaneous use by other household members.
- Check Availability: Look into reliable broadband providers in your area with good ratings and customer reviews, and explore the deals they offer.
- Compare Speeds: Check the download and upload speeds offered by different providers to see if they meet your requirements for work, as well as, entertainment.
- Consider Contract Length: Review the contract terms, including length and flexibility, to find a plan that suits your long-term needs.
- Check for Bundles and Deals: Explore available bundled options and/or special offers that offer better value for your money.
- Understand the Costs: Make sure you understand the total costs, including installation fees, monthly charges, and price hikes during or after the contract period.
Tips to Optimise Your Home Network for Improved Productivity
Once you have selected the right broadband deal for your home office, consider the tips listed below to optimise your network for improved productivity.
Use a Wired Connection
It’s important to use a wired connection, especially for devices that remain stationary, such as desktop computers, scanners, and printers. That’s because a wired connection ensures a stable link to the router and prevents signal loss and interference that can occur with wireless connections.
This stability is crucial to maintaining consistent performance during important tasks such as video conferencing, large file transfers, and printing high-resolution documents.
Position Your Router the Right Way
If you need to use portable devices like a smartphone or tablet for your office work, you would already know that they can’t be connected to the internet through Ethernet. To ensure these devices receive a strong and reliable internet signal, you’ll need to position your router correctly.
Avoid keeping it behind obstacles or in cabinets that can reduce the Wi-Fi signal strength. Instead place it in a central, elevated location to prevent interference from walls or other electronic devices. It’ll improve the connectivity of all the Wi-Fi devices throughout your office space.
Disconnect Unnecessary Devices
If you’re constantly experiencing slow internet speeds, the issue might be too many devices connected to your network. Even if your router is working well, multiple devices competing for bandwidth can affect performance negatively.
Therefore, you should check all the devices connected to your network regularly and disconnect those that aren’t in use. It’ll allow you to make sure that the available bandwidth is only being used by the devices you need for your home office.
Delete/Close Applications
In simple terms, bandwidth is the amount of data transmitted over your internet connection within a specific timeframe. If you open too many applications on your home office setup, especially those that stream videos or download large files, it’ll consume a lot of bandwidth, and slow down your internet speed.
So, close these applications during work hours to avoid this issue. Additionally, ask everyone in your household to limit high-bandwidth activities to prevent unnecessary slowdowns.
Keep Office Hardware Up-to-Date
Outdated hardware, such as old computers or routers, can limit the performance of your internet connection. For example, an old router might not support the latest WiFi standards, which can result in slower speeds and less reliable connections.
Similarly, outdated computers might struggle to process data quickly, leading to delays even if your internet speed is adequate. That’s why it’s essential to update your home office hardware regularly so that your devices can handle the speeds provided by your broadband plan efficiently.
Reach Out to Your Provider
If you’ve tried all the tips discussed above and still face slow internet speeds, it’s time to contact your broadband provider. They’ll perform a detailed check of your internet connection to identify any problems that might be affecting your speed.
Common issues that people face include outdated equipment, service interruptions, or limitations with your current plan. If you’re facing any of these problems or any other technical issue, your provider can offer solutions to improve your internet performance.
Conclusion
As you can see, the process of optimising your home office starts with selecting the right broadband that meets your unique needs. Once you have the right connection, follow the tips discussed in this guide to make the most out of your network.
Lastly, if issues persist, don’t hesitate to reach out to your broadband provider to identify and resolve any underlying problems.
