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Almost 90% of the UK population now has broadband internet in favour of dial-up. But how many of those people are happy with their service?

Like your energy, phone, cable TV and even mortgage, sometimes you can get yourself a better deal by switching your service provider. So many companies now have a broadband service it's relatively easy to find a good deal if you shop around.

First off, consider how much you use your internet. Most ISP's have usage caps, which means that once you've used over a certain amount, you start paying. If you're a heavy net user, go for a higher limit. This mainly applies if you do a lot of music or video downloading, or other large files. Although looking at web pages is technically downloading, it's not enough to exceed a standard usage cap.

Top speed is another factor governed by how much you use the net, and what for. If you enjoy watching videos or downloading, you're going to need a faster speed than someone who just surfs. Having said that, the technology used in making websites now means that many pages have longer loading times, so a slower speed wouldn't suit an impatient surfer.

Sometimes you're restricted when it comes to which broadband providers you could sign up with. Not all of them supply their service to all parts of the country, and if you have a cable line from Telewest or NTL then you'll have to get your broadband from them too.

Once you've discovered which services you can get in your area - a site such as BroadbandGenie can help you with this - compare those providers and see what the best deal is. If you just want cheap broadband, then the search should be easy, but many packages come with extras like firewalls, email addresses and the like. You can even get free broadband with certain phone companies, so ask your telephone provider about this.

Once you've found your new provider, contact your current one for a migrations authority (MAC) code, as your new provider will need this to connect you. If you currently have a cable connection and decide you want to go with an ADSL broadband provider, you'll also need to contact BT to sort out a line.

Theoretically, switching your ISP should be easy. The main difficulty some people have is retrieving their MAC code from their current supplier. They cannot withhold your MAC code for more than 5 working days unless you have already cancelled your contact or if the account holder is deceased, but some providers may try and persuade you to stay with them. You do not have to do this, but bear in mind if you are trying to leave before the contract is up, you may get charged.

Want broadband? Find cheap broadband by comparing broadband providers online.

J Tillotson is a UK author specialising in technology and communications.

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