With broadband internet access now being widely considered an indispensible household utility, providers have been put under pressure to lower their costs and make broadband services more affordable for everyone. If you feel you're paying too much for your home broadband, there's a good chance you could save money by switching to a different supplier.

Broadband prices have traditionally been highest in rural and isolated parts of the UK, which are further from distribution centres and broadband infrastructure. The advent of fibre optic broadband has played an important role in bringing faster and more reliable internet access to these regions, and increasing competition is also good news for consumers in all parts of the UK when it comes to securing better broadband deals.

If you've never compared the broadband market before, you could be missing out on the best deals, especially as providers now offer a range of packages aimed at different user demographics. Considering your needs and desires from a broadband connection could help you identify areas for cost savings, as the amount you use the internet on a daily basis should be represented in the cost of your tariff.

If you only use your broadband connection for low bandwidth activities like sending emails and checking websites, you should check whether your provider offers capped broadband packages that place restrictions on the amount of content that can be downloaded, in exchange for a much lower monthly rate. These capped deals will generally be unsuitable for higher bandwidth users however, such as people who stream online videos, play online games or download and upload large files - frequent broadband users should ensure that their providers offer unlimited bandwidth to avoid incurring heavy charges.

Another way to find cheap broadband could be to settle for a slower speed connection, with between 2Mbps and 4Mbps being suitable for most everyday activities - though again this may not be a suitable or desirable option for everyone. You should also look at what's included in your broadband bundle, as it may be possible to reduce the cost of your package by opting out of some services you don't need.

When signing up for broadband, you should also check whether your provider offers discounts for paying by direct debit or signing up online. Visiting the homepages of broadband companies is recommended over using price comparison websites, as the former are more likely to feature information about the latest discounts and special offers.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.