Rutland County Council is sharing advice on how to make the most of your home broadband during the current the COVID-19 pandemic.

With everyone now spending more time at home, following government guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, there is even greater demand than normal for broadband services.

Whether you're working from home, ordering food online, using video calls to keep in touch with friends and family, or accessing home learning tools for children, the internet is now more important than ever.

In response, Rutland County Council is sharing trusted advice on how to get the most from your broadband and stay connected, with useful tips and advice available on its website.

Make sure you have the right broadband package for your home

· Ask your internet services provider if you are on the best available fibre broadband package for your budget

· If you are out of contract, shop around for the best deals using Ofcom's free, impartial checker.

· Following an agreement with the government, some internet service providers have removed data usage caps. Check if this applies to you

Tips on Staying Connected

Ofcom has shared lot of tips on how to stay connected during COVID -19. These include:

Use landline or WiFi calls, if you can

Move your router away from other devices and keep it switched on

Lower the demands on your connection

Try wired rather than wireless

Plug your router directly into your main phone socket

Test the speed on your broadband line

Tackle interference on your phone line

Check your broadband provider's website for advice

For more Ofcom advice, visit the Ofcom website.

Reducing Bandwidth

· Download films and TV programmes in Standard Definition, rather than High Definition

· Try to do this overnight when demand is low

· If you're using video calls or conferencing, turn the video off and use audio-only, which uses much less of your bandwidth

Optimise your computer or laptop performance

· Run fewer programmes at the same time and close any programmes when you're not using them

· Only install good quality apps

· Disable any apps that are running unnecessarily in the background

· Uninstall any non-essential apps

· Reclaim hard drive space and delete unnecessary files

· Check your computer regularly for malware

· Install the latest updates for your operating platform.

Getting the best mobile broadband coverage

Ofcom also offers tips and advice on how to improve your mobile broadband coverage and reception indoors.

For more information, click here.