Uswitch comments on mobile and broadband support being offered to families

Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, says: “As families across the UK brace themselves for a third national lockdown, and the constant challenge of juggling work and homeschooling, any extra support is welcome.

“It is particularly reassuring to see broadband and mobile networks doing their bit to help disadvantaged families, whose children are the most at risk of falling behind.

“Many of these support packages need to be accessed through your child’s school, so it’s always worth having a conversation with their teachers if you feel you may qualify for the extra help.

“If you do find yourself having to contact your provider for whatever reason during the coming weeks, Uswitch provides a useful guide on how you can reach your provider during lockdown.

Uswitch’s five quick fixes to make the most of your Wi-Fi at home:

1. Reboot your router - the classic ‘unplug it, leave it 30 seconds and plug it back in’. 

2. Location, location, location - if your router is located further away than it needs to be, try moving it to the room you’re most active in or the center of your home. 

3. Disconnect unnecessary devices - turn the Wi-Fi off on gadgets you’re not using, even if they’re in a drawer. They may be using bandwidth in the background.

4. Run a speed test - this will determine whether your router is running at the speeds you signed up for.

5. Purchase a Wi-Fi extender or ‘booster’ - this will optimise your broadband for faster and stronger connections.