How to save on your fibre optic bill

Having a fibre optic connection at home has become essential, but that doesn’t mean you should be paying more than you need to. To that end, we’re going to look at some practical tips for cutting the cost of your internet bill without sacrificing quality. We’ll talk about how to adjust your plan to your needs, examples of savings with different telecoms companies, and how to optimise your internet use at home. The tone is friendly and the tips are easy to apply, so let’s get to work!

Only sign up for the services you need

Look at what you’re paying for on your current tariff and get rid of what you don’t use. Many companies include a landline or TV packages in their fibre deals, but if you don’t need them, it’s better to look for plans without those extras. Signing up for fibre optic only (no landline and no TV) usually works out cheaper, and you make sure you’re only paying for what you actually need.

Look at what you’re paying for on your current tariff and get rid of what you don’t use. Many companies include a landline or TV packages in their fibre deals, but if you don’t need them, it’s better to look for plans without those extras. Signing up for fibre optic only (no landline and no TV) usually works out cheaper, and you make sure you’re only paying for what you actually need.

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Choose the right internet speed

We often pay for a higher fibre optic speed than we actually need. Analyse how you use the internet at home: How many people connect? Do you use streaming platforms in 4K, work from home with large files, or play demanding online games? If the answer is no, perhaps you don’t need 1 Gbps and could sign up for 300 or 600 Mbps without noticing any difference in your day-to-day life. Assess your real needs to choose the right speed and don’t pay over the odds for megabytes you won’t use. 300 Mbps is usually enough for standard browsing, video calls and HD streaming in a household of 2–4 people, while 600 Mbps can comfortably cover a more connected family (several people working from home at once, 4K streaming on several TVs, etc.).

Specific example: If you currently pay around €60 a month for 1 Gbps (1000 Mb), but there are only two of you at home browsing and watching Netflix in HD, you could drop down to a 300 Mb plan for perhaps €30 a month. By lowering your contracted speed to something more in line with your usage, your bill could be cut almost in half without you noticing any difference in your experience.

Compare tariffs and take advantage of what's on the market

The telecoms market is highly competitive. Don’t settle for the first tariff you come across: compare between different companies and look out for promotions for new customers. Very often, the major operators launch welcome offers with substantial discounts for the first few months. When you compare, check whether the price is promotional or permanent. A low promotional price can go up once the offer period is over, so it’s worth knowing what you’ll be paying afterwards. Sometimes a slightly higher but stable tariff, with no minimum contract term, will suit you better than a very cheap one that only lasts 3–12 months and then shoots up.

Examples of current offers:

300 Mb fibre: €19.90/month for 12 months.
300 Mb fibre: €19.95/month for 12 months.
300 Mb fibre: €24.95/month permanent price.

As you can see, looking for the best offer can mean paying half as much for the same service. Take the time to compare (there are online comparison tools and specialist websites) and also look at conditions such as minimum contract term, installation cost or price increases after the promotion. A couple of hours of research can save you hundreds of euros a year on your bill.

Combine internet and mobile on the same plan

Another practical way to save is to bring your internet and mobile phone services together with the same operator. So-called combined or convergent tariffs usually work out cheaper than signing up for each service separately. It’s also more convenient to receive a single bill. Many operators offer discounts when you have both services: for example, there are companies that add extra mobile lines with a 50% discount on their usual price in their family packages.

Specific example: The operator Netfiber offers 600 Mb fibre optic plus a 10 GB mobile line for €24.95 a month. Adding a second mobile line to that package costs only €5 extra, leaving two mobiles plus fibre at €29.95. By comparison, signing up for 600 Mb fibre with a traditional operator (around €40) plus two mobile lines separately (say €10–15 each) would easily come to €60–70 a month in total. The difference is enormous. The difference is enormous.

Even the big companies have their sub-brands with attractive combos: O2 and Lowi and others offer fibre + mobile packages for less than €40 a month. For example, Lowi has 300 Mb + a 35 GB mobile line for around €25 a month, and O2 offers combinations such as 300 Mb fibre + a 30 GB mobile for around €30.00.

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Optimise your internet use at home

Although fibre has no data limit, optimising how you use the connection can help you avoid needing more expensive plans. First, improve your Wi-Fi coverage and the performance of your internal network: slow internet isn’t always down to your contracted speed, but rather to poor distribution of the Wi-Fi signal. To get the most out of what you’re already paying for:

Place the router in a central, elevated position in your home.
Avoid physical obstacles (thick walls, metal furniture) that block the signal.
Use Wi-Fi repeaters or boosters if your home is very large or has several floors.
Connect fixed devices (desktop PC, smart TV) with an Ethernet cable whenever you can, for better stability and speed.

These adjustments improve your experience without you having to sign up for more speed. Many people ask for speed increases (and pay more) believing their internet is inadequate, when in reality the problem was the Wi-Fi. Optimise first, and only sign up for more megabytes if you really need them.

On the other hand, keep an eye on data use on your mobile devices while you’re at home. Make sure your mobile and tablet connect to the Wi-Fi instead of using up mobile data (that way you’ll avoid paying for extra data add-ons on your mobile tariff). If you have a limited mobile tariff and you’re using data at home because of poor Wi-Fi, improving your home network can save you from having to upgrade your mobile plan. And conversely, if you use your mobile a great deal with unlimited data and barely touch the Wi-Fi, you might want to consider whether you need high-speed fibre at all, or whether your mobile is enough (some people already use unlimited mobile data only at home instead of fibre, when they have good 4G/5G coverage, although this depends on each individual case).

Make the most of discounts, loyalty schemes and negotiation

Finally, don’t forget that as a consumer you have a certain amount of power to reduce your bill by negotiating or taking advantage of special discounts. If you’ve been with the same company for a long time, check whether they have loyalty schemes for long-standing customers. Sometimes, simply by calling and mentioning that you’re considering cancelling or switching, your current operator might offer you a temporary discount to keep you. Many companies don’t advertise this, but they do apply reductions if they see they could lose you as a customer. You’ve got nothing to lose by trying a friendly phone call asking for a lower tariff (especially if you’ve seen better offers from the competition).

You can also keep an eye out for seasonal promotions: Black Friday, Christmas, summer sales… At those times of year operators launch tempting offers, such as free months of a service or permanent price reductions if you sign up within a certain period. Likewise, some have refer-a-friend discounts, which can translate into euros off your bill if you persuade someone you know to join.

Personalising your plan is another route to savings: these days many brands let you configure bespoke packages. You can choose exactly how many mobile lines you want to add, what fibre speed, and even which TV or streaming extras to sign up for. Going à la carte saves you from paying for closed packages with things you don’t need.

Saving on your fibre optic bill is possible by following these tips. From adjusting your tariff to your real needs and comparing offers, to taking advantage of bundles and optimising your home network, small actions translate into money that stays in your pocket. Don’t hesitate to review the market and your own usage regularly: circumstances change and so do tariffs. With a practical, proactive approach, you can enjoy the internet at home without your bill going through the roof.

Rafa Loza

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Rafa Loza es experto en el sector energético, fundador y CEO de Quecomparo.es, un comparador de tarifas independiente y gratuito, donde ayudan a miles de usuarios a reducir su factura de luz, gas o telefonia.

Con más de 20 años de experiencia en el sector, Rafa Loza y se equipo, monitorean y comparan entre todas las tarifas del mercado para ofrecer a cada usuario la más conveniente para él.