Internet access is as essential to many businesses as their other utilities. It is used a lot by businesses to keep in touch with customers (email, VOIP, etc.) and to process credit cards. In fact, some businesses cannot operate without it. The Internet is also becoming a primary source of entertainment for home users as well as for businesses. Social media and video streaming services are both contributing to this trend. In this post, I want to discuss some of the major factors to consider when choosing a business or home internet service provider.
Accessibility
It is one of the major factors to consider when you live in a rural area. Having a high-speed fiber or cable connection is impractical if the provider does not serve your area. There is an astounding number of businesses and homeowners who have just a few internet options, usually choosing between satellite internet and broadband or 4G-LTE (which can be really good if you have the right equipment).
Speed
If you are running a business, you must make sure you have sufficient speed to avoid disrupting daily operations even when demand is at its peak. Some customers consider speed to be the most important factor when choosing an Internet service provider. Most customers simply want access to the fastest connection in their area. The availability of these services depends entirely on where you are located and what is provided to your business or consumer.
In order to compare plans, you need to know the “Bandwidth”. A transmission medium’s bandwidth is simply the amount of information it can carry per unit of time. Many people get the luck of having fiber connections capable of 1,000 megabits (Mbps) per second, while many rural businesses are stuck on 3 to 6Mbps DSL connections. Similarly, just because the advertised speed is advertised, does not mean you will receive it. If you are concerned about speed, you should check with nearby businesses to see what you can expect.
If you are looking for a connection with great speed, Wave broadband can certainly be considered. Check if it is available in your area. Best part is that it not only has killing speeds but also very economical.
Price
A good ISP needs to balance speed and price in order to make sense for you. It probably doesn’t make sense to pay $1000 a month for a dedicated fiber connection if you run a small business out of your home. For some companies, the speed and reliability are more important than the price. If a small business with 25 employees is growing, a dedicated fiber connection for $1000 a month might be a no-brainer. When it comes to doing business, you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Types of Connections
How fast the internet feels has a lot to do with the type of connection. Though satellite internet has respectable download speeds (Up to 25Mbps on HughesNet), it is sometimes perceived as slow. The reason for this is simple physics. Approximately 22,000 miles away, your satellite sends the signal into space. In this way, the satellite in orbit contacts the network center in order to find the requested location. The satellite in orbit sends this information back to you, which you then receive. It can take up to 500 milliseconds for this process to complete, plus the amount of time it takes for the server and client to process the request. The extra 1/2 second may not sound like much, but if you’re used to a traditional connection, it seems like such a long wait. A 4G-LTE signal has a latency of around 100 milliseconds compared with 400+ milliseconds for satellite. In addition to Fiber, other connections offer significantly lower latency, often under 20 milliseconds.
Reliability
This factor plays a major role for businesses, especially after the COVID because things are still done remotely. Slow Internet can cause frustration and harm a business’ productivity. Consider using an ISP that offers a Service Level Agreement (SLA) if you’re in an industry that can’t risk internet service interruptions.
An SLA specifies the reliability of the connection in detail. Reliable service is closely related to customer service. Whatever kind of network connection you have, one day something is going to break. The chances are high that there will be issues eventually, whether it is due to dying hardware or damage to a physical line. How fast they are able to resolve your issue is a measure of good customer service. New hardware must usually be delivered in just one or two days to most businesses. An experienced provider understands that they need more than just a standard level of service.
Conclusion
You must choose an ISP carefully before you set up connectivity at home or in your business. With this article, hopefully, you will get some insight into the various factors which should influence your decision. If you need help with networking or technology, leave your questions in the comments below and our experts will get back to you soon.
