Your business needs are far more demanding than your personal needs. You can expect the same thing from your business internet demands. In this day and age, we live in a completely connected society, where everything is exchanged via the internet. Large documents, videos, pictures, movies, plans, projects, etc., everything goes through the internet.
It’s no wonder then that you would require some blazing fast speeds so that your business runs as smoothly as possible. Of course, speed isn’t the only factor, but it is a very important one. The last thing you want is to be sitting there while your very important document is uploading for 2 hours.
Here are some important reasons why you want a very fast and reliable internet connection and a little bit about why it’s important:
1Types of Service
Internet connections come in all sorts of connection types and options. It’s important to be prepared and educated about what services are available in your area and which ISPs are offering the best deal on those services.
The experts at Usave.co.uk came up with a service where you can punch in the postal code of your business, and they help set you up with the right connection for your needs. It can be a huge boost to help you get started knowing which ISPs focus on and should help shorten your overall search times by quite a lot. Here are some of the most popular connection types available for businesses.
DSL/ADSL is the economical choice of internet connections. It is based on the principle of converting an electrical signal to a digital signal and vice versa. These signals are then sent over telephone wires. This is by far the most popular choice available as it is inexpensive and reasonably fast with the little new infrastructure necessary to connect to the internet.
Cable internet connections use your cable tv wires to transfer data. This connection works similarly to the DSL type connection but uses a different infrastructure. Slightly more expensive than DSL, it offers comparatively faster connection speeds. Several issues may arise when trying to use cable connection types.
Infrastructure needs to exist in order to have cable internet, so if the wires are not in place, cable connection may not be possible. Secondly, is if too many people are logged in at once, the bandwidth becomes clogged, and it will slow down the internet immensely since the entire bandwidth is shared.
Fiber Optic is a connection that comprises tiny strands of plastics or glass, about as wide as a human hair. These cables are tied together and form a larger wire. This larger wire is a fiber optic cable that is capable of the fastest speeds possible.
A new emerging technology, many ISPs are pushing for this connection type; however, setting up the infrastructure for this connection is pricey. Fiber optic will be your fastest connection and also your most expensive option. Keep in mind, unless your business is in a largely populated urban center, fiber optic connections will be hard to find.
Satellite a wireless connection type that utilizes satellites to beam you to the websites you need. Your best option for a business that is on the go, or located in a remote area where telephone wires are difficult to run.
The speeds offered are definitely not as fast as comparable wired connections; however, the wireless access is a benefit some businesses cannot pass up.
2Customer Service
There is plenty of internet service providers out there that are offering extremely cheap internet connections, and sometimes they appear suspiciously priced. The reason for these low prices might not have to do with the quality of the product as much as it could do with the possible surcharges such as connection fees and difficulty with customer service if something does go wrong.
It is important to note that buying the cheapest connection type is not always the best option because if you find yourself needing some sort of assistance to get your internet functioning properly and you can’t get the help you need, then you are just a sitting duck. Nothing is more frustrating than having connection issues and hearing the earliest something that can be fixed is 3 days from now.
Any business cannot suffer 3 days of downtime, that’s too much of a cut to your profit. If your internet connection is with a large ISP and they have a large infrastructure behind them, then you can rest easy knowing they will do whatever they can to get you back up and running.
3Fine Print – Details Matter
In a connected world where the details matter, it is extremely important to read your fine print. See what is hidden in the details. Many times, companies can get away with overcharging, or extra fees due to unseen fine print.
Check for keywords in your contract such as “(FUP) Fair Usage Policy”, which will lower your speeds according to whichever conditions the contract suggests, usually after a specified amount of data usage. Make sure to find out if your ISP tracks uploads and downloads!
Many simple tasks that have evolved with the internet actually use more upload than downloads. Consider when sending, a large file, picture, video, 3d rendering, etc. and realize that upload speeds are what will get those file transfers done faster.
Ten years ago, most internet activities were downloading, so it’s no surprise that upload speeds get overlooked. The change was gradual enough that many people didn’t realize that download and upload speeds are now equally important.
4Megabytes and Megabits
Language, especially the English language, can get very confusing at times. Even more so when talking about fancy tech terms. Be sure when checking the speeds of your connections that when they are all noted in the same units(megabits or megabytes). One megabyte (MB) is equal to 8 megabits (Mbps). Megabytes usually refer to the size of files while megabits and typically associated with internet connection speeds.
Be sure to check the difference between your speeds, and they can be greater than comparing metric and imperial! You might think you’re getting a fantastic deal, and the speeds for your connection are way too fast to be true, they are probably noted in megabits instead of megabytes.
To give a quick example, 1 megabit per second connection is very slow but still usable, albeit barely. 1 megabyte of data is about 1 minute of music or a half-minute of video.
It is important to set your business up according to what needs you have. Being picky and specific about your connection type will help you save money when choosing your internet speeds. After all, almost everything we do is through the internet now, so your connection has the potential to make or break your business.
Most connection types offered by ISPs in this day and age are more than enough to handle the needs of your average business, but it is important to remember that if your business requires anything out of the ordinary to speak with your ISP representative and find out what they can do for you.
