How to choose perfect Internet Provider for your business

One of the greatest decisions to make when you start a business is choosing the right Internet provider. It is critical to your effective communication internally as well as externally. Without efficient communication within the teams and with the clients, it is impossible to achieve your business goals. When you think about blazing internet speeds and a steady subscription, some names may pop in your head. For instance, Frontier packages or Spectrum plans. But guess what! There are many other significant things, which you need to know about the internet that you get for your business than just reliable speed. One important instance is the cost. Just like that, there are several other major factors to consider.

Let’s dive into the discussion of what’s critical to consider while choosing your business ISP. You can thank us later!

Connection Types For Your Needs

Let’s deal with it sensibly. You are not getting an internet connection for your home, where most of the usage is about entertainment, streaming, and surfing. You are dealing with something much bigger. You need a connection that is steady and stable enough to let your employees work and communicate easily. You cannot deal with a speed lag when you are in the middle of an important business video call with a foreign client. Or, when you were about to email important details to a client, you can’t deal with an internet outage. Depending on the type of your business and the area you are located in, you need to know which connection types are available. Let’s ease it up for you:

Cable

Cable internet uses coaxial cable TV lines. It is pretty common. Wherever you are located, you can have a cable internet connection. The performance was brilliant when it first started back in the 1990s. But now, it doesn’t really hold up very well. Cable internet providers boast of blazing speeds. But when it’s a shared connection (which it is) and many other users are also online nearby, at the same time, you don’t get the speed that you are paying for. You may find it slightly expensive too

DSL

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. When it was first launched, it was considered a massive improvement. Because dial-up was the only connection available then but not anymore. DSL uses traditional phone lines. If you have a small shop with a few employees, you can consider having a DSL connection. The speeds do not exceed than the double digits of the Mbps. But it is comparatively cheaper

Fiber

As the name indicates, it transmits data via microscopic glass/plastic strands as light pulses. And this involves no electromagnetic interference from the outside. It is the fastest type of internet that you can choose for your business. Also, it is available in more than half of the United States. You may find it slightly expensive. But when it comes to the potential and speed, it is worth considering. Choosing fiber is the right and futuristic decision

Satellite

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• While cable carries internet service quite well, the satellite is not just as good. Satellite is disappointing when it comes to speeds. It can barely even match DSL internet speeds. It is not as reliable and affordable as the grounded internet connection is. The only good thing about it is that it is available everywhere. So, consider it an option only if you are located in the middle of distant, unwired nowhere

Choose Speeds According to Your Business’s Needs

Does your business involve transferring gigantic multimedia files? Does it involve video conferencing frequently? If yes, then even if you have a small team, you still need a reliable internet connection with excellent speeds. You need to determine the internet-related requirements of your business. You don’t want to get stuck with too little or pay for a lot. If you choose to have a fiber connection, the upload speeds are equal to the download speeds. And that’s a good thing. Following are some of the available speed tiers, offered by popular internet service providers:

• 15–25 Mbps
• 25–50 Mbps
• 50–75 Mbps
• 75–100 Mbps
• 100–150 Mbps
• 150–500 Mbps
• 1 Gbps

Choose the speed tier that suits your internet-based activities. The number of employees is also an important factor to consider.  

Some Important Things to Ask Before You Subscribe to an ISP

Yes, speed is a critical factor. But it is not everything. There are certain factors, which you should consider before you decide to subscribe to an ISP. You need to inquire about the following things:

• Customer service and support availability
• Average downtime (yearly)
• Contract length
• Data caps
• Net neutrality

Knowing about these factors is important. You may not work around the clock but you do need consistent and readily available customer service in case of a sudden outage. You also need to know about the data caps and contract restrictions essentially. I conducted all this research when I decided to subscribe to an ISP when I started my business venture. I chose FiOS Internet Service and I’m still happy with my choice. You don’t need to make the same choice essentially. But do consider the aforementioned things. They will help you choose what’s best for you. Good luck!