Business Internet Providers - How to Choose the Best Business Internet Connection?

While choosing your business Internet provider, there are a lot of factors that you need to consider. As a business owner, you would want to opt for the most reliable and fastest Internet service to ensure business productivity. In this era, communication is fundamental for business, and high-speed access is crucial for uninterrupted access to customers and suppliers.

Businesses today can barely keep up the explosion in demand in recent years for increased bandwidth. Employees now need the capability to work on multiple devices, in multiple locations, virtually 24/7. In a Cisco Survey, it's estimated that come 2022 there will be 3.6 networked devices/connections to the Internet for every human on Earth. You’ll want to decide your internet service providers basis your current needs and also basis the kind of growth you are expecting to see in the future.

Also, because high-bandwidth apps such as HD video calling and other business applications are excessively becoming the new business standard, it's crucial to keep a tab on what the major Internet Services Providers (ISPs) are giving in terms of new products and services.

Choosing the right technology

Direct Subscriber Line (DSL):

DSL is an internet connection where data is transmitted over telephone lines. Telephone lines are made of copper, while copper is a great conductor, a DSL connection cannot move data as fast as a cable or fibernet internet connection. One crucial factor that will affect your decision on DSL is the distance between your home and the telephone provider’s office. This means that the farther you are from the main line, the weaker the signal, and the slower the internet connection.

Cable:

Cable internet connections run on telephone lines which use coaxial cables to transmit data, and these can carry more bandwidth than a direct subscriber line connection. When compared to DSL, a cable connection’s connectivity does not depend on the distance. However, unlike a DSL connection, which is a dedicated telephone line, cable connections are usually shared among users. This would mean that the bandwidth gets divided among users, also a lesser secure option. In terms of speed, cable connections are 3 to 4 times faster than DSL and provide speeds to 10-50 Mbps usually.

Fibernet:

Fiber optic cables are the latest technology in the internet service business. These connections make use of fiber optic cables which transmit data at the speed of light. Unlike cable or DSL, the transmission happens over glass and this is immune to all interferences. There are two broad types of fiber connections - direct internet access (DIA) and a fibernet broadband. Direct internet access is an option more commonly used by businesses as it is a dedicated internet line that provides more security and reliability of connectivity. Fibernet broadband is used by individuals at homes. Fibernet speeds range from 150 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.

Reliability is key, faster the better.

The most important factor to consider is reliability. You need a very reliable internet option that is uninterrupted everytime you need it. Downtime could hurt your bottom line if you lose customers and sales because of unreliable Internet service. The more connections you have, the higher the bandwidth. Most business applications, such as file sharing and online backups, require higher upload speeds and hence, a fast connection with equal upload and download speed is the key effective connectivity. A fast reliable connection allows for -

• Improved productivity with quicker file download/uploads.
• Faster communication online with customers and colleagues.
• Efficient website hosting to enable the best customer experience - fast load times in turn improve customer experience while browsing and making the final purchase.
• Faster updates of critical operating systems, software, and anti-virus programs.
• Easy access to business information online - CRM, internal cloud storage, etc.

To know more about business internet and plans by ACT Enterprise you can read more here.