The modern world would become dull, immobile, or even messy without the internet. Internet connectivity is essential for a successful business in the world today. One crucial means of internet connectivity is through a broadband connection. With that being said, what makes good broadband connectivity? How do you get yourself the best one? Here are some things to help you identify the best broadband internet connectivity.
1. Compare Speed and Your Business Needs
Fiber optics, DSL, and cable Internet access are three main types of broadband connectivity. However, fiber optics is one of the best broadband options. It offers unparalleled bandwidth and network efficiency. Theoretically, fiber can deliver up to 10 gigabits per second for downloads and 1 gigabit per second for uploads—that’s about 100 times faster than basic DSL. Your best bet is to find an ISP that offers both fiber optic and other types of connections, so you have some flexibility in choosing what works best for your business needs.
For example, if your business has many users who work with high-resolution images or videos, fiber might be a better option. A slower connection may suffice if it’s primarily word processing and spreadsheet work. Also, consider how far apart your office buildings are. If they’re very close together, you don’t need as much speed; if they’re further apart, you want something that can handle longer distances without interruption.
The speed at which information travels from one point to another is in bits per second (bps). The higher bps a connection has, the faster information travels between two points. A quick internet connection means less lag time and less waiting for files to download or websites to load. You can find out more here to help you make a more decisive choice.
2. What’s The Reliability, Up-Time, and the Cost of Getting Online?
While you can spend a lot of time finding out exactly what providers in your area charge for Internet access, it doesn’t do much good. Go deep into the details to ensure you get value for your money. It comes down to the ability to meet your needs in determining whether broadband Internet access is a cost-effective solution for your business.
Before deciding what types of connectivity you want, you need to know how reliable they are and how much they’ll cost. While reliability is a factor that can be hard to predict without testing out different providers, it’s essential to know that reliability isn’t just about downtime—it’s also about consistency. If your connection is cheap but too slow for your business needs, it’s useless. Similarly, if you have a fast connection that only works when it feels like it, what good is it? A good rule of thumb: Your internet should work at least 80 percent of the time.
3. Avoid Data Caps Below Your Average Consumption
Just because you have broadband internet doesn’t mean it’s fast enough for your needs. For example, even if your connection reads as high-speed, it might have a data cap that affects how much you can use it each month. If your home business relies on high levels of bandwidth, look for an unlimited plan that won’t tie you down with caps or unnecessary restrictions.
It’s also important to consider what happens when you exceed your monthly allotment—will you be charged extra? Will speeds be slowed? How will it affect your ability to work from home? These are all questions worth asking before signing up for any broadband service.
4. Bandwidth Capacity
Bandwidth refers to how much data can travel through a network in a given amount of time. A large amount of bandwidth enables more people on an office network or multiple devices on a home network to use high-bandwidth applications simultaneously without slowing down performance. You need to be aware of all these factors when shopping for service because they can significantly affect your productivity and ROI.
When selecting broadband connectivity, you’ll want to ensure you have enough bandwidth. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps) and shows how much data your connection can handle in a given time frame. What does that mean for your business? The more bps you have, the more devices you can use online at once without harming your network speed. Bandwidth shows the maximum theoretical throughput of a line.
Bandwidth is usually a multiple of 64 kilobits per second (Kbit/s). For example, ten megabits per second (Mbps) equals 1,000 kilobits per second (Kbit/s) or 1 megabyte per second (MB/s). Another way to look at it: If your connection has 100 Mbps of bandwidth, you could download 100 megabytes of data in one minute if there were no other users on your Internet service provider’s network. Hence, considering the bandwidth of your ISP before choosing a plan is very important. So while selecting an ISP with high-speed internet plans might be tempting, do not forget to check their bandwidth first!
Final Thoughts
Once you know what makes good broadband connectivity for your business, you’ll be able to make a confident decision that will save you time and money, not to mention headaches. Remember, getting connected isn’t all fun and games—it can cost hundreds of dollars or more. But if you choose wisely, it’s an investment in your future that is well worth making. Find a reliable broadband internet provider, and your business will experience a great revival.