Internet service providers have different packages and pricings for residential and commercial users. Businesses of all scales need a stable internet connection, even when employees are working remotely. Your marketing department as well as your other team coordination tasks need a good internet connection to depend on. So, here is a guide on how to choose the best provider for your business.
How to Choose the Best Internet Provider for Your Business?
Understand The Types Of Internet Connections
Considering the fast paced technology these days, there are various types of internet connections that you may not be aware of. However, different areas have different types available. Rural internet connections are often not supported by fiber optic or even cable internet. Therefore, it is important to find out and understand the different types of internet connections that are available in the area your business is operating in.
Cable
Cable internet is the most common type of internet connection you will find in most areas. This kind of internet relies on TV cable lines to deliver an internet connection to your homes and offices. It also accommodates a bunch of users on any one network, so this type of internet is very popular amongst home users. However, for office and business usage, you might want to explore more options such as Fiber optic.
Fiber Optic
Internet connections supported by fiber optic cables instead of regular TV cables are much faster speed and there is minimal loss of data. These connections work by transmitting data in form of infrared light travelling through the fiber optics. During power outages, fiber optics are least likely to get affected, unlike cable internet.
DSL
Digital subscriber line or DSL is widely used in homes and is more common for basic home use than cable internet. It uses a connection of various technologies that work together and transmit data through telephone lines. Cable internet uses TV lines while DSL uses telephone lines. CenturyLink has some good DSL internet offers and bundles.
Satellite
Satellite internet connections are the best for rural areas where there are no cable or DSL options. It can be a pricier option compared to some other types of internet connections, but is widely accessible and has decent speeds as well. A good example of such internet connections is Hughesnet.
Understand The Business Needs
Now that you know what type of internet connections can you choose from, it’s time to give some thought to what your business needs? Speaking of needs, the first important factor to consider is the number of employees or people who will be using the internet. Other needs, such as using cloud storage that requires a high upload speed, or high speeds for video conferencing and streaming videos will also come under important considerations.
To give you a rough idea, here are different speeds of internet are good for:
| Number of employees | Internet speed | Good for |
| 1-5 | 25 Mbps | Emails, browsing, upload and download small sized files |
| 5-10 | 50 Mbps | Sharing larger files, streaming and video calling |
| 10-15 | 75 Mbps | Data backups, large files, video conferencing, web hosting and e-commerce |
| 15-20 | 150 Mbps | e-commerce, download and upload heavy files on cloud backups, video conferences |
| 25 or more | 500 or more | Daily backups on cloud, large scale e-commerce, web hosting |
Costs And Services
Your internet provider is more than just about the internet speed and bandwidth they have to offer. There are many not-so-obvious services and requirements that you must be aware of before selecting the best provider for your business. Firstly, make sure to check how good of a customer service they have. Do they have 24/7 assistance, a responsive team, or have chatbots on their online pages to assist you?
Second most important is the installation services. Majority of the providers let you either buy your own devices such as modems and routers, but also offer you to rent out the devices from the provider itself. Plus, the installation and set-up of these devices is also very tricky. If you are not that tech savvy yourself and are not sure who can do the installation part, then go for a provider that offers these services either for free or on a good, pocket-friendly price.
You might want to avail other services such as telephone services and maybe even TV connections with your internet service. Check if the provider you have chosen has bundle offers that include more than just one service, as these bundles are a lot cheaper and pocket-friendly. Spectrum packages are a prime example of this. Browse through Spectrum’s bundles and packages to avail the best internet speeds along with top tier customer service as well.
Understanding The Contract
Last but not the least, understand what the contract says. Some providers don’t even require you to sign a contract. This makes it easy for those who want to try out different types of providers and/or plan or those who live a nomadic life.
Some businesses can also use residential internet packages for their small-scale business with less number of employees. However, some contracts strictly prohibit this and don’t let businesses or commercial users avail residential packages. Therefore, to prevent your business getting into any uncalled-for troubles, understand your contract thoroughly.
A Wrap Up
Don’t pay a higher price for any internet connection that doesn’t let your business perform its function properly. You must be very considerate of your business needs and how you and your team will be utilizing the internet connection. The cost of different types of internet connections may vary, so it is always better to check availability in your area, so you can set the budget properly. Last but not the least, your internet provider should have a good customer service, or else it might get very chaotic when something needs fixing by a professional.
