By: John Shepler

Connecting your business to the internet is crucial in today’s world. It’s practically impossible to operate without a broadband connection. Customers, cloud services, backups, suppliers, and even connections to home offices or remote locations rely on it. The question is, how can you establish the best connection for your business?

Businesses have numerous options for internet service, but the variety can be overwhelming. Choosing the cheapest option might leave you frustrated if it can’t handle your needs. On the other hand, automatically selecting the most expensive option can lead to unnecessarily high costs without necessarily addressing your specific requirements. Let’s clarify this complex situation.

Business internet options generally fall into two categories: telecom services and information services. Telecom services, often regulated, were the first connections adopted by businesses and carriers. Information services, initially designed for consumers, are now available for businesses as well.

Telecom services include T1 lines, DS3, SONET fiber optic, Ethernet over Copper, and Ethernet over Fiber. These are primarily intended for commercial and large-scale use. Their cost is significantly higher than residential internet services.

So, what do you get for the higher price of telecom services? These services typically offer symmetrical, dedicated bandwidth with a service level agreement (SLA). The SLA guarantees performance, outlining the technical specifications, expected availability, and problem resolution timeframes.

Dedicated bandwidth means you have exclusive use of the speed you’re paying for – whether you use it occasionally or at full capacity. Symmetrical bandwidth ensures equal upload and download speeds, crucial for activities like server hosting, remote data backups, cloud computing, video conferencing, and VoIP.

Consumer-oriented services, or “information services,” are offered on a “best effort” basis without performance guarantees. Providers aim for reliable bandwidth, but there are no guarantees.

DSL, cable broadband, WiFi hotspots, 3G/4G wireless, and consumer-grade satellite internet fall into this category. Besides best-effort delivery, these services keep costs down by utilizing shared, asymmetrical bandwidth.

Shared bandwidth means multiple users share a pool of bandwidth. Your speed at any given time depends on the number of users online. Asymmetrical bandwidth means download speeds are faster than upload speeds, often by a factor of 10. This is because most internet usage involves downloading data.

However, there are some caveats. Business-grade versions of consumer services are installed at commercial addresses, often costing 2-3 times more than residential options. These do offer better customer service and may include static IP addresses, necessary for running servers, something typically prohibited with residential services.

So, should you avoid these lower-cost services altogether? Not necessarily. If they meet your needs, even home broadband can be very reliable with fast repair times. You can often get higher bandwidth (50-100 Mbps download, 5-10 Mbps upload) for about the same price as a 1.5 Mbps T1 or 3 Mbps EoC line. Cable broadband might be more efficient for businesses primarily using email, web browsers, or video streaming. In some cases, 3G or 4G wireless might be the only option.

However, if you rely on enterprise applications, cloud services, or VoIP, these lower-end services may not be suitable. Inconsistent bandwidth, latency, and jitter can negatively impact both your experience and your customers’ experience. In such cases, dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth is a better choice. A direct connection to your cloud provider or between business locations might be preferable over the internet’s uncertainties and security risks. Many businesses require both: dedicated private lines for internal operations and internet connections for customer interactions and data access.

Navigating the numerous business internet and private line options can be challenging. Seek assistance from a bandwidth brokerage service. They can present a range of options and provide consulting support to help you choose the most cost-effective solutions for your business. Explore business bandwidth options and prices instantly online now.