As your company grows, you might find that your internet connection, cloud services, and connections between offices are slowing down. It might be time to upgrade your bandwidth before things get sluggish. But what should you get? More of what you already have or something new?
Outdated Connections Are Holding You Back
When your business was starting out, networking was mostly about connecting computers and printers in the same office, with a basic connection to the outside world. The rise of cloud computing has changed everything. Now, you might only have computers and printers in your office, with most of your data and applications stored and accessed remotely. You still need a good internal network, but having a strong connection to the outside world is crucial.
What kind of internet connection do you have right now? Multiple T1 lines over phone lines? DS3 connections with specific equipment? Maybe you’ve upgraded to fiber optic services like OC3, OC12, or OC48. You could get more of the same if they’re still available, but is that the right move?
The Problem with Traditional Telecom Solutions
All the connections mentioned above are provided by phone companies. For many years, those were the only options, and you were lucky to get connected at all. Things have changed. Older technologies like T-Carrier and SONET, which rely on dividing bandwidth into fixed time slots, are quickly being replaced by newer packet-based technologies like Ethernet, the same technology used in your local network.
These older services have drawbacks. They need specific equipment for each speed and type of connection. Upgrading means scheduling a technician visit to replace at least a network card, if not an entire device. Copper and fiber services are not compatible. Switching from copper-based T1 lines to fiber optic OC3 requires a complete overhaul. Even with fiber, upgrading speed involves swapping out hardware and often comes with significant leaps in bandwidth.
Two more things to consider: Phone companies are starting to phase out copper lines because of low demand, their age, and high maintenance costs. Getting new copper lines or upgrading existing ones might be impossible. The copper lines you rely on might be discontinued entirely.
Cost is another factor. Since investment in outdated technologies is minimal and competition is limited, especially for copper lines, prices haven’t decreased much and could even be increasing. There are better, more affordable options available, offering more bandwidth per dollar and greater flexibility.
Fiber Optic Ethernet: The Superior Choice
When upgrading or replacing your internet service, consider Carrier Ethernet or Ethernet over Fiber. This technology can provide all the bandwidth you need now and in the future. It’s offered by various providers, many of whom are not traditional phone companies. This competition has resulted in surprisingly affordable prices for substantial bandwidth.
Ethernet over Fiber (EoF) is compatible with your existing network. Just connect a standard copper or fiber cable, and you’re all set. Bandwidth is scalable in small increments. The maximum speed depends on the Ethernet port your provider installs. With a Gigabit port, you can start at 10 Mbps and easily scale up to 50, 100, 250, or even 1000 Mbps whenever you need to. A simple phone call or online adjustment is all it takes, without any hardware changes. Need more bandwidth? Upgrade to a 10 Gbps or 100 Gbps port.
There are two main types of connections. Dedicated internet access provides a reliable connection to the internet without the speed fluctuations common with shared services like cable, DSL, cellular, or satellite. Every business needs a robust internet connection.
The second type is a point-to-point dedicated line, offering a secure connection, especially when encrypted. It’s also more stable, with less jitter, latency, and data loss than the public internet. Dedicated lines are ideal for connecting multiple office locations and linking to your cloud provider. With the right connection, you might not even notice that your data is stored off-site.
If you need to enhance your connectivity or want more bandwidth for less, see what Fiber Optic WAN Network services are available in your area.
