Types of Business Internet Service Providers

Internet access has become essential for business operations today. As technology continues to evolve, there are many business internet services available with varying levels of speed, reliability, security and cost. Choosing the right internet service providers for your company requires some due diligence. Learn more about different internet services and what to consider when selecting an internet service provider for your business. 

Business Internet Connections

The connection you choose should offer you a balance between costs, speeds and service requirements. So before partnering with an internet provider, it’s important to have an understanding of available options and your business needs. Here are the most common types of business internet connections to help guide your decision:

Shared Internet Access

A shared network is the most common type of business internet. For small to midsize businesses that don’t heavily rely on the internet, shared internet access (SIA) is cost-effective, provides fast download speeds and is available. SIA involves dividing the bandwidth into various subscribers allowing multiple customers to access it. Despite being budget-friendly, this type of internet connection could cause havoc with sluggish connections during peak traffic.

Dedicated Internet Access

With dedicated internet access, your business gets a private network connection. While it comes at a premium price, it guarantees bandwidth meaning your internet access is more consistent, secure and better performing allowing you continuous file transfers, the ability to stream audio and video and deliver reliable cloud connectivity.

Fiber Internet

Fiber-optic cable sends data through pulses of light rather than through electricity. Fiber internet is best for high speed, low latency and greater reliability, however, it’s more expensive and less available than cable.

Cable Internet

Cable internet is a form of high-speed connection that uses cable television infrastructure to access end users (modem and coaxial cable). So the network that provides your cable tv connection also allows you to access the internet. It is one of the most used forms of broadband service because of its speed and availability.

DSL Internet & ADSL Internet

Digital subscriber line (DSL) internet works similarly to cable internet but transmits data using a dedicated phone line instead of cable. While not as fast as cable, it’s more reliable and widely available.  Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) internet is similar to DSL internet except the bandwidth is higher and mostly used for downloading vs. uploading.

What Type of Business Internet Should I Get?

There are various things to consider when choosing a business internet provider. The first thing to think about is how much bandwidth your company needs. Do you just browse the web and send emails? Or do you run applications, such as VoIP or video conferencing? Does everyone in your office need high-speed access to files and data? Do you need multiple users accessing the same information simultaneously? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a dedicated internet service provider that offers the right bandwidth to handle peak usage times without sacrificing quality or causing service interruptions.

Get Fast, Reliable Internet Connections

Your business needs to seamlessly connect with customers, colleagues, locations, suppliers and markets. If your business internet is not meeting your needs, then it’s time to upgrade your service. With a tailored solution and human touch support, your business will have dependable high-speed internet to stay connected to the world while supporting all your critical applications. Book an internet consultation now to get your business connected, affordably and efficiently.