For most homes and even businesses, Internet service is just as important as the other utilities they use. As we embrace a new normal trying to maintain social distance and avoid spreading the coronavirus, the Internet has become an essential utility because more people are working from home. Businesses use the Internet for everything, from their communication and business network to payment processing; most companies can’t operate without the Internet.
Home users also need the Internet to either work or for their entertainment. With the digital age, communication with friends and family is also done through social media, and with the need to keep social distance, connecting on the Internet is the only way to stay in touch. Before choosing your Internet provider, consider these factors to ensure you’re getting the best deal and value for your money.
Availability
This is the deciding factor you should take into consideration when choosing an Internet service provider. A high-speed cable or fiber connection won’t do you or your business any good if it’s not available in your area. Coverage varies from provider to provider, and this can limit your choices. Different providers offer different pricing, packages, speeds, and special offers, so you need to take some time and research and understand how your location is precisely serviced.
Availability is also vital to consider when you live or your business is in the rural areas. If you’re in a rural area, your choices may be limited, so it’s essential to start your search using a postcode finder or online zip code that will help you access all the Internet service providers in your area. You can then make a broadband deal comparison, and choosethe one that best suits your Internet needs.
Reliability
Another factor you should consider when looking for an Internet provider is reliability. An unreliable Internet connection is an inconvenience for your business, if you work from home, or usually use the Internet for other reasons such as gaming, social media, or video streaming. Internet service providers are always in competition, and therefore, it’s advisable to compare your options and work out which one works for you.
Different providers offer different packages, and therefore, their levels of customer satisfaction vary. If possible, check that the Internet service providers in your shortlist have a dedicated customer care service team to troubleshoot any issues that may arise. This is where well-established Internet service providers often come into their element. If you work from home or your kids are studying from home, and you can’t risk Internet service interruptions, find a provider that offers Service Level Agreements(SLA), a contract that explicitly states how reliable your connection should be.
Speed
Whether it’s for your business or home, you must also ensure that you have sufficient speed not to disrupt daily activities even when demand is at its highest. For some customers, speed is the determining factor of the Internet service provider they will choose. They need the fastest Internet they can get in their area. This is determined by location and what’s offered to you as a consumer. When comparing packages, ensure you look at the bandwidth. Bandwidth means the volume of information per unit of time that the transmission media sustains.
Depending on your ISP location, you can get fiber connections as high as 1000 Mbps or as low as 5 Mbps on DSL connections. Ensure you check speeds with your neighbors and confirm the kind of speed you can realistically expect. Sometimes, just because the speed is advertised doesn’t mean it’s the speed you’ll be getting.
Cost
It would help if you chose an Internet service provider that makes sense for you. This means that your ISP needs to balance the speed they provide and the price they charge. For example, if you’re running a small online business out of your home, paying $1000 per month for a dedicated fiber connection won’t make sense to you.You may choose the fastest Internet plan, and end up paying too much for bandwidth you’ll never use.
To some companies, the price doesn’t matter as much as the speed they need to run their daily operations. The same $1000 per month mentioned earlier might sound reasonable for a growing small business with thirty employees. As with most aspects of running a business, you must weigh all your advantages and disadvantages before deciding. Some providers charge for equipment and installation, while others have discounts and promotions to counter these costs. When looking for an Internet service provider, you need to ensure that you strike a balance between cost and speed.
Type of connection
The type of connection is also an essential factor when choosing an Internet service provider. The type of connection they use may have an impact on how fast your Internet connection “feels.” Satellite Internet is known for being slow despite having respectable download speeds. The reasoning behind this is pure physics. The signal is usually sent from your satellite and travels around 22000 miles out to space. After that, the satellite in orbit then contacts the network center to find the requested site. The information is sent back to the satellite, and then back to you.
Even at the speed of light, the process usually takes around 300 milliseconds, plus any additional time used to process the request, which takes place from your server and the service provider’s side. It doesn’t sound like much, but adding any extra seconds to every action you take on the Internet makes it slower, especially if used to the traditional connection. Fiber optic connections, therefore, provide the fastest Internet connections and are more reliable than the standard DSL connections.
Ensuring that you choose the right Internet service provider is the most crucial decision to make when keeping your business or home connected is concerned. Once you’ve made a list of options based on availability, reliability, speed, cost, and type of connection, you can make an informed choice of which provider best meets your Internet needs.