What to Look for in Internet Service Providers

There are many factors to consider when comparing different internet service providers (ISPs). Businesses need to be aware of these factors because choosing the right provider is crucial. Your business almost certainly requires an internet connection to get work done. However, not all connections are created equal. Making the wrong choice may have serious, negative consequences for your business.

First, modern business doesn’t just require internet access, it requires a quick and reliable internet connection. If your connection is inconsistent or if it can’t operate at speeds needed for today’s applications (streaming, video calls, etc.), then you won’t be able to get work done properly, and your business will suffer. In short, you’ll end up behind your competitors.?

However, it’s also a problem if you overpay for internet services. Yes, paying a bit more each month doesn’t seem like a serious issue, but these amounts accumulate over time. Of course, the lowest price isn’t necessarily the right option either, since the cheapest service may require too many compromises. This complicates an important choice.

You want to ensure you have reliable, high-speed internet at a cost that makes sense. To do this, you need to understand the different types of internet services and learn what to look for in an ISP.

Different Internet Connections

Today, high speed internet connections are common, and connecting to the internet can be done in many ways.

Internet service providers use wired or wireless connections (and sometimes a combination of the two) to connect people and businesses to the internet. For most businesses in most areas, wired connections tend to be the most common, most available, and most consistent. However, this depends on your business’ location.

An important thing to know is that internet services are not all the same in each part of the country. While the United States does have internet coverage throughout most of the country (about 94% of Americans have access to the internet), the type of connections vary depending on the region. Therefore, where you live or work may limit your choices.

Cable Internet

One of the most common types of internet connection is cable internet. This uses the same coaxial connections as cable TV, which means that it covers a large portion of the country. There’s a very good chance that your region has cable connections in place.

It is also one of the faster internet connections. Cable providers usually offer different speeds at different prices. In most cases, your speed will be at least 100 Mbps (megabits per second). This is typically fast enough for most uses, but options exist, such as 300 Mbps speed and even higher, including service up to 1 Gbps (gigabit per second). However, these speeds refer to download speed. With most cable connections, upload speeds are much slower. Only in some cases do some providers offer upload speeds over 50 Mbps.

There are also possible issues with network congestion, especially during peak usage times. Multiple users in an area doing internet-intensive activities (such as streaming) may slow the connection or make it less reliable. However, cable connections tend to be quite stable during extreme weather conditions, which is a plus.

Prices for cable internet connections vary greatly. Many internet service providers offering cable internet also offer cable television services, so you may be able to save money if you bundle these two services together. However, this is only a money-saving idea if you planned to pay for cable TV in the first place.

DSL Internet

DSL internet refers to digital subscriber line connections. This service connects through phone lines. Don’t worry that it will be like the old dial-up services from decades ago. You won’t have to tie up your phone line to use it, you won’t have to deal with a screeching modem every time you connect, and your speeds will be much faster than dial-up.

This type of connection isn’t typically as fast as cable or other types of internet. DSL speeds typically peak 115 Mbps, depending on your area and your provider. You may also find your actual speed depends on your distance from the service provider. However, if you only use the internet for light use, such as checking email and occasional streaming, this may be an acceptable option for you.??

In most cases, DSL internet is typically less expensive than other services. Another advantage is congestion does not affect DSL internet speed or consistency, so your speeds should always remain the same. This makes DSL internet one of the most reliable internet services.

Fiber Internet

Fiber internet usually offers the fastest speeds available. This service is carried through fiber-optic cables. Light pulses transmit through filaments of glass or plastic to transfer information at high speeds.

One major advantage to fiber internet is that not only are download speeds very fast, but upload speeds are often similar if not the same. This is unique from other types of broadband internet.

However, since fiber optic technology does not use existing infrastructure (like cable or phone lines), it is not available everywhere. Due to the expense of installing fiber-optic cables, it’s mainly available in larger cities right now. So, depending on your location, it may not be available. Most rural areas are unlikely to have access to fiber internet, for example.

5G Home Internet

You’ve likely heard of 5G internet for your phone, but it is also available as a fixed location service. Some providers offer this form of wireless internet to homes and businesses. However, it isn’t available in all regions. While it’s typically quite fast, it isn’t as fast as fiber internet or some cable connections.

Satellite Internet

While wireless internet like 5G service isn’t available everywhere, satellite internet is widely available. This makes it a popular option for those who live or work in rural areas. It doesn’t require the installation of DSL lines or fiber lines or any other infrastructure, so in some rural areas, it may be the only option.

If you are considering a satellite internet plan, know that many service providers place data restrictions on these accounts. This means that you’ll have a data cap of a certain amount (usually between 10GB and 150GB, depending on your plan) and you may have to pay extra if you exceed this cap (or your service might slow to a crawl). Keep this in mind when looking at different internet service providers.

In addition, typical satellite internet tends to be much slower than other internet options. It also has greater latency due to the distance data must travel between your location and high-Earth orbit satellite systems. This latency means you may have trouble watching streaming video, doing video chats, or gaming. However, Starlink internet uses satellites that orbit much closer to Earth, so there are fewer latency issues and greater speeds with Starlink. Oppuous offers Starlink internet, so please contact us if you are interested in this service.

What Internet Speed Does My Business Need?

?When talking about internet service, one of the first things you’ll hear discussed is speed. And that makes sense. You not only want to be able to download and upload data quickly, but high-speed internet is required for many modern business applications, such as streaming video or conducting video calls. Trying to work with a slow internet connection is an exercise in patience, and it’s one that can hurt your business since it reduces productivity.?

Internet speed refers to the rate at which data is transmitted between your business network and the internet. It is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and determines how quickly you can download and upload data. When selecting an internet speed for your business, consider the following factors:

• The more employees you have accessing the internet simultaneously, the greater the demand on your network’s bandwidth. A larger workforce will require higher internet speeds to maintain optimal performance and prevent congestion. Think about how many employees you have today and how many you expect to have in the future. Planning ahead will help you avoid running into hassles as your company grows.
• It’s important to plan for not only today, but also to anticipate your business's future needs and growth projections when selecting internet speed. Try to choose scalable solutions that can accommodate expanding operations and increasing bandwidth requirements without the need for frequent upgrades or disruptions.
• Different business activities have varying bandwidth requirements. For instance, basic email and web browsing may need lower speeds, while video conferencing, file sharing, and multimedia streaming demand higher bandwidth to ensure smooth, uninterrupted performance. How does your business operate? Will most employees be doing basic tasks, or does your company work with larger files such as videos?
• If your business relies heavily on cloud-based applications or frequently transfers large files, such as multimedia content or software updates, you'll need sufficient internet speed to facilitate rapid data transfers and minimize latency.

In addition to speed requirements, you’ll also want to think about bandwidth. Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over your internet connection in each period, typically measured in gigabytes or terabytes per month.

Each business is different and, therefore, each will use different amounts of data. Calculating your business's bandwidth and data requirements involves assessing the following factors:

• Usage patterns: Take some time to analyze your business's internet usage patterns to estimate the amount of data consumed by different activities. This may include web browsing, email communication, video conferencing, file sharing, streaming media, and accessing cloud-based applications. Many providers allow you to track how much bandwidth you use through their online platforms. If your current provider doesn’t do this, or if you’re setting up the internet for a new business, you’ll need to do some calculations or estimates yourself.
• Data consumption per activity: Determine the average data consumption for each type of activity based on usage statistics or industry benchmarks. For example, video meetings or working with large video files online typically consumes more data than simple email exchanges or web browsing.
• Peak versus off-peak usage: Consider peak usage periods, such as business hours, when internet demand is highest. Ensure your bandwidth allocation can accommodate peak usage without sacrificing performance or experiencing slowdowns.
• Quality of service (QoS) requirements: Some business-critical applications, such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephony or video conferencing, may require dedicated bandwidth or quality of service (QoS) prioritization to ensure reliable and high-quality performance. Make sure you choose the service that is right for your business needs.

Once you've assessed your business’ internet speed, bandwidth, and data requirements, talk to different internet service providers, let them know what you’re looking for, and learn what they have to offer.

Select an internet package that aligns with your business's usage patterns and performance requirements. Avoid overpaying for excessive speeds that exceed your needs or opting for inadequate speeds that impede productivity.

Compare pricing plans from multiple ISPs to ensure you get the best value for your investment. Factor in not only the monthly subscription fees but also any additional costs, such as installation fees, equipment rentals, and overage charges for exceeding data limits.

Choosing the Right Provider

There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing from the many different internet service providers. There are a lot of options available, from large national telecom companies to regional businesses. Each choice has its own pros and cons.

One of the most important things to focus on is reliability. Downtime may result in lost productivity, missed opportunities, and frustrated customers. It can seriously hurt your business. Therefore, look for providers that offer a high uptime guarantee and have a reputation for reliable service. An uptime guarantee means that they promise their service will be functioning a certain percentage of the time (such as 95% or 99%). If this doesn’t happen, they will owe you financial compensation. This is beneficial, since it gives the provider more incentive to offer reliable service.

Research customer reviews and inquire about their network infrastructure and redundancy measures to ensure minimal disruptions.

The level of customer support and technical support provided is critical as well. In the event of technical issues or outages, responsive customer support is essential to minimize downtime and resolve issues promptly. If you have a problem, when will someone be available to help you? You don’t want to end up in a situation when your internet goes down on Friday afternoon (for example) and you can’t get anyone to help you until Monday. Find out when support and technicians will be available and how quickly they’ll be able to help.

Evaluate the provider's customer service track record, availability of support channels (phone, email, live chat, etc.), and response times.

Consider the geographical location of your business and the availability of internet providers in your area. While large national providers may offer extensive coverage, local or regional providers may offer more personalized service and better understanding of local infrastructure challenges. Of course, you will need to choose a provider that offers the service you’re looking for in your area. There’s no point in asking for a certain service (such as fiber internet) unless you know it’s available in your region. Most providers offer tools on their websites where you can enter your address or ZIP Code?, and they will tell you what options are offered in your area.

Don’t just choose a provider that is convenient or that makes a sales call to your business. Make sure you choose the ISP that is right for you. Research available options in your area and inquire about service availability, network coverage, and potential limitations or restrictions.

Also know some providers offer additional services and features that may add value to your business beyond basic internet connectivity. This may include cloud storage, domain hosting, email hosting, cybersecurity solutions, and collaboration tools. Some providers will offer bundles or discounts if you use more than one of their services. Of course, these plans are only a discount if you actually need and will use what they offer. Assess your business needs and evaluate the availability and suitability of these additional services from prospective providers.

What to Look for in Internet Service Providers

Compare pricing plans from different providers, taking into account factors such as speed, bandwidth, reliability, and included features. Look for hidden fees or additional charges, such as installation fees, equipment rental, or early termination penalties. For instance, some providers will want you to rent a modem from them and pay monthly. Others will allow you to buy the modem outright or supply your own. Both options have advantages and disadvantages.

When you buy your own modem, you don’t have additional monthly fees, and you will likely pay less for the modem than if you were paying monthly. However, if you wish to upgrade, you’ll probably need to go out and buy another modem. If you’re paying monthly rent on the modem, then the provider will likely make it easy to switch out your equipment without much added costs. Think about what is right for you and your business and make the choice that works for your situation.

Ultimately, focus on the value offered by each provider in terms of performance, reliability, and customer support, rather than solely opting for the cheapest option. However, while cost and value are important, they are not the only factors to consider.

Know that, as your business grows and evolves, your internet needs may change. Choose a provider which offers scalable solutions and flexible plans that can accommodate your expanding requirements. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself searching for another internet provider in just a few years.

When you talk with various internet service providers, let them know what you’re looking for. Ask them questions and specifically inquire about how they can continue to support your business as you grow. Make sure they give you a satisfactory answer. You don’t want to get into business with someone who can’t or won’t give you a clear plan.

Avoid long-term contracts that lock you into fixed bandwidth or service levels, as they may hinder your business’ ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Ascertain what you’ll need to do to change your service level or add or remove options from your plan and if doing so will cost you anything. Make sure you have this information in writing.

Data security is also critical. Protecting sensitive business data and ensuring the security of your network are paramount concerns in today's cyber threat landscape. Many businesses that suffer data breaches, hacks, or lost or damaged data due to cyber criminals do not survive. Those that do are faced with incredibly time-consuming and costly processes to get back on their feet.

Evaluate each internet provider's security measures, such as encryption protocols, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. Additionally, inquire about their data protection policies, compliance with industry regulations, and options for securing your network against cyberattacks.

At Oppuous, we function as a full-service technology advisor. Our innovative marketplace is designed to help you choose the right services for your business. If you’re looking to upgrade your company’s internet or if you’re just starting out and want to know what’s right for your new business, we’re here to help. The Oppuous Marketplace contains offerings from hundreds of different internet service providers and other companies, so you can get the exact service that best suits your business. Want to learn more? Contact us today!