sharma
As technology and competition evolves,
it is important to stay up to date with options and trends. For businesses this may be a very important decision because today many businesses depend on internet access for communications and it can be quite a challenge when deciding which Internet provider offers the best Internet service needed for your operations.
Although you can easily shop around online, how do you know for sure you are choosing the right Internet service provider? Do they have a professional technical support team? Will they respond promptly when problems arise with your Internet service? These are important questions to ask when searching for a local Internet service. If you’re searching for the right Internet service provider, here are some important points to consider.
Step 1 – Find out who the local Providers are.
You can find a local internet service provider for your home or business by asking family members, neighbors or by searching online. The key is finding a reliable service provider. If you search online, you can browse through your local Internet provider’s website and see what type of Internet service they offer. If they are local they are more likely to have an increase in support personnel and will more likely be able to respond to issues if they arise much quicker.
Step 2 – Determine their Network Access Ability.
Before choosing an Internet provider, make sure you ask about their Network Access Ability. Do they offer Cable, DSL, T1, T3, Ethernet or Fiber Optic’s? Here’s a quick description of each.
Cable or DSL: A high-speed Internet service that operates over telephone lines or cable service. Typically lower cost and reasonable download speeds, however is more suited towards residential customers who mostly download and can be limiting when trying to upload. Upload speeds or sending information will be limited depending on the connection method and distance from the ISP’s POP (point of presence). DSL is distance sensitive, so the further you are away from the ISP’s POP the slower the DSL speed will be. Cable and DSL are not available in all areas and certain areas can have patchy speeds and performance so you should ask around for recommendations. Cable & DSL require basic configuration and typically includes hardware/routers which can also be purchase from $50 or more at a local computer store. Cable & DSL commonly come with a dynamic IP (not static) so if you require a static IP, you may be required to purchase them. At this time, DSL & Cable do not carry guarantees so you have to cross your fingers with the performance and uptime.
T1: Commonly used by USA businesses. T1 provides businesses with a very dependable phone line and/or Internet connection. It is a dedicated connection between your business and the ISP’s nearest POP (point of presence) and is not shared by anyone else. It carries much faster up/down speeds starting at 1.544Mbps and can be bonded with other T1’s to provide more uptime with speeds up to 10Mbps or if voice 24 trunks for each T1. One major benefit of T1 is that it carries a guarantee quality, upload and download speed through what is called an SLA (Service Level Agreement). Equipment is typically provided, however you should confirm this as because of the higher throughput speeds T1 requires higher performing routers and configuration and T1 routers run from $800+. T1 includes static IP’s; however some provider’s charge for additional static IP’s so factor this into the cost of the T1 when making a decision. T1 is available in all areas and costs run from $250-$800+ for monthly service on each T1 depending on the circuit speed and geographical location.
T3: Commonly used by USA businesses. T1 provides businesses with a very dependable phone line and/or Internet connection. It is a dedicated connection between your business and the ISP’s nearest POP (point of presence) and is not shared by anyone else. It carries much faster up/down speeds starting at 1.544Mbps and can be bonded with other T1’s to provide more uptime with speeds up to 10Mbps or if voice 24 trunks for each T1. One major benefit of T1 is that it carries a guarantee quality, upload and download speed through what is called an SLA (Service Level Agreement). Equipment is typically provided, however you should confirm this as because of the higher throughput speeds T1 requires higher performing routers and configuration and T1 routers run from $800+. T1 includes static IP’s; however some provider’s charge for additional static IP’s so factor this into the cost of the T1 when making a decision. T1 is available in all areas and costs run from $250-$800+ for monthly service on each T1 depending on the circuit speed and geographical location.
