Fiber, Wireless, Broadband? Figure Out What Connection Your Business Needs

With so many different types of internet to choose from, it can be difficult for businesses to know which business internet connections are preferable. Do you need fiber internet for business? Or, should you go for cable business broadband services? There’s still DSL to consider and satellite as well. 

Too many options can be overwhelming. Let the team at WOW! Business help you clear away the clutter and get down to the factors that matter most. Read on to learn about the different business internet connections available and how they compare. Then, you can make an informed decision about what business internet solutions make the most sense for your organization. 

What Are the Main Types of Internet Connections Available for Businesses?

If you are wondering how fiber, cable, and other connections differ in terms of speed, reliability, cost, and other factors, we can help. Here’s a quick breakdown: 

Fiber 

Fiber internet for business is the gold standard among corporate internet options. It’s the newest internet technology, designed for today’s internet-heavy business operations. All of the other internet options listed below were originally designed for other uses, such as cable television or landline telephones. But fiber was created for the internet, which is why it offers far superior speed, bandwidth, and reliability. 

Fiber is the only type of internet connection that can scale up with your business indefinitely. For example, if your business experiences significant growth, say it triples in size in the next year, fiber can still handle all of your needs. You can triple your VoIP phone lines, triple the devices using the connection, and triple the applications using the internet. Cable can’t do that, and DSL certainly can’t. 

The only drawbacks with fiber are accessibility and cost. It’s not available everywhere yet, and it does cost more than other types of connections. 

Cable 

Cable uses coaxial cable connections, which were designed for cable television. It’s a broadband technology, meaning it can handle a lot of data and deliver significant speeds. It’s not as powerful as fiber, but it’s the next best thing. 

The nice thing about cable is that it’s available almost everywhere. If the area had cable television available, chances are you could get cable internet. One downside to cable is that it can become congested with too many users. For instance, if there are multiple businesses in an area using the connection, it will become bogged down. 

Cable internet is usually relatively affordable, depending on the speed you get. 

Wireless 

Wireless internet connections use the same technology as cellular networks. The nice thing about wireless is that it is available anywhere that cellular internet operates. It works great as a backup for other, more robust connections. However, speeds and bandwidth are limited, and plans are often expensive when you are a heavy user. The only reason to choose wireless is if you can’t get fiber or cable internet for your business. 

DSL 

DSL uses landline telephone technology to deliver internet service. While it’s an improvement over the original dial-up connections that use phone lines, it’s not ideal for business use. DSL is typically slow and suffers from limited bandwidth. Only so much data can travel over a phone line.

DSL can be more affordable than cable, but it’s usually only used by businesses if cable isn’t available. 

Satellite 

Satellite internet uses satellite technology to provide internet service. Depending on the service provider and the package, it can be relatively fast but not as fast as fiber or cable, and often not as fast as DSL. The advantage of satellite internet is that it is available almost anywhere. However, it’s usually expensive and suffers from slow speeds and latency issues. 

Satellite internet should only be used by businesses if fiber, cable, and DSL are not available. 

What Factors Should a Business Consider When Choosing an Internet Connection? 

Things to consider when choosing an internet connection for your business include: 

Speed 

The first thing most people think of about an internet connection is how fast it is. Speed is certainly important because if the connection isn’t fast enough for your usage needs, you will notice negative impacts. Apps won’t work correctly, communications will suffer with stuttering and dropped connections, and other problems will occur. 

Bandwidth 

Bandwidth is similar to speed. You need sufficient bandwidth to handle your usage needs, but you don’t need a lot more than that. You can measure your bandwidth needs similarly to how you measure your speed requirements. What apps do you use? How many users do you have at the same time? Answer these questions to determine bandwidth requirements. 

Reliability 

Some businesses, like e-commerce stores, can only make money when the internet is working. Others, like convenience stores, just need their POS systems to work. Both require internet, but online stores do all their business online. 

Scalability 

Some connections scale better than others. Fiber scales up easily, while DSL is very limited in this area. How important is it to be able to add users and devices? 

Budget 

Most businesses have a limited budget. It’s important to pick a connection that meets your needs, but there’s no reason to get more than you need. 

Get the Right Type of Internet for Your Business from WOW! Business 

Get expert guidance on choosing the right business internet connection by speaking with our specialists today.