Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is no easy task. There is a lot to consider because every business wants the quickest most reliable Internet at the best value possible.
We have gathered some great information that will help you to find the best deal when looking for a new Internet provider.
The first step would be to analyze your current Internet provider. Is your Internet Service Provider the best bargain currently? Are they over-charging? Do you need faster speed? How can you get the best deal? How was your support experience with them if you’ve had issues?
There are different types of Internet services that you can choose for your business or home. Different services are available in different locations. Broadband refers to all the different types of Internet access. It refers to anything faster than the dial-up Internet connection. Mbps is the megabits per second. This is a simple way to compare speeds between Internet service options in your area.
Some of the available services in the area include:
Digital Subscriber line.
This is delivered through a telephone line. It is the cheapest broadband Internet. Most of the DSL connections are available at various speeds up to 25mbps though there are some phones that can raise to 100mbps. The disadvantage of DSL service is that it is based on distance. If you are further away from the Internet Service Provider, it will be slow. If you live near DSL service, this would work for simple Internet use.
Cable Internet is delivered through cable service.
The cable Internet speeds are higher than the DSL services. The disadvantage of cable services is that you have to share the Internet with other businesses in the neighborhood. This means it may be slower when more people use it at the same time. Cable can be a good option if you like using off-peak Internet times, which is not always an option when running a full time business.
Satellite Internet is delivered through a satellite service.
It is typically slower when compared to other Internet services, below 20mbps. It has short hiccups that may not be noticed. It is ideal for those who work in rural areas.
Fiber optic Internet service is also known as FiOS.
This ethernet is available in many places and offers up to 500Mbps. Fiber data services are easier to deploy for big businesses or in areas that are already built out. These are dedicated symmetrical services delivering high capacity circuits.
LTE Internet is great because it is cost effective, works in rural areas and is a perfect solution for temporary or back up options. Construction sites and small businesses find LTE Mobile Wireless Internet very attractive as it deploys quickly and easily without installation costs. LTE can also come equipped with SD-WAN services and is available nationwide.
Now that you know the different Internet Service Providers, which one is best for your business?
You need to know the ISP providers that are available in your area. This will help you to compare the services and choose the best Internet company for your needs. You can also check the customer reviews of the service provider. You can check the reviews online or from friends and neighbors. Ask them what they use and if they are happy and the issues they encounter. Call the businesses in your office park or neighborhood to see who they use. You can consider the local service providers because they will be available any time you need help. Get the list of providers in your location and start shopping around for the service that is ideal to use. A quick start would be to search for “Internet Service near me” or “ISP near me” or “Wireless Business Internet”.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each ISP available. Contact all the providers before you sign up with them for any service.
Some of the things to consider include speed, data caps, additional costs, security, introductory deals, bundling, add-ons, and customer service. Most companies may not offer quick service in the outlaying locations because of the low population. Small companies can do that and would be willing to.
If you have a small business, consider the quality of service that you need. When choosing the ISP, there is a quality or price trade-off. Some providers offer business grade services. Consider the inclusions and the exclusions in the plan that you choose. A plan that is cheap and offers unlimited data may be attractive, but it may not perform well because the users compete for coverage. Plus, is the unlimited really unlimited or does it throttle at a certain point? Ask the prospective provider the performance in your area. Coverage and distance from the telephone exchange may affect the performance.
Thoughts to consider:
Are the speeds guaranteed?
When choosing as ISP, ensure that you read the listed speeds on the fine print and know the speeds to expect. you can ensure by running speed test.
Do you have a service level agreement?
A service level agreement, SLA, outlines the quality commitment of the company. The network expectations like latency, downtime, and jitter are outlined to ensure that the performance expectations are met.
What is the mean time to repair?
In case of an outage, how long will the ISP take to get the network back and running? DSL connections may take a whole day to repair the connections.
What is tech support like?
What are the support hours? Do they understand the complex systems? Are they level one or level three technicians? You should get a record of how the service provider has performed in the past in handling issues. The technicians should be able to take you through step by step in identifying and solving any issue, not just robotically read from a script.
Where is support based?
Can you get support to help you? Ensure that you will not waste your time reaching a technician who cannot help you to troubleshoot your issues.
Are there any extra fees?
The installation costs, cancellation fees, gateway costs, and any other fees may be hidden in the fine print. Before you sign any contract, ensure that you are aware of the breakdown of the charges.
There are various things that you need to consider when choosing an ISP in your area. Follow the above guideline and ask the right questions to help you make an informed decision when choosing your next Business Internet Service Provider.
Remember, although an extra fee, it never hurts to have an attorney glance at your Internet contract before signing!
Questions/Internal Audit when deciding which Internet to choose for your business:
How many employees do I have at this business location?
What is my cost budget for Internet?
What is available in our business location area?
What speeds do we need?
How important is reliability?
If our business goes down, how will it effect us?
Do I need backup Internet options?
Once you have a good idea of what your business needs are, get as many free Internet quotes as possible and compare away.
Things to Consider from ISP Options:
Do they have an SLA?
Is there pricing competitive?
What are the support hours?
If I need a technician deployed, how long would that take?
Is phone support located in the United States?
Is there a support ticketing system?
What is their outage support response time?
When you call, can you speak with a real person?
Does support incur an extra fee or is it free?
What are the contract terms?
Are there installation costs?
Do I need to purchase any equipment?
Are there equipment rental fees?
How soon can installation be scheduled?
How long would installation take?
What kind of taxes can you expect on your bill?
Are there any extra fees?
What if you need to cancel?
What security is provided?
What if you have to move to another location?
How are their customer service reviews?
Want to know more about small and large business services? Check out Metro Wireless, your preferred nationwide wireless Internet provider.