Internet Service

In this age of digital communications, a fast and reliable internet access is important for smooth operation of your business. You probably need an internet connection that not only lets you access internet for email and web surfing but also allows use of applications like VoIP phones, virtual private network (VPN) and video conferencing.

What are the different types of high speed internet solutions?

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the least expensive internet access solution for a small business. It is an “always on” connection that provides internet access over telephone lines. Speed ranges from 384 Kbps to 1,500 Kbps, or greater. This is a good solution for a small business with up to twenty five employees. It allows internet access at decent speeds and use of applications like email and instant messaging. It is not suitable for applications like VoIP, streaming video and downloads/uploads of large files.

Disadvantage of a DSL line is that the speed rapidly deteriorates if your business is not within 2-3 miles of the central station, so make sure you ask the ISP if you are too far for reliable service. Quality of service also depends on number of subscribers using the DSL service at a given time. Reliability of DSL is better than the dialup connection but lags T1 lines. Go in for DSL only if your business can afford occasional downtime.

There are various types of DSL services, often referred to as xDSL. Symmetrical DSL (SDSL), Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) and Very high ata rate DSL (VDSL) are the most common. ADSL, the cheapest version of DSL, transmits data over your existing copper phone lines. The upload speed is as little as one quarter of download speeds. SDSL needs special dedicated wiring, is costlier than ADSL and supports almost equal upload and download speeds. VDSL is the fastest among the various types of DSL, speeds ranging from 13 Mbps to 56 Mbps over short distances.

Your Internet Service provider will sell or lease appropriate hardware needed for a DSL service. You will need a router to connect the DSL service to your local area network (LAN). Some routers have inbuilt data security and data filtering service.  Ask your Internet Service provider if you need one. Remember to purchase firewall software to secure your network.

T1: Also called DS1 (digital signal 1), T1 is the most popular method for internet access among small and medium businesses. It is fast and reliable and supports data transfer speeds of up to 1600 Kbps. Like DSL it is an “always on” connection. T1 can support hundreds of people at a time but speed and efficiency will drop as more people use the T1 connection simultaneously. T1 service is provided over dedicated lines and bandwidth of a T1 line does not deteriorate with distance from the central office. Most Internet Service Providers offer 99.99%+ uptime guarantee for T1 lines. Depending on the data traffic, a T1 connection also makes it easier to download and upload large files.  Download and upload data speed of a T1 line is almost identical.

If you want to use your internet connection for voice communication (VoIP) ask your Internet Service Provider for an integrated T1 line.  Depending on your voice traffic, you can reserve some of the twenty four integrated T1 channels for voice only and use the rest for data. This helps avoid sudden deterioration in voice calls when someone in your company starts a large data transfer. If you business does not need the full bandwidth provided by a T1 line, ask your Internet Service Provide for fractional T1 line to lower your costs. If your internet access bandwidth need grows with your company, you can always upgrade to full T1 bandwidth.

If your data traffic pattern is uneven or highly seasonal, consider a burstable T1 line. This is like a “pay as you go” service. Your Internet Access Provider will charge a flat fee for a base amount of bandwidth. There is an extra charge (often steep) for any bandwidth usage in access of the base amount.

If you think you need more bandwidth than a single T1 line, ask your Internet Service Provider for a bonded T1 line that provides aggregated bandwidth of multiple T1 lines. A bonded line has higher performance than equivalent number of multiple single T1 lines.

Though the data transfer speed of a DSL and a single T1 line is almost the same, T1 lines are more expensive because they offer better uptime reliability than DSL. You should opt for a T1 line over DSL if your business relies heavily on internet access and cannot afford any downtime.

T3: T3 internet access supports data transfer speeds of up to 45 Mbps (1 Mbps=1000 Kbps.) T3 is a good option for mid-sized or large businesses with 100 or more employees.

Cable: Internet access is provided by the same cable connection that runs your television service. The data transfer speed is usually around 1500Kbps. Applications that need reliable high speed data transfer do not work well over cable internet service. Like DSL the performance of cable internet access is dependent upon the number of users that are online in your area. More users may mean poorer quality.

Satellite: Internet access is provided through a satellite. Your Internet Service Provider places a satellite dish on your building to catch the signal. If DSL or T1 is not offered in your area then satellite internet access could be an option. There are disadvantages to satellite internet access. Quality of service is highly dependent on the weather.  The speed of satellite internet is not good enough for handling applications that need high speed connections and large amounts of data transfer. For example large file transfers, web hosting, streaming video, VoIP, video conferencing will not work reliably on satellite internet service.

How to select from the different ISPs?

Compare quotes from Internet Service Provider on TradeSeam. You can directly call an Internet Service Provider or contact an ISP broker to sign up for high speed internet access. A broker can help you evaluate the technology, pricing and service options, and pick the best service based on your requirements. You do not have to pay extra for a broker’s service.

If you decide to hire a broker, first check their references. Find out if present and past clients are happy with their service. Did the ISP broker ever try to sell any extra equipment or service to them? Ask if they were satisfied with the after sales service?  It will be your broker’s responsibility to regularly monitor your connection and work with the Internet Service Provider to fix issues as they arise.

Carefully review the service level agreement (SLA) and the contract. A T1 line should come with a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Internet Service Providers are generally reluctant to provide uptime guarantee for DSL. To ensure compliance with the SLA ask for monitoring reports at regular intervals. SLA should also list out available options for customer support, penalty provisions if the agreed service level is not met, and details of hardware and software. Make sure there are no hidden fees in the fine print. Standard service length of a contract varies by location and by Internet Service Provider. Longer term internet service contracts typically include all set up fees including wiring from your business to central office (also called local loop), installation, and equipment costs. Shorter term contracts may require you to pay additional fees. There are generally severe penalties for breaking the contract. If you anticipate a change in your office location, make sure you pick the right length of the contract so that you do not have to break it. Do not buy expensive equipment. Lease it instead so that your ISP provider has to take ownership of all repairs and software/firmware upgrades.

Plan early, especially if your office building is brand new and has never had internet service in the past. It may take a while for the ISP to lay the wiring to provide you with internet access.

How much does it cost to get high speed internet service?

Price varies by internet service location, Internet Service Provider and level of service. Compare price quotes from multiple ISPs. It is best to solicit multiple quotes before making a decision. If you are on a budget and uptime is not a huge concern, go for DSL service since it is normally cheaper than getting a T1 line.