Your business increasingly relies on the internet, and having a dependable connection isn’t a luxury but a necessity. The Our World in Data project found that mobile subscribers have leveled at 8.3 billion, while internet subscribers continue climbing at 4.7 billion. The advantages of internet infrastructure can be crucial in determining your options when choosing a connection.
Every aspect of your work is done directly or indirectly with the internet. Here’s the real question: could your business survive without internet access for two days? What about an hour? How would your customers feel about being unable to reach you even for an hour?
What have you done to fortify your internet connection? Take advantage of better internet connectivity to strengthen your business.
Why Reliable and Fast Internet Matters for Business
Any significant disruption in your internet connection can erode trust in your business. Global outages occur but are exceedingly rare and more manageable to address. Having decent coverage for your home is one thing, but it’s more complicated when dealing with a business, and prioritizing connection is more important than ever.
How Consistent Internet Affects Your Business
According to Pew Trusts, about 50 percent of the US has cable internet access to their homes, whereas fiber is about 20 percent. ISPs have committed $60 billion towards fiber rollout nationwide. Also, with the American Rescue Plan recovery from the pandemic state and local prioritization for fiber installations are planned. It’s important to understand that not all internet connections are the same:
- Broadband: Digital information transmission is much faster than traditional “dial-up.”
- DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Uses copper-wired connections to push internet through to homes and businesses.
- Satellite Internet: Recommended for rural or hard-to-reach subscribers. Must have a dish to send and receive data with a clear line of sight to the sky.
- Cellular Internet: This can be 4G LTE or 5G but runs through the cell network phones run on. Great for backup plans or home internet needs.
- Cable Internet: Coaxial lines are used to transmit data. The cable lines used for TV have been converted to connect to the internet. Speeds are comparable to DSL.
- Fiber Internet: Transmits data through electrical light signals. Powerful enough to handle the internet, VoIP calls, and video-on-demand.
Depending on your business, the connection you choose will have a dramatic impact on how you will be able to conduct your daily business. Choose wisely, or it may have lasting adverse effects.
Advantage of Internet #1: Facilitates Collaboration
A positive employee experience is greatly dependent on the quality and reliability of the internet connection you choose. By having a connection that’s always capable, employees can rely on it for real-time communication like video calling and messaging, which helps your business move more efficiently.
Advantage of Internet #2: Enhances Productivity
If you have ever tried to complete a task with an unstable connection, you know the frustration that can arise even if you use something like the AutoSave function in a Word doc; if that yellow banner keeps interrupting your workflow, that can destroy momentum and make it impossible to concentrate—lengthening the time it takes to complete any tasks. With a consistent connection, employees can focus and finish the work without thinking twice.
Advantage of Internet #3: Mitigating Risks and Downtime
Risks come in all shapes and sizes, and one is bound to strike eventually, but you can prepare for it. Having a disaster recovery plan can help minimize any risk that might come your way. Specifically, you could have a fiber connection as your primary internet to your office but have a cable connection as a backup. There could be road construction that breaks the fiber line, but you stay up because you have that reliable second connection.
Plan for the worst so you can always be there for your clients.
Stay Connected and Ready to Produce with PS Lightwave
The reliability advantage of PS Lightwave’s internet connections is incredible. Will an internet connection alone save your business? No, but not having a stable connection can definitely hurt your business. PS Lightwave is the provider the Houston area has relied upon for almost 15 years. We are here for your success and will only offer the products and services you need. Contact us today, and let’s start this journey together.
