If your business uses the internet or cloud services, you need an internet service provider (ISP). In some ways, the ISP is your internet, which is a network of ISPs. The ISP negotiates an entry point for the data that flows out of and into your computer system or closed local area network to and from the wider world.
Upload and Download Speed
One of the most important criteria for selecting an ISP is the speed of data transmission (upload) and reception
(download). Most of the time, downloading can be as much as twice as fast as downloading. However, some ISPs have been pushing upload speeds and are advertising equal download and upload rates.
These rates are expressed in terms of megabytes per second (Mbps). The old dial-up modem that connected through the telephone line is rarely used now, in less than 1% of internet users, according to the Federal Communications Commission statistic. The maximum speed of a dial-up connection is less than 1 Mbps (maximum transfer speeds are in the neighborhood of 56 kilobytes per second). The average photographic image requires about 5,000 kilobytes and would take almost 90 seconds to load at that rate.
Broadband or high-speed internet has replaced virtually all internet connections in the world. The development of broadband in the United States has fallen behind most of the rest of the world. According to the statistics gathered by Web Analytics World at the end of 2014, the global average peak internet download speed in Mbps is 21.2. South Korea and Hong Kong were above 66 Mbps. The United States has been lagging well behind at 20.3 Mbps and ranked 11th worldwide.
Connection Types:
In the United States, many forms of internet connection are available. ISPs like AOL still offer dial-up connections through your telephone. A variant of the dial-up connection, called DSL (digital subscribers line) uses telephone lines for slightly higher speeds.
DSL is the least expensive form of broadband internet. Many retailers still use DSL systems through their business phone lines. The system supports voice and data transmission simultaneously and upload speeds are sufficient to operate most smaller point-of-sale systems.
Cable-based ISPs are popular. They offer relatively fast internet at budget cost. The system operates using the standard television cable but supports the internet and digital phone use of the cable at the same time. The speeds are sufficient to support a few dozen simultaneous business users providing use is not video intensive. Cable connections do share bandwidth among neighboring subscribers. Speeds may drop during periods of peak use. This has been a significant complaint.
Fiber-optic cable offers superior internet performance. Several major telecommunications companies have been installing significant fiber-optic cable networks over the country for decades and have been extending the network closer and closer to direct connection to end users (often still ending with copper line connections). One fiber-optic line can support 24 users for internet, television and telephone service.
Contracts
Most ISPs operate on the basis of contracts, which should be examined carefully. They often begin with special pricing that expires after a period of months. Consider the hardware and maintenance that comes with the contract. Some ISPs include only a basic modem. Others may include a sophisticated WiFi router with Ethernet potential and firewall protection. Some contracts do not include installation or may only install the internet on a single computer.
Visit Clarus Communications here or call us at 855-801-6700 to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff so we can work with you on finding the right Internet service for your business at the most affordable rates. Our goal is to ensure high levels of customer service plus building and maintaining a system that enables your business to run well.
Clarus Communications is a national leader that specializes in providing over 60 telecommunication and technology provider solutions and we would appreciate the opportunity to become your technology partner and help you find the best solution for you and your company.