As businesses continue to embrace digital technologies and operate in an increasingly connected world, access to fast, reliable and secure Internet is becoming a vital requirement. For example, one of the most common applications that organisations look to the Internet for is cloud computing. Cloud computing gives even the smallest business access to enterprise-class technology and solutions, and can help the business grow quickly and thrive.
Another common use of the Internet is to sell goods worldwide. Where a small bricks-and-mortar business might only be able to sell to their local community, through the Internet a business can access a far larger customer base, which can lead to rapid growth and new opportunities.
When going online, fibre Internet offers a cutting-edge solution to underpin a business’ use of the Internet, offering a range of benefits that other connectivity options simply cannot match.
The advantages of fibre Internet
One of the most notable advantages of fibre Internet is its speed. With fibre, businesses can enjoy lightning-fast upload and download speeds that enable their entire staff to complete tasks more efficiently and effectively. This is particularly important for businesses that rely on video conferencing, large file transfers or other bandwidth-intensive tasks. More businesses than ever fall into this group, too. Research suggests that the typical businesses needs at least 25 Mbps of download speed and 3 Mbps of upload speed to function, and fibre Internet can provide that.
In addition to speed, fibre Internet offers exceptional reliability. Its low latency means that there are fewer delays in data transmission, resulting in a more consistent and reliable connection. This makes fibre Internet ideal for businesses that need to remain online at all times. For example, if the facilities in a healthcare business went down, patient care would be compromised and potentially even lives would be put at risk. Fibre Internet helps to minimise this potential risk.
Fibre Internet is also highly scalable, allowing businesses to adjust their connectivity needs as they grow and change. Even with the disrupted economy at the moment, many businesses are looking to grow and build out their teams, and do so quickly. When a new employee comes on board, the business needs to have them online and working immediately. This flexibility that fibre enables is a major advantage over traditional broadband, which may become obsolete as a business’s needs evolve.
From a cost perspective, fibre Internet can also be a more cost-effective solution for businesses in the long run. Most businesses still need to be reachable by phone, and maintaining a phone system can be an expensive investment by the business. Fibre Internet can eliminate that cost by allowing the business to shift to VOIP – phone connectivity delivered over the Internet. Rolling this cost into the one Internet bill can significantly reduce monthly costs. Additionally, most Internet providers offer managed voice services, which completely eliminates the maintenance costs for the phone line.
In terms of security, fibre Internet is also a more secure option than traditional broadband. With the costs of data theft escalating rapidly to the point that it can be a business-ending event, having infrastructure technology that is resilient to hacking is important – particularly for small businesses that might not be able to afford a large security team.
Are there alternatives to fibre?
There are several alternatives to fibre that a business might also consider, including:
- Cable Internet: Cable Internet uses coaxial cables to deliver high-speed Internet to businesses. It has the advantage that it does offer faster speeds than traditional broadband, but is often less reliable than fibre and can suffer from slowdowns during peak usage times. These slowdowns are significant enough that the ability for employees to work with the Internet can be compromised.
- DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): DSL uses telephone lines to deliver Internet to homes and businesses. It is widely available, but its speeds are generally slower than fibre or cable Internet. It is technology that will be obsoleted soon enough, too, and any organisation still using DSL will be forced to upgrade.
- Satellite Internet: Satellite Internet uses satellites to deliver Internet. It is principally a technology that is used for remote or rural areas where fibre or cable is not available. It is an option for businesses in these areas (and is generally the only option), but its high latency and limited bandwidth can make it less suitable for businesses that require high-speed connectivity. Very few businesses would be so remote that satellite is the only option, however. Even regional villages generally have access to something else, and it’s really just farmers and the like that would use satellite as their main Internet access technology.
So, while there are several alternatives to fibre Internet, fibre remains the preferred option for businesses due to its faster speeds, reliability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and better security. The good news is that in most areas, fibre is already set up and ready to go. All a business needs to do is contact their ISP of choice and sign up for a plan. Soon afterwards they will be enjoying the benefits that it brings to their business.
