Making the switch to fibre broadband may be one of the best decisions that you can make for your office. It can support the demands of a modern workplace, especially if you regularly share files, work on cloud apps and video call.
If you have a team that works remotely, it’s almost a non-negotiable to have. As a faster, more reliable Internet solution, it will keep your online activities running smoothly at all times.
The Benefits Of Fibre Broadband
Moving to fibre broadband is not just about getting faster Internet. In reality, it’s giving your business the ability to grow and, more importantly, to level the playing field with your competitors.
Its connections are more stable, which can improve overall productivity and minimise the risk of downtime which can be incredibly frustrating and costly.
And with its speed comes quicker uploads and downloads and smoother video calls along with the ability to share files quickly between team members.
Overall, fibre broadband is the tool you need to keep your business agile and more efficient.
How To Prepare Your Office For Fibre Broadband
Before you can take advantage of the ultra-fast speeds of fibre broadband, you will need to prepare your office accordingly for the switch. But not to worry, it’s not too technical and you can get up and running in no time.
Inspect Your Current Broadband Situation
In preparation of making the switch to fibre broadband, first take stock of what you currently have. Check if your current speed is meeting your office needs or if you often experience buffering and slow upload speeds.
This will give you a good indication of why you need to upgrade and what you want out of your fibre broadband, whether it’s faster speeds or more reliability.
Know The Type Of Fibre That You’re Getting
It’s important to remember that not all fibre is the same. So before you get it installed, you need to know what type of service your provider is offering.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is the gold standard where fibre optic cables will run straight to your office, giving you the fastest possible speeds.
On the other hand, Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) runs to a street cabinet. It is faster than standard broadband but not as fast as FTTP.
Or, you could opt for a leased line which is a dedicated fibre only for your business but it is more expensive.
Discuss The Installation Logistics
Once you have selected a service provider for your fibre broadband, you can figure out how the installation will take place.
Some things that you should ask is how long will the installation take, will there be any downtime during the transition and if your provider will need access to your building.
It may be worth it to schedule the installation outside of work hours if it could be disruptive to your work day.
Identify What Hardware You Will Need
The next step is to figure out what hardware you will need to support your fibre broadband. It usually needs a specific type of modem or router, so find out if your service provider will be supplying one or if you need to buy your own.
If your office uses network switches, check to see that they are able to support gigabit speeds or you may run into issues down the line.
Decide On Your Network Layout
Switching over gives you the perfect opportunity to rethink how your office is currently connected. If your space has patchy Wi-Fi or tangled cables, your new ultra-fast fibre speeds will be wasted.
Here, you can check if you have any dead zones where your Wi-Fi doesn’t reach and see which employees will need the fastest connection close to a wired port.
If there are too many dead zones, you could also install wireless access points throughout the office to ensure even connectivity.
Test Everything Post-Installation
After your fibre has been installed, remember to test it out. To do this, you can run speed tests from different devices or upload and download big files to check the speed.
Additionally, you can monitor Wi-Fi strength in different areas of your office. This is also the best time to troubleshoot any issues if they pop up and get in touch with your service provider to help you.
