As a business owner, watching your team start to grow is something you always want to see. But when celebrating this company milestone, don’t forget that your Internet needs will also change.
Having the right broadband is incredibly important for your business because it will affect your team’s output, communication with customers and even impact employee morale.
So what do you need to know about choosing broadband fit for you and your team? Let’s get into it.
What Is Business Broadband?
You may already know that broadband is high-speed Internet, but business broadband is a bit different to what you may use at home.
Business broadband has been designed specifically for use by companies, who rely on the Internet to carry out daily business activities. This type of broadband will typically have faster speeds for uploads and downloads, static IP addresses and a customer support team to troubleshoot issues.
Essentially, business broadband helps companies to keep their online work running smoothly at all times with minimal downtime.
Why Does A Growing Team Need Business-Grade Internet?
Home broadband may be suitable for a small team of two or three, but as you grow, you will quickly notice things starting to slow down. If frozen video calls, slow uploads and lagging cloud-based apps are sounding all too familiar, it may be time to upgrade.
Here are a few reasons why your Internet needs will change as the team expands.
More devices are being used: People usually have more than one device. So every time you add a new hire to the team, you’re also adding more devices like smartphones and laptops. You’ll end up with multiple devices fighting for a limited bandwidth.
The use of cloud-based tools: Online platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack and Trello all require Internet connectivity to run. If your current broadband can’t support these tools, your productivity will be directly affected.
Working remotely: A lot of growing businesses these days work from home or have a virtual office. Think of broadband as the glue that holds everyone together when working apart but can still collaborate together.
Clients have expectations: Client communication also relies on broadband and if they experience too many dropped video calls or slow messages, your brand name could be on the line.
What To Look For In Business Broadband
If you are looking at upgrading your broadband to accommodate your growing team, there are a few factors that you should take into consideration. Once you know what to look for, the shift to business broadband will be much easier.
Type Of Connection
There are a few different types of broadband connections with varying purposes. A Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) is quick and cost-effective but your speed will depend on your proximity to the exchange.
On the other hand, Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is ultra-fast and more stable because the fibre enters directly into your building. If you have bigger teams, this is usually the option to go for.
You can also get a leased line which is a dedicated connection for your business only. It may be more expensive however, it has guaranteed speed and uptime to avoid disruptions.
Upload And Download Speeds
It’s a common misconception that you should only look at download speeds. This affects things like how quickly you can access a website or download files. In reality, upload speeds are equally important if you send a lot of files or have video calls often.
For a small team with less than 10 people, a 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speed would be ideal. If you have a team of between 10 and 50 people, opt for a 300-500Mbps download and 50-100Mbps upload.
Customer Service For Support
Business broadband should come with reliable, dedicated support. If something goes wrong, you’ll want peace of mind that the person on the other end understands that you can’t be offline for too long.
When browsing service providers, check if they have 24/7 customer support and what their average response time is. This should give you a good indication of what to expect if you become a client of theirs.
Uptime Guarantees
Going offline can be costly, both in time and money if your team is unable to work or clients are unable to reach you.
To mitigate the risk of interruptions, look for service providers who have a 99.9% uptime guarantee and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that offer compensation if their service fails.
Costings And Contract Periods
While your budget will have an influence over your final decision, don’t make the mistake of going for the cheapest option. This option may not be right for you and your team, and you won’t get the full benefit of business broadband.
Enquire about monthly fees, if there are any installation costs involved and the lengths of contracts. You may not want to be locked in for two or three years and some providers have pay-as-you-go structures.
