How to Choose a Business Broadband Package

Fortunately, there are a lot of broadband options and packages available, but while this choice means you can find a suitable package no matter the size of your organisation or the work it undertakes, it also makes choosing a more difficult process. 

Below, we look at some of the most important factors when choosing a business broadband package.

 

Download and upload speeds 

Everything you do online requires downloading and uploading data. Opening a simple text-based webpage has minimal download requirements while taking part in video calls has considerable download and upload capacity requirements. If you have multiple people in the office, the figures are multiplied. 

So, if there are multiple employees in your business and they all video call or upload large files, choose higher broadband speeds. If you work alone and only use the Internet for browsing and occasional Microsoft file downloads, you don’t need the greatest speeds.

 

Reliability

Whatever it is you use the Internet for, you will need reliability. Reliability not only means minimal downtime, but it also means that you get close to the advertised speeds consistently, not just during off-peak times. 

While reliability is important for all businesses, if you host your own website or email server, or you use your broadband for VOIP and video conferencing communications, you need even greater uptime.

 

Backup Connections

One way to help reduce downtime is with backup connections. Some providers offer a secondary router that connects to a separate network. If your main connection does go down, the backup connection picks up the slack. This redundancy can help prevent work loss and communication failure.

 

Static vs Dynamic IP Addresses

Whenever a device connects to the Internet it is assigned an IP address. Dynamic addresses are surrendered when the device logs off so that a different device can use it, and a new IP address is assigned when the device next logs on. 

Dynamic addresses were introduced to help counteract the dwindling number of available IPv4 addresses (link to What is The Difference Between IPv6 And IPv4). They are also considered more secure and cost-effective. But, if a business hosts its own website or email server, it will require static IP addresses.

 

Flexible Broadband Contracts

Cheaper is not necessarily better when it comes to business broadband, but that doesn’t mean you should pay over the odds. And you should avoid being tied into lengthy, expensive contracts. 

Businesses evolve, and if yours expands to include more people or take on additional work with different requirements, you may need to increase factors like download speeds. Having the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade can be very beneficial to a business.

 

Additional Products And Services

Most broadband packages come with some hardware. Specifically, you will receive a router that the computers and other devices on the premises connect to. But you can also find packages that include additional hardware and infrastructure, like phone lines and phones. 

Include VoIP, WiFi extenders, and other features, if required, but avoid paying extra for services you don’t need. 

 

Find Your Ideal Broadband Package

Businesses of all sizes and types need reliable Internet access that meets their needs. Consider the size of your business, and your typical Internet requirements, and ensure that you choose a package that can be adapted to your needs in the future. 

At Wildanet we offer a variety of broadband packages suitable for businesses run from spare rooms to broadband for Enterprises, including additional products and services like WiFi SuperPods and Phoneline+.