Broadband Internet Basics

Just the facts about business broadband Internet
By Lisa Maloney Broadband Internet is, to many, a business necessity. It's the only way of quickly shipping and receiving vast packages of data across the Internet on demand, but there are, within this general classification, many different types of "broadband" Internet service for you to choose from.
 

You can help yourself get oriented in the jungle of options that is broadband Internet by making a list of your business data needs. Do you need to transfer large files on a constant basis? Do you need super-fast performance? Do you need to connect many computers to the Internet at the same time? Once you've identified your needs and brushed up on the broadband Internet basics, you'll be able to:

1. Tell the difference between different types of business broadband Internet.

2. Evaluate how fast your broadband Internet service really is.

3. Choose the right high speed Internet service for your business needs.

Decipher the broadband puzzle

Trying to sort through broadband Internet options can make it seems like you're wading through alphabet soup. Just remember that DSL and cable function off a typical consumer analog phone line or cable line, respectively, while T1 and greater systems function through digital phone lines or fiber optic cables, which are most likely to be present in large offices with extensive telephone systems. Satellite broadband is available in areas where you have a clear view of the southern sky, and wireless Internet is available wherever your provider's wireless signal is broadcast.
Try: IncTechnology.com offers white papers detailing the difference between some of the most popular broadband Internet solutions for business. If you've mastered the difference between cable and DSL Internet access but still don't know what a T1 is, HowStuffWorks gives a brief explanation of how a T1 line works for business Internet (or telephone) access.

Gauge the speed of your broadband Internet connection

If you mail order a product, you always open the box to make sure it's there, right? It's only prudent to do the same with your broadband Internet access. If it's slower than it should be, you may have found the symptom of a problem your broadband Internet provider isn't even aware of--or a scam.
Try: Audit My PC offers a free online speed test to determine the actual download and upload speeds of your broadband Internet access. The Federal Communications Commission's "What is Broadband?" page gives a range of typical broadband speeds for each type of Internet access.

Pick one of many broadband Internet services

No matter how complicated the many business broadband Internet options seem, which you choose all comes down to the same considerations in the end: stability (a network that's consistently up and functioning) and consistently high data transfer speeds, even during peak usage times.
Try: Look for honest advertising, like Dynamic Broadband's list of service types that includes a minimum and maximum speed to account for inevitable variations in service. Services like Broadband Broker offer easy comparison of dozens of Internet service providers to help you choose the characteristics that are right for your business.

• Ask your broad band service provider about upload speeds. Most advertised broadband speeds are for downloads (transferring data from the Internet to your computer), and upload (transferring data from your computer to the Internet) speeds are typically much slower.