Fiber connections allow you to access the internet with fiber-optic cables, which utilize light signals to transfer information via your computer. Because of the cutting-edge technology behind it, fiber internet can provide a higher quality connection over DSL and cable Internet regarding internet speed and reliability. This article will show you why it’s a worthwhile investment and how to choose a valuable fiber internet connection for your business.
Why Fiber Internet Is Better Than DSL and Cable Internet
Data transferred over fiber connections won’t degrade as much when traveling long distances as information riding on copper wire connections does. Fiber internet is more effective in transmitting information than DSL or cable Internet connections because of the type of cables used.
DSL and cable internet use copper wires to transmit information. They are the same wires to send your voice over the phone line. This factoid is an intriguing way to remind yourself of the time we have been using this technology.
The problem of attenuation and distortion in copper wires gets more intense the longer these wires are. So, the farther away you are from the local node and the internet company (ISP), the more degraded the signals received. Attenuation and distortion also get more severe when you increase your internet speed. (That’s one of the reasons DSL and cable Internet are only able to speed up to a certain level.)
As mentioned, fiber-optic internet lines transfer information by modulating light instead of electricity. They have more bandwidth because they’re not bound by the physical limitations of electrical currents flowing across metal. Ultimately, this leads to fewer delays due to internet connectivity and more productive uptime for your business.
Contact Your Local IT Firm | Lower Your Business Fiber Internet Cost
An often overlooked option to connect your business with fiber internet is going through a local IT firm. Many local IT companies have a large enough purchasing power for bulk fiber packages. They also often have inside purchasing relationships. In these cases, the IT firms near you can offer better prices than the market price for a business fiber agreement. They may also waive some of the fees for activation and equipment because providing this resold service is an excellent way to acquire new customers.
The managed IT services team at reputable local IT firms will know who the best internet providers are that balance reliability with value. This is particularly true in tech-heavy urban markets like Austin, San Francisco or Dallas. An Austin managed services team will know the best ISP to turn to when you need to get a business fiber connection installed within a certain timeline, and will usually know which local offices of national ISPs have the best rates in Austin. It works that way in most major cities.
Which Business Fiber ISP To Choose
Conventional advice (or paid advertisement, hard to tell which sometimes) will tell you to choose between a handful of massive tech giants for your business fiber internet. These ISPs (Internet Service Providers) include Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, and Comcast. Below, we’ll discuss the pricing models of some of these conventional ISPs and explore a different option that may be much cheaper for your business.
Standard Business Fiber Internet Cost | Business Fiber Internet Pricing
Verizon claims to offer $47.99/mo pricing on the low end of their business fiber internet. However, that’s only partially true. To secure this promotional pricing, you are forced into a two-year agreement with Verizon, and a $10/month increase is handed to you as early as month 13 of your service. In addition, it only offers a measly 3 Mbps(megabits per second).
To be completely and utterly truthful about Verizon’s pricing, you will need the 10-15 Mbps package, which will cost you between $64.99/month on a 2-year contract or $79.99 without an agreement. 15 Mbps is still paltry when weighed against the immense internet needs most businesses, small or not, will have.
AT&T’s offerings are admittedly better. This business fiber ISP touts a 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload package at the low price of $50/month. 50/10 speed sounds much more respectable and probably makes you wonder whether Verizon has lost its mind or made a rookie mistake labeling MBps (MegaBytes per second) as Mbps. Even then, their offerings would still be more expensive than AT&T.
AT&T’s upper end reaches 1000 Mbps up and down for $160/month. This plan sounds expensive, but it would be viable for a medium-sized business or a more extensive one, unlike Verizon’s paltry options.
Comcast and CenturyLink are much less transparent about their pricing and force you into the sales funnel to find out the cost of their services. Comcast offers similar speeds to AT&T and would be considered a viable option even if you need Gigabit speeds. However, CenturyLink only makes it clear that they provide at least 40 Mbps speeds, so it’s not immediately evident whether they could fulfill your business needs.
A few of these companies offer something worth using for business, with AT&T as the most valuable of the four. The above costs may not indicate what you’ll pay because construction, equipment, activation, and other fees will factor into the final pricing. However, these are widely considered the best options for business fiber internet, but a massive opportunity is often overlooked.
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