As you research your internet circuit upgrade or renewal, you’ve likely found all sorts of advice. 
You’ve heard about the difference between connection types and which one makes sense for your business as well as the benefits of evaluating your network traffic as it relates to your bandwidth needs.
In other words, there’s plenty to keep in mind as you look for your future internet contract. But, after doing your homework, you still need to decide which Internet Service Provider (ISP) you’ll partner with.
The multitude of ISPs to choose from is beneficial for contract pricing, but it’s less helpful when looking for the best provider.
The KR Group has helped dozens of our customers compare all of their internet options. When we have this conversation, these are some of the crucial factors we evaluate:
- Does the provider offer business services?
- What type of internet circuits can you get from the ISP?
- Who are the best ISPs for your business’s needs?
This discussion can vary depending on your geographic location and specific demands. However, the following information is a good starting point for West Michigan organizations.
Business vs. Residential Internet Connection
Most of our customers will want to ensure the ISP offers business internet services.
This option generally has more bandwidth and connection types than residential alternatives.
In metropolitan areas, including Grand Rapids, business internet has a better selection, more features, and benefits.
A significant reason you should sign up for a business internet contract is that most offer synchronous circuits. This means the upload and download speeds are identical, so you don’t have to think about two different speeds when determining your internet needs.
If you’re a very small business and only have a few devices connecting to your network, a residential connection won’t be the end of the world. However, if you are a business, you’ll be better served by a business contract.
Best Internet Connection Type for Businesses
Besides ensuring you have the correct type of contract, you’ll want to sign up for a circuit that works well for businesses.
The four primary options ISPs offer include:
DSL (digital subscriber line): This transmits internet connection through wires that look like phone lines but are slightly different to allow broadband transmission. It’s often the circuit provided by telephone companies that also have an ISP division.- Cable: If you subscribe to cable internet, your connection is transmitted through the same medium as cable television. Cable internet has broadband capabilities and can reach higher speeds than DSL.
- Fiber: This option relies on fiber-optic cable to connect subscribers to the internet and quickly transmit large amounts of information. However, fiber has limited availability, and it is expensive to build the infrastructure to support it.
- Wireless 5G: This is the newest internet option. It’s based on OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing). Wireless technology is designed to be fast, reliable, and connect new service areas, such as IoT.
In general, businesses should sign a contract for fiber or wireless. However, you may need to opt for cable or even DSL, depending on what is available in your area.
Best Internet Service Providers in West Michigan
Here in West Michigan, there are five popular options for internet service.
The KR Group has worked with each of these, and we’ll try to provide an unbiased overview of the options.
We’ve listed these in order of most preferred to least. However, we’re confident you’ll find adequate service with any of the options.
Additionally, this is not a comprehensive list of every ISP available in West Michigan.
It’s best to remember that your business may find a specific ISP works better with your company, including ones excluded from this list.
That being, these are the providers we consider the best in West Michigan:
#1: AT&T Internet
AT&T’s business internet services earn a top spot on our list because they’re well-known, widely available, and have multiple contract options for businesses. They offer speeds up to 1 Gbps.
As a side note, you can work with New Horizons Communications (NHC), a communications stack provider with a focus on AT&T’s services, and you’ll receive “red-carpet treatment,” as their website puts it.
We generally refer to this relationship as the internet version of a Disney fast pass. Your problems receive priority over general AT&T customers, so you’ll notice a faster response time.
#2: Comcast Internet
We’ve listed Comcast in second place, but it’s more accurate to think of it as tied for AT&T for first. We put it there for similar reasons as the previous ISP: brand recognition, availability, and contract options.
What options you have from Comcast depends on your location, but in general, speed ranges from 35 Mbps to 1 Gbps with no data caps.
Comcast’s services are widely known and available throughout West Michigan – and the U.S. in general. In fact, they have 40% of the market share of broadband internet across the country.
#3: 123 Net Business Internet
A Michigan-owned ISP, 123 Net is privately owned with headquarters in Southfield. They offer a variety of internet circuits for businesses, including fiber and fixed wireless.
Businesses located outside of the reach of fiber often find 123 Net is a good choice for their company because it provides high internet speeds through transmitted microwaves.
This enables organizations who need stellar internet performance to contract for it without paying to have fiber-optic cables routed to their building.
Overall, the ISP offers impressive speeds – up to 100 Gbps in some areas.
#4: MetroNet Internet Services
In the interest of full disclosure, this is The KR Group’s current internet provider.
They were the first ISP in the Grand Rapids area to offer a gigabit of bandwidth for a competitive price. They continue to expand their network and invest in their organizations.
MetroNet currently has business plans for 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and 1 Gbps.
A significant differentiator is they don’t have long-term contracts like many other ISPs. This makes them a good fit allows businesses with rapidly evolving needs or looking for a short-term commitment.
#5: U.S. Signal Internet
To round out our list, we’ve included U.S. Signal.
They are local to the Midwest and have four data center locations in Michigan, including two on the west side of the state.
You can expect a dedicated, synchronous connection from U.S. Signal with contract options for speeds between 1.5 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
They are also the largest debt-free, privately-held data center services provider in the Midwest and offer various products to complement their ISP business.
Picking the Best ISP for Your Business
When looking at ISPs to work with for your internet needs, you’ll need to find one that offers business internet services and the circuit type you’re looking for.
From there, we recommend considering one of the following providers:
- AT&T
- Comcast
- 123 Net
- MetroNet
- U.S. Signal
If you’re stressed about making time to look at the above option and what services they offer in your area, know you don’t have to do it alone.
When you work with an IT consultant, you can outsource this task. As a bonus, a consultant can often find competitive prices through their ecosystem of partners.
To talk to one of The KR Group’s technology experts about getting started finding the right ISP for your business, set up a no-pressure, 30-minute meeting.
