Have you ever stopped and thought for a second about how much technology you use in your personal and professional life that you just take for granted?
For example, I rarely appreciate how great Bluetooth speakers are for providing me with some background noise while I type away all day.
The same can be said about all of our internet connections. Sure, we know we need it and use it all the time, but it isn’t until it goes out or your page won’t load that you realize just how dependent we all are on this relatively new technology.
Even more, I challenge any of you to run your business on a dial-up connection without longing for something faster.
When it comes to your internet circuits (the infrastructure that provides an internet connection to your business), not only are we completely reliant on them, but we’re always looking for a solution
Here at The KR Group, when we’re not reminiscing about the sound of a dial-up connection, we’re researching current solutions for fast, effective internet connection. We take this information to customers like you to empower all of your systems that rely on them.
However, before we get too far into explaining why you should take a look at your internet circuits, let’s define what they are.
What Is an Internet Circuit?
In the simplest sense, internet circuits are the cabling that carries internet service to your business. It is the physical, wired path that your internet connection travels for uploads and downloads you perform.
Over time, internet circuits have evolved. Today, these are the four types of internet connections businesses generally rely on:
- T1 connections came to the scene in the 2000s. Its top speed is 1.5 Mbps, making them faster than DSL, but not as quick as more modern options. Even if you opted for a bonded T1 connection, the service is inferior to today’s standards.
- DSL – short for Digital Subscriber Line – travels through phone lines and is the slowest of these four options. DSL internet speed generally maxes out around 2 Mbps.
- Cable is currently the most popular internet option. This connection travels through coax and is converted through a modem. The download speed of cable ranges from 10 to 500 Mbps, while the upload speed ranges from 5 to 50 Mbps.
- Fiber is newer to the scene and is the fastest connection currently available. It requires fiber cable routing and is capable of speeds up to 1,000 Mbps for uploads and downloads.
Each of these options requires different circuits. When we talk about upgrading internet circuits, we’re talking about upgrading the infrastructure to move from one internet connection to another.
This allows you to have faster speeds to support your internet and application demand.
Signs You Should Upgrade Your Internet Circuits
While all circuits have the same purpose – to provide you with internet access – upgrading can make a significant difference to your business’s IT infrastructure.
How do you know if upgrading your internet circuits is something you should consider?
Here are a few scenarios:
1. You don’t have internet service
This scenario is increasingly less common, but it does happen.
Sometimes new businesses or ones moving into a new location will realize the site doesn’t have internet access after purchasing the building.
If you find yourself in this situation, you’ll need to purchase new circuits to extend internet service to the building.
2. You’re looking for faster speeds or better pricing
The most common reason organizations consider upgrading internet circuits is because their current circuits are no longer meeting their needs.
As we discussed earlier, different circuits can provide dramatically different speeds. If you are using an older, slower circuit, upgrading will improve your internet connection.
This means, overall, you’ll experience a better internet connection and may make your environment compatible with other systems.
As a bonus, upgrading circuits may save your organization money. This includes a less expensive cost for internet services as well as cost savings from a productivity perspective.
3. You’re a growing business
As your business grows, you’ll have new and increased technical demands. Adding users, cloud-hosted solutions, or other internet-reliant systems increases your bandwidth demand.
If you’ve experienced significant growth (and consequently an increased demand on your IT infrastructure), you may have outgrown your existing internet circuit or circuit speeds..
Upgrading to a faster internet circuit will make your network work better for your entire company.
Why should an IT consultant advise you on circuits?
When you’ve determined upgrading circuits is something your business should do, the most efficient way is to call in an IT consulting company to help.
Not only can finding the right circuit option be a time-consuming process, but it’s also more than likely not a part of your everyday business operations.
Working with an IT consultant allows you to delegate this task to someone with knowledge and experience on the topic. In return, you will generally receive a better price than if you attempted this on your own.
So, if your building lacks internet access or you’re looking for faster, less expensive speeds, upgrading your circuits will help empower your workforce.
For more information on how we can help you determine which internet circuit is best for your business, schedule a no-pressure consultation with our team of experts.
