Mediacom Business provides innovative broadband products that match business needs. From cloud-based voice solutions, modem-based Gigabit services and customizable 100% fiber solutions, Mediacom Business offers the business sector a trusted source for fast and reliable connectivity services.
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In the United States, the total business-class internet data traffic will reach 224 billion gigabytes in 2023, or approximately 2 exabytes.
To put that figure in perspective, in 2020, business-internet traffic volume was set as 112 billion gigabytes, or half the value three years later.
According to The Center for Advanced Computing Research, 2 exabytes is equivalent to 40% of all the words ever spoken by humans.
The statistics don't lie. American businesses are increasingly relying on business-class broadband internet to get work done. From storing precious company files to running entire e-commerce operations, a good business internet connection is essential for most enterprises today.
But what is business internet service used for? And why is it so important for small business owners?
In this blog, we'll explain everything you need to know about business-class internet service. We'll also delve into detail about aspects you must know before choosing an ISP for your business internet needs.
Let's take a closer look.
What is Business-Class Internet?
It's difficult to understand what business internet is without contrasting it against the more common residential Wi-Fi.
Residential Wi-Fi is a type of network technology designed to support a small number of devices in relative proximity to the router. This is often seen in households, where people use the internet for relatively low-bandwidth activities like browsing the web, checking email, and streaming videos.
The internet signal in residential Wi-Fi plans may also be shared among neighbors through a network of fiber or coax wires, all managed by an internet service provider (ISP). This means that during peak hours, a connection may slow down as other users in the area tap into the same network.
So how does business-class internet differ?
Business internet is a specific internet connection for businesses that is designed to provide large numbers of devices with a more stable and reliable Wi-Fi signal strength, fast download and upload speeds, and top-notch customer service.
While some business-class internet customers still share their bandwidth among nearby users, it’s less prone to getting throttled during peak hours. Dedicated commercial internet service plans are also available to avoid sharing internet speed altogether.
And this only makes sense. Businesses need to maintain a constant flow of operations, and a stable internet connection is essential for tasks like file transfers, video conferencing, and VoIP calls.
With business-class internet, your company can have its very own closed network that is much less likely to be impacted by traffic congestion. Plus, 24/7 dedicated business customer support from your ISP in case anything goes wrong is a must-have.
Fortunately, most business internet service providers offer plans designed to maintain fast internet speeds and smooth operation. These plans offer more robust and reliable connections that can support a higher number of devices.
Let's learn about the features you should consider before choosing an ISP for your business.
4 Considerations When Choosing a Business Internet Service Provider
Whether you’re a small business owner or a CEO of a large firm, it’s an absolute must to partner with ISPs that can offer the level of support you need to maintain a stable connection.
While business internet connections cost more than standard cable “at-home” internet connections, it’s worth its weight in gold. Slow internet connectivity can be detrimental to your business’s profitability and productivity.
1. Multiple Speed Tiers Are Offered
Your needs for download speed and upload speed will likely be different for business purposes compared to what we do on a residential level. You might need 100Mbps for downloads but only 10Mbps for uploads, and some ISPs place a hard cap or limit on internet activities and bandwidth utilized.
For business-class internet providers, it’s important to understand the needs that your business will require for high upload and download speeds. This is essential to understand for businesses that constantly do resource-intensive activities like sending large files or hosting video conferences.
Note that depending on your ISP and plan, these speeds can vary. There are acceptable to good tiers you can expect when exploring any ISP. Below you’ll find business-class internet plan from Mediacom Business that are supported by over 99.99%* network reliability.
2. A Static IP Address is Can Be Arranged
For business-class internet plans, the business should be assigned a static dedicated IP address. This is different from residential internet service, where the IP address is dynamic and can be changed from time to time.
A dedicated IP address is essential for businesses that rely on a virtual private network (VPN) to connect to their network remotely. Most business-class internet plans can provide this feature for a nominal fee, so be sure to ask if yours does.
With a static IP address, you and your employees can easily connect to your business network no matter where you are in the world, helping you stay productive even when you’re out of the office.
3. 24/7 Dedicated Business Customer Support Is Available
Productivity can come to a grinding halt when your company's internet connection starts acting up. This is why it’s important to have an ISP that can provide 24/7 customer support.
When problems arise, you’ll want to be able to reach out to your provider immediately and have the issue resolved as soon as possible. Therefore, inquire about an ISP’s customer support and resources the provider has when/if problems arise (ie. 30-minute arrival windows or same-day services) before signing up for a plan.
4. The Contract Terms Clearly Define the Relationship
Most business-class internet providers will require you to sign a one or two-year contract which may include a service-level agreement (SLA). This is to ensure that you’re getting the quality of service that you’re paying for.
Some aspects that are typically included in an SLA are the:
Consider Mediacom Business as Your Business-Class Internet ISP for Robust 1G Internet Connections
A recent FCC Report named Mediacom as one of the nation’s top performers in advertised upload and download speeds. In fact, Mediacom Business high-speed data was found to overdeliver on advertised broadband levels, providing faster speeds than promised.
Explore the fastest internet plan available and contact us today. A Mediacom Business Representative will contact you within 24 hours.
**2021 Mediacom Executive Summary Reliability Report