FREE Customized Price QuotesInternet Access Advisor
How to connect your business — and find the best deal
You know your business needs Internet access. But how do you decide where to turn? Internet Access Advisor can help! We'll give you the information you need to choose a T1, DSL, or other Internet access service, then connect you to multiple providers. You compare their offerings and choose the best deal for your business.
We'll cover all the basics of choosing Internet service, including:
DSL connections — Popular and inexpensive broadband access for small offices and less-demanding Internet use
T1/T3 connections — Typical for mid-sized companies or those with intensive online usage
Pricing and choosing an ISP — How much do these services cost? And how should you choose a provider?
Alternate types of Internet Access
Most small businesses choose either DSL or T1/T3 service for their needs, but there are several other options out there. Here's a quick look at some of the rest.
Frame Relay is a traditional choice for larger, distributed organizations. It's very fast and secure, but the equipment is expensive and installation can be complex. Frame relay is usually only appropriate for large companies.
MPLS is another choice that's best for larger companies with significant bandwidth needs. It allows seamless, simultaneous use of voice, data, and video traffic on one network, but carries a steep price.
Cable and satellite Internet access lean towards the opposite end of the spectrum: they're designed for home users, not businesses. In the best circumstances, both can offer respectable download speeds, but cable performance degrades as more users come online on the same circuit, and satellite signals are susceptible to bad weather.
With both cable and satellite Internet access, you're taking a risk that isn't appropriate for any business that needs guaranteed availability of the Internet and email. The evidence is in the service agreements: DSL and T1/T3 providers will give you a written guarantee of the overall availability of their service — cable and satellite providers won't.