Broadband internet is an essential piece of running a modern business. It’s high-speed, widely available, and always on. While dial-up access is still used in some enterprises, broadband is considered a commodity for today’s employees.
Broadband internet is available through a few different transmission technologies, including DSL, cable, fiber, wireless and satellite.
Trying to decide what’s right for your business? Start by understanding the difference in the types of broadband.
5 Kinds of Broadband Internet for Business
Learning about the connectivity options available to you will help you make the best decision for your business and your budget. Here are five of the most common kinds of broadband used by small to medium sized businesses.
1. DSL
DSL, short for digital subscriber line, provides broadband access through existing telephone lines. Depending on your location, DSL speeds range from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
There are a few types of DSL transmission technologies appropriate for businesses, according to the FCC:
- Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL): Category of DSL services characterized by greater bandwidth in one direction than the other. Typically adequate for general internet access and downloading, but uploading and bidirectional high-bandwidth applications may need a faster connection.
- Symmetric digital subscriber line (SDSL): Category of DSL services characterized by equal bandwidth in both directions. Rapidly being replaced by faster connections, but may be adequate for basic business connections requiring similar bandwith for both uploading and downloading.
- Very high data rate digital subscriber line (VDSL): Also works similarly to SDSL and offers an extremely fast connection, but only works over a shorter distance.
DSL is often a good choice for email and web browsing in smaller business locations.
2. Cable
Cable broadband runs on the same coaxial cables that deliver audio and video for television. Typically, cable broadband is delivered to the end user through a modem, an external device that connects to the cable wall outlet and to the computer.
It’s a much faster solution than DSL, boasting speeds up to 1 Gbps. For that reason, cable is ideal for ecommerce, sharing large files, video streaming or conferencing, and more.
3. Fiber
Fiber optic technology differs from cable and DSL in that it transmits data as light through extremely thin, transparent glass fibers. This capability allows it to surpass 1 Gbps in speed, making it one of the fastest types of broadband available.
However, fiber broadband is not always available in every location.
4. Wireless
Wireless is an option for more remote locations where DSL, cable or fiber won’t work, as it connects devices to the internet wirelessly using a radio signal.
Connection speeds are similar to that of DSL. For the connection to work, the radio antenna must be in line of sight of the service provider’s tower.
5. Satellite
Satellite broadband is another wireless option for any business that can’t access cable, fiber or DSL, and that aren’t in line of sight with a service provider tower.
Instead of lining up with the tower, satellite broadband works similarly to how satellite television works: Your location only needs to be in the line of sight of the satellites, which are always above the service area.
Satellite speeds are slower than DSL, but still faster than dial-up.
Do You Need More Information?
Contact Vector Security Networks to ask specific questions about the various types of managed broadband internet connections and what would work best for your business. We’ll customize a solution to meet your company’s unique needs.
Do you have multiple business sites? Our broadband aggregation service can help you maximize speeds and keep costs down across locations, without sacrificing bandwidth.
