A reliable Internet connection for your company is essential since you use it for everything from emailing coworkers and clients to cloud storage and collaboration tools. On the one hand, you can buy office supplies or inventory. On the other hand, you can offer your products and services. Even if your network is safe and reliable, you'll still need enough bandwidth to accommodate your business's requirements.
What does bandwidth mean in this context? Although bandwidth impacts internet speed, there are differences between the two types of bandwidths available. Bandwidth is a way to figure out how much data can be sent over your Internet connection in a certain amount of time. Most people call this "Mbps," which stands for "megabits per second." If you choose a lower bandwidth, you'll have to send less data at once. As the bandwidth pipeline fills up, you might notice that your internet speed slows down.
Despite how tempting it can appear, you shouldn't pay for more bandwidth than your company needs. But, on the other hand, avoiding a slow connection might bring down the whole system is essential. In other words, how do you know how much bandwidth your business requires? Consider the following:
Consider the Speed
Knowing how much internet bandwidth you presently have is a good starting point for planning your future bandwidth requirements. Even though looking up your plan's maximum speed will provide you with that information, many variables might impact the actual speeds to which your devices have access. Also, it's a good idea to retest and determine your average speed frequently. Then, to gain a comprehensive picture, do the tests on various days, at different hours, and under varied conditions. For example, check in the early morning and late afternoon when testing Wi-Fi and wired connections.
When it comes to bandwidth, a wired network is more reliable and accurate than a wireless one. In light of this, you need to do a few tests using a plugin, even if your company has a wireless network. In addition, diagnosing potential wireless network bottlenecks may be easier if you have statistics from both types of connections.
User Count and the Number of Connected Devices
The number of people and devices your small company regularly serves is one of the most important elements in determining your bandwidth requirements. The simultaneous usage of many devices will have an impact on your bandwidth. This implies that the more people you hire, the more bandwidth you will need.
When calculating the number of devices needing an internet connection, don't forget to consider mobile devices and tablets. In addition, as a small business owner, you should consider the online behavior and devices of your clients and consumers if they regularly need to use your internet. Most small businesses need 10 to 15 megabits per second (Mbps) internet bandwidth per employee. However, your company's online activity might significantly impact this figure.
Type of Broadband
Your small business's bandwidth requirements will be influenced by the internet service provider you choose. DSL, copper, pair bonding, and fiber-optic are four types of broadband in Perth. The bandwidth of your connection is affected by the materials used in these technologies. The fiber-optic internet, for example, can transmit data at a rate close to that of light. As a result, connecting many devices to the network has no impact on your internet performance. Because fiber internet has a lot of capacity, it's ideal for small enterprises that conduct their business online.
Online Activity
As the last step, you'll also want to monitor everyone's internet activities. You won't have to think much about high Internet use, since those hours usually occur between 9 pm and 1 am on weekdays. However, working in a high-stakes business may have to deal with more demanding applications. It's crucial to remember that simple tasks like sending emails and surfing the web don't demand a lot of bandwidth, but more involved ones like using an IP phone system, transferring files, backing up data, and using cloud services will.
The Final Note
One of the most important services for your company is reliable internet from a trustworthy supplier. However, it's not as easy as choosing a service provider and internet subscription. Your internet speed is determined by the amount of time you spend online. Therefore, estimate your bandwidth requirements and make your plans based on them.
