When you think of home Internet services, reliability might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But when running a business, the last thing you want is unreliable internet.
Unexpected outages and slow connections will cost your company money and leave customers with a wrong impression of your services.
You may have heard that business internet connections are more reliable than home Internet services, but what does that mean? What are the differences between the two types of services, and which one is right for your business?
If you have questions about the reliability of different types of Internet services, read on for the answers.
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How Business Internet is Different
If you’re switching from home Internet to business Internet, or vice versa, you should know how the two are different. A few critical differences between business and home Internet affect reliability.
- Type of Connection: The most significant difference is the kind of connection. Business Internet providers typically use fiber-optic connections. These allow providers to offer very high speeds at a reasonable price. But fiber-optic is also more reliable than cable connections.
- Customer Support: Another essential difference between business and home Internet is the support you get when you have an issue. With business Internet, you’ll likely have a 24/7 support team available by phone or online. With home Internet, support may not be available at all, or it may only be available during limited hours.
- Infrastructure and Hardware: Business Internet setups are designed with better infrastructure and more robust hardware, catering to higher demand and usage.
Why is Business Internet More Reliable?
Simply put, the business Internet service is usually built with
- Better cable/fiber-optic infrastructure
- Better Hardware or Electronics
- Better service response/ customer support guarantees
The infrastructure behind business Internet connections is designed to provide more excellent reliability than home connections. The most significant difference is that business connections utilize fiber-optic cables, which are more reliable than the copper cables used for residential Internet.
There is a significant shift to fiber-to-the-home for home Internet services, but the electronics/networking equipment will not be the same.
Business-grade Internet connections are also designed to be more robust so that a single connection can serve a more significant number of users. This means there’s less chance of your connection slowing down or going out when a neighboring connection uses more capacity.
One question that is undoubtedly on your mind is cost. To read specifically about the cost of business Internet in Canada, read our ultimate guide to Business Internet Costs in Canada.
Differences in ISP Infrastructure
The most significant difference in the infrastructure behind business and residential Internet connections is the type of cable used.
Residential connections generally use copper cables, while business connections use fiber-optic cables. Fiber-optic cables are more reliable and faster than copper, often used in high-capacity Internet connections.
Copper cables are often used for lower-capacity connections, including residential Internet connections. Fiber-optic cables have also become much more accessible in recent years due to the increased number of providers offering the service.
On the other hand, copper wires often reach the end of their lifespans and become increasingly unreliable.
Why Is Home Internet Often Unreliable?
Residential Internet connections are often less reliable because they are shared among a more significant number of customers. You’re likely connected to your ISP through a single copper wire, which is likely shared among dozens, hundreds, or thousands of other customers.
This means that when someone on your ISP’s network is streaming a movie or uploading a large file, it can slow down or temporarily interrupt your connection.
Business connections are designed to be high-capacity and low-latency, which means they are less likely to experience interruptions caused by other connections on the network.
Which Type of Internet Is More Reliable?
Business Internet connections are more reliable than residential connections in most cases. Residential connections are often slower and less reliable because they are shared among a more significant number of customers.
The following points highlight why Business Internet is generally more reliable:
- Use of Fiber-Optic Cables: Unlike copper cables in residential services, fiber-optic cables in business connections offer higher reliability and speed.
- High Capacity and Low Latency: Business connections are designed to handle more users with minimal slowdowns or disruptions. For example, loading a webpage or uploading large files often happens more quickly with a business connection.
- Better Network Investment: Business Internet providers typically invest more in their infrastructure, using higher-quality equipment and offering better customer service.
- They also often provide 24/7 customer service, which residential ISPs rarely offer.
Tips for Improving the Reliability of Your Internet Connection
If you have home Internet and are experiencing issues with reliability, there are a few things you can do.
First, you can talk with your ISP or IT Professional about your issues and see if they can offer any solutions.
If you’re having frequent interruptions or slow load times, you can also try connecting to an Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Using Ethernet can reduce issues caused by Wi-Fi interference or an overloaded network.
If you have home Internet at your business, and it’s still too unreliable for your needs, you can consider switching to dedicated business Internet. Business providers often offer faster speeds and more reliable connections than residential ISPs. Business Internet providers often offer a variety of bundles and services to meet the needs of your business.
Depending on your needs, you may be able to select a plan that includes a combination of data, speed, and other features at a reasonable price.
Why Opt for Business Internet?
Choosing between residential and Business Internet depends on your needs:
- Reliability: Business connections outperform residential in terms of reliability and speed.
- Support and Service: 24/7 customer support is more familiar to business providers.
- Network Quality: Business providers invest more in network quality, including fiber-optic cables.
Bottom Line
Business Internet connections are generally more reliable than residential services because providers can invest more in their networks.
This often includes using fiber-optic cables, which are more reliable than copper cables for residential connections. Business Internet providers often offer faster speeds, better customer service, and more reliable connections than residential ISPs.
If you’re dealing with frequent outages or slow load times, switching to business Internet may help resolve your issues.
