Connectivity
Confirm what can be delivered at the address before you compare solution providers.
Broadband internet where it is the right choice. Fiber where it is already lit or can be built. A wider network when the sites need to work as one, including locations in other countries. Send the addresses and your current service details. You will know what is available before you sign.
What I compare
- Availability at each address. Lit fiber, buildable fiber, broadband internet (cable), fixed wireless, and satellite (Starlink).
- Speed. The speed you need now and over the life of the contract.
- Backup. A second connection on a different path, so one outage does not stop the business.
- Network design. Whether the sites should run as one network.
- International locations. Internet and private network circuits for sites in other countries, from providers that can deliver at each address.
- Install timelines. How long each provider needs to install, especially if construction is required.
- Contract terms. Contract length and renewal terms.
Common situations
A renewal notice on your main internet service. I compare it against what else is available at the address before you renew.
A new office or a move with a firm date. I check availability and install timelines early.
One connection and no backup. I look at a second connection on a different path.
Sites other networks don’t reach. For rural sites, remote locations, and places where cell coverage, fiber or cable doesn’t reach, I look at Starlink, satellite internet from SpaceX offered through several of the providers I work with. It also works well as a backup connection.
When staying put is the right call
If your internet service is the right size, reliable, and the terms are fair, I will say so. You still leave with a clear picture of other options before the next renewal.
See the criteria I use to compare connectivity providers
How a Technology Needs Assessment works
Connectivity FAQ
Why check the address first?
Because what a provider can actually deliver at your location matters more than their general marketing. I confirm this before comparing options.
Is linking my sites (SD-WAN) part of this?
No. The internet service review and the secure networking (SD-WAN or SASE) review are separate.
What is the difference between broadband internet (cable) and Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)?
Broadband internet (cable) is a shared connection: each business has its own coax line, delivered over copper-core coaxial cables using electrical signals, but the bandwidth is shared with nearby users. Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) is a dedicated, unshared connection with symmetrical speeds, usually delivered over fiber using pulses of light.
Let’s talk.
Start with the decision in front of you, or write to me in your own words. You will reach me directly, with no pressure.