If you’re asking whether gigabit internet is worth it for your business, you’re probably seeing the impacts of inadequate bandwidth firsthand. When your employees are waiting around for downloads to finish, you can quickly log a lot of lost productivity. As you grow and add more users to your network, it may be time to look at a serious upgrade.
Your business internet connection is now more critical than ever. You’re no longer utilizing it for emails and web browsing. You have likely integrated some cloud-based technology, and even your communications may be wired through the internet. These increased demands on bandwidth mean that you’ve got to have the right connectivity to get the speed you require.
What Is Gigabit Internet?
Internet providers will guarantee speeds of 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps) because 1,000 megabits is a gigabit, expressed as 1 Gbps. However, many providers will only promise speeds of “up to” 1,000 Mbps. If the internet is critical to your operations, you should look for a guarantee of consistent service at that speed.
Is gigabit internet worth it? If your organization has a large number of users or multimedia tools, you may find that a gigabit is beneficial. You can also choose gigabit internet if you have or plan to implement one of the following:
- High-definition streaming to multiple devices
- Better support across all users and devices
- Videoconferencing
- Faster downloading and uploading for file transfers
Is Gigabit Internet Accessible to You?
1 Gbps is about 100 times faster than the average residential broadband service. This is often more than enough for business uses, but it’s certainly not the upper limit of bandwidth profiles. If you are in a major metropolitan area, working with a major provider, you can likely access up to 10Gb internet – or more. High bandwidth connectivity is available more and more commonly as providers recognize that reliable internet is fundamental to business success. With the increasing use of cloud services like Colocation and Unified Communications (UCaaS) tools, high-speed internet is the foundation for collaborative teams.
Building the Case for Gigabit Internet
The idea of fast speed is appealing from a convenience perspective, but it’s also easy to create a business case for investing in high-speed connectivity. Gigabit internet may be instrumental in moving your entire organization toward driving some business goals. Consider these benefits:
Supporting Videoconferencing:
Videoconferencing is not just replacing standard phone calls; it’s also replacing in-person meetings. Travel is expensive, but a good video connection can make it feel like you’re sitting at the same table. It also allows enterprises to remove geographical considerations when hiring for many positions. Businesses can recruit from a candidate pool that spans the country when positions can be filled remotely.
If congested internet interrupts your videoconference with a customer or partner, it may impact your reputation – especially for tech companies. Investing in gigabit internet can ensure you always look your best online.
Improving Productivity
As your company invests more heavily in digital resources and cloud-based tools, the demand on your network increases. If your employees can’t access important applications and files, the result can be a massive drop in productivity. Sharing large files requires high bandwidth, which can further slow internet speeds. For many enterprises, investing in gigabit internet is easily returned through improved productivity.
Boosting Employee Morale and Retention
Frustrated, bored employees are costly to your organization in terms of lost productivity and turnover. Ensuring that you are providing the tools your employees need to successfully meet expectations directly contributes to their job satisfaction. Providing the right technology – and adequate internet speed – can be an important factor in the employee experience. Expecting more productivity and high performance without investing in the right supports can cost you talent.
Stressed and frustrated employees contribute to negative morale around your workplace. Investing in tools that power collaboration and communication makes your working environment exciting and engaging. It will also drive innovation, making your organization an attractive place to work.
Recruiting Talent
Top candidates are looking for innovative, agile employers that support creativity and productivity in the workplace. Hiring the talent that will support your competitive advantage means offering technology that fuels collaboration and mobile-optimized, flexible work environments. Gigabit internet signals to prospective employees that they’ll be well equipped to do their jobs.
Assessing the Cost of Gigabit Internet
The cost to install gigabit internet depends primarily on whether your building is equipped for fibre-optic connectivity. Installation costs depend on many factors, including the distance to existing fibre resources and a variety of physical barriers. The size of the building and other construction requirements can all impact the cost, so it’s worth speaking with a provider to get an accurate idea of what the investment will look like.
Following installation, the costs will be determined by your agreement with the provider. Be sure to check over your contract for the terms related to each of the following areas:
- Bandwidth or speed that’s symmetrical for upload and download
- Pricing
- Reliability and guarantees
- Support and services
To learn more about the availability of gigabit internet speeds in your area, or to determine whether your current business internet speed is costing your organization in terms of productivity, contact us at iTel. We can help you assess how gigabit internet will impact your budget and the steps involved with accessing fibre-optic connectivity.
