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A home broadband router would only be able to support a small office and up to 10 computers, give or take. If you’re handling private information about your customers and your firm, a data breach would be disastrous, which is why security is crucial. Such service add-ons can only be done if you opt for a business broadband solution. Good, because the majority of ISPs jack the price up for business plans. It’s the biggest—and perhapsonly—drawback of going with a business plan.
Vodafone offers a very keenly priced business broadband service, with a free static IP address and three months' free usage of the F-Secure SAFE security software. Business broadband packages give you a little bit more than ones for home use - including some vital features that make them ideal for offices or other small businesses. For that reason, business broadband services come equipped with higher grade security software. The speeds in between are the ones that will suit most homes and businesses and in today’s market that probably means a fibre to the cabinet or ‘superfast’ service. But just because they run at the same theoretical speeds, that does not mean that your home and business broadband benefits are the same – or indeed, that they will cost the same. You are guaranteed a certain level of service and a certain response and repair time.
Price plans of broadband connection
Your IP address is a unique code that identifies your computer when it’s connected to the internet. With a home broadband package, you will have a dynamic IP address, which means it will change every time you go online. However, business broadband will usually provide you with a static IP address, meaning it will always be the same. A good broadband connection is vital to keep your business operations running smoothly. If your server or website goes down and is not fixed quickly, it could result in lost revenue and reputation for your business. A functioning internet connection is also essential for your employees to keep in contact with customers and suppliers, so when it goes down you will want the issues to be resolved as quickly as possible.
To find the best broadband deal for you and your business, you need to first figure out what type of broadband will best suit your company and then you can start comparing packages. You can use our business broadband comparison tool to help you find the cheapest and best deals available. You’ll need to provide your business’s postcode so we can provide you with an accurate list of what’s available in your area. You’ll be able to compare not only prices, but speed, usage, contract length along with other perks too.
How to Switch to a Business Plan
Recovering lost packets can create excessive overheads that reduce performance. Business fibre is known as Fibre to the Business , while Home Fibre is known as Fibre to the Home . Typically business fibre goes to the premises, whereas home fibre may go to the home or to a nearby node. Business broadband does tend to be more expensive then home broadband – however the price difference is not as big as most people first expect. Some providers even offer additional protection in the form of regular back ups and the use of a VPN.
You could get a relatively cheap phone and broadband package for your small business, similar to a home package. Or you could add extras tailored to your business, such as additional lines and non-geographic phone numbers. These Voice over Internet Protocol services allow you to make business calls using the internet, as you’d do with Skype or Zoom. This level of customisation isn't generally available with domestic packages, so getting a business package will help make sure you have everything your business needs to stay connected. Some users claim to experience a drop in their speed or service quality at certain times of day often corresponding with times of peak demand, such as in the evening. There are providers, like ourselves at Atlas, that focus on business customers so have less mixing of consumer and business traffic.
Better security
With business broadband, most providers will include a higher level of “business focused” security software. These are designed to protect your broadband connection from hackers and keep your data safe. Most residential broadband deals come with a standard single phone line as part of the package. But business phone lines and broadband packages are much more sophisticated.
This model works for residential broadband because consumers are rarely engaged in business-critical activities. Enter your zip code to find the best business internet providers in your area. Business phone services taken alongside business broadband are usually more comprehensive than those offered to residential users. Improved customer support is often cited as the top reason companies choose business-grade broadband above residential services. Customer support, cybersecurity and traffic prioritisation are just three of the reasons companies should choose business broadband above residential broadband. In keeping with its consumer broadband packages, TalkTalk deals stand out for being well priced.
Enhanced broadband security
Business broadband packages are usually more expensive, but they come with some advantages that you won’t get with home broadband. This guide will run you through the differences, and help you decide if it’s worth investing in business broadband. Business broadband packages are generally much faster than residential broadband packages, in terms of download and upload speeds. Broadband providers will prioritise businesses speeds over residential users, which also results in a more reliable connection. It is also possible to get a leased line, which is a dedicated business line solely provided to your premises, resulting in speeds of 1Gb or more.
Home broadband connections are often much cheaper than business connections, so you may be tempted to get a cheaper line installed instead of a dedicated service. Although it is possible to use residential broadband for business use, depending on your individual requirements it may be a false economy. For example, if there is a fault on your line which isn’t fixed for several days you may lose revenue, especially if the fault would be fixed within a few hours with a business connection. If your business needs a static IP address, you may need to get a business broadband package. If you need to access your computer remotely or host a server, you will need a static IP address, which is not an option with a home broadband provider. That said, you usually can sign up for business internet at your home.
If you’re not sure which type of broadband you need, it’s worth speaking to aktelecoms or a broadband advisor to find out which service would be best for your needs. Third, remember that business broadband is a business expense, so make sure to factor it into your budget accordingly. This can be a great way to save money on your overall internet bill, but it is important to make sure that you are still able to afford the service. Instead of dealing with a long, tedious process and dropped connections, most modern high-speed internet speeds range between 25 megabits per second and 1 gigabit per second . Be aware, however, that some premium business phone features are on longer contracts than the broadband element of the contract, so read the small print before signing up.
Business fibre typically takes 2-4 months to have installed from first contact with a service provider. Where available, a fiber-optic internet connection may be your best bet. Fiber-optic internet typically comes with higher starting speeds of 100 Mbps up to 1,000 Mbps, is less likely to be disrupted during peak times and comes with symmetrical upload and download speeds.
The speed of your broadband is affected by the contention ratio, whether at home or at work. The contention ratio refers to how many properties are sharing the same data capacity over your provider’s broadband line, and the more properties there are, the slower your connection will be. We’ve probably all experienced our internet going down at some point, and the irritations that can bring. That’s why broadband providers will prioritise their customer service and technical support for their business broadband customers. All broadband providers will offer internet security, but if you are running a business, a high level of security can be very important. A business broadband connection will benefit from bespoke security software and some providers will also offer VPN’s and data backup support.
When it comes to residential internet, customer service and tech support can be hit or miss. And that’s a problem when you’re dealing with issues like high latency, which can lead to disrupted conferencing, slow streaming, and revenue loss. Unfortunately, you can wait ages for answers from automated chat or phone assistance. And getting left in the dust by your current ISP is downright infuriating. It’s a shared bandwidth where other internet customers in the area, often residential, use the same line—which will likely cause speed lags.
So the greater the megabits per second, the speedier your internet is. But like we mentioned above, increasing the number of internet users and simultaneous tasks can bump up internet lag. Data heavy tasks can also slow things down— think large file downloads or video conferencing. To prevent lag spikes during crucial business hours, cut back on internet activity by scheduling data backups after hours. Watch out for common stumbling blocks around VAT pricing and static IPs, but don't sign up to more services than your business can afford, even if an ISP makes you believe they're indispensable. At the end of the day, you're in charge of your business and you understand better than anyone else what kind of business broadband it needs.
