Internet Access Options for Businesses
There are many different options for internet access. It is said that the wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from; just choose the best one for your situation. Most businesses need some type of internet access and there is a lot to the cost of broadband internet access related to the type of connectivity. Read the following access standards to help you decide which one is best for you or simply to learn something.
Internet access connections
56k dialup
This is the same legacy dialup access that hasn’t changed since it was last improved around a decade ago. Unfortunately it is all that is available in some areas other than satellite access. It is plagued by extremely low throughput and reliability. Many refuse to use it even for even the most trivial uses although it is the cheapest in strictly monetary cost. Many providers offer free or discounted trial offers and extend free service (temporarily) to anybody threatening to discontinue service. It is very rare in business although some small bank branch offices are rumored to use it in part because it can be shut down during non-business hours for security reasons. There are many who still suffer through it’s use. It is obsolete with negligible chance of advancement. There are however some creative uses of it such as gaining remote access to a device for emergency support. Normal speed is in reality around 7-35 kbps (0.007-0.035 mbps) rather than the stated 56 kbps namesake. Any ISP advertising high speed dialup is attempting to confuse potential customers into thinking dialup is broadband rather than legacy slow internet access.
cable internet (coax)
Along with DSL, this is by far the most popular choice of broadband internet access. It is provided through the same cabling traditionally used to deliver subscription TV. Normally the carrier supplies a modem that restricts both the bandwidth and any ports they chose to firewall. It is common for the cable company to offer different levels of bandwidth to the customers at different price levels. This is a suitable method for a firm to connect, but lacks the reliability of a DS, T, or E-carrier grade access (DS0, T1, T3, E0, E1, E3, etc.).
digital subscriber line DSL
DSL along with cable internet holds the vast bulk of internet access. It is provided through a higher channel of the telephone line used to enable phone service. The service carrier normally provides a DSL modem. This is a suitable method of access for a business but lacks the reliability of a DS, T, or E-carrier grade access (DS0, T1, T3, E0, E1, E3, etc.).
Satellite
Satellite is available anywhere for internet access that a cable can be ran to a place that can see the sky; anyplace that isn’t in a storm or snow pile. It is widely available with many different providers and with vastly different grades of bandwidth and cost. Unfortunately the technology is plagued with very high latency which normally creates a very slow session regardless of available bandwidth. Accelerators can be installed to reduce this issue. This should be considered a last resort for a primary link to the due to the slowness but is probably a better option than dialup. Satellite is known for failing due to rain, heavy (especially stormy) cloud cover, falling snow, and occasionally snow caught in the dish. Satellite internet will respond exactly like satellite TV will to weather conditions. It is worth noting that satellite access does not utilize any local communication facilities which makes it an excellent selection for a backup connection to the internet. Satellite should be compared with a redundant link running through a separate central office (CO) if available. Read the page on redundancy for more information before making a decision.
DS0
This is the connection used to provide either a single phone line or a 56kbs (0.05 mbps) data access. Expect the service to be very reliable much like a phone line. However due to the low throughput it is not very popular with office building and is only suitable for small offices with very small bandwidth requirements. DSL, cable, or T1s may be a more suitable technology. This is the lowest possible broadband internet access available in terms of bandwidth provided.
T1/DS1
This is a reliable service that can be, but doesn’t have to be, composed of 24 DS0 circuits. It is frequently used to provide 23 or 24 voice lines, but in the data world it is just a 1.45 mbps data connection with the same high reliability found on telephone lines. DSL or Cable internet access can provide a somewhat faster service (speeds vary) but those types are less reliable. This is a popular choice for access with businesses. Expect much better support than what would come with DSL or cable should there be any issues.
T3/DS3
Think sheer speed, reliability, and cost. This provides a huge 45 mbps pipe on technology normally providing the same reliability as a phone line. The speed is more than what all but the largest offices need and the price is set accordingly; out of the budget for most businesses. The support is normally very good. Perhaps the massive price tag has something to do with it?
Optical Carrier OC
This is a single mode fiber optics cabling standard intended for large capacity deployments. It generally has the same kind of reliability that the copper T and E carrier connections do. Generally anything operating on any kind of OC connection is out of the price range any business as an option for access. Currently these are usually used only by carriers for regional connections. It is not usually suitable unless you also plan to start a large communications company on the side.
Please continue on to: Layer 2 network access options.