Things To Consider While Choosing Your ISP
What is more annoying than finding internet service in your region and getting it installed? That sure does sound like a lot of work. But is it insignificant and could be neglected? Not a chance!
No matter how tedious and boring it can get, choosing appropriate internet access is as important as a home or business utility.
And with today’s proliferation of cloud services and our day-to-day chores dependent on the internet, it has become imperative more than ever before.
Having that said, this article highlights some of the factors you must consider when choosing an internet service provider for your home or business. For instance, if you want internet and cable both, instead of getting both separately, you can bundle your services. In that situation, Grande internet can be a great option. The speeds are pretty good and there is no long term contract. Similarly, if you are a gamer, you can go with a provider that does not come with data caps. The point is, you must consider all the factors from speed to the budget, before choosing one.
For beginners who are trying to build their knowledge around it, we will start with a brief introduction to ISP, the working, and some of the types of internet connections. It would be easier for you to choose one that perfectly fits your requirements, has amazing deals, and stands apart from the rest.
What is an ISP? How Does It Work?
The name says it all. ISP is a company that offers you access to the public internet. In other words, it acts as a gateway. The internet service provider does a variety of jobs, such as assigning an IP address to your devices, providing DNS support, and last-mile infrastructure.
Well, that is pretty much it. Let’s list the type of internet connections now.
What are the Types of Internet Connections?
1. DSL or Digital Subscriber Line Internet
DSL is a widely used internet connection that uses standard telephone lines for delivering broadband access.
2. Cable Internet
Cable internet is another type that tends to use coaxial cable lines, meaning the same delivering cable TV, to provide broadband internet.
3. Satellite Internet
As the name suggests, this type delivers broadband access through an internet signal to a satellite which is passed to a dish at the allocated business location.
4. Fixed Wireless Internet
This one uses a fiber-optic backbone, a tower, an express line of sight or LoS, and an antenna. The towers here send wireless signals through radio waves to the antenna.
5. Fiber Optic Internet
A fiber optic cable runs directly from the ISP to the business location for fiber service connections.
Choosing an Internet Service Provider: 5 Things to Consider
First and foremost, make sure to make a list of internet providers that are available in your region. If you know already, you are good to go for the next part. If you still have no clue about the providers, ask around and explore all the options you have.
1. Connection Type
Wondering what the connection type means?
It means you get to choose between fiber, copper, and wireless.
You might have heard that internet connection varies from provider to provider and the type of connection used. That is why you should be careful when selecting the connection type. If you are looking for high speeds, go for fiber broadband ISP instead of cable internet or copper.
Some internet service providers get a receiver unit installed at your place for offering internet wirelessly. However, due to physical restrictions, it might not achieve the performance of its fiber counterpart.
2. Upload/Download Speed
Next is the downloading and uploading speed offered by the internet service provider. Generally, what happens is that you get higher speeds with costly plans and vice versa. You can see what is your financial situation and decide accordingly. But for the record, even the most basic internet plans nowadays provide an okay download speed for managing day-to-day tasks.
The upload and download speeds offered by the internet service providers are mentioned in megabits per second, also written as Mbps. On the contrary, the digits in your web browser are written as Megabytes per second or MBps. Did you spot the difference here? Wow, that is smart of you!
FYI, 8 bits make 1 byte. This means a speed of 10Mbps will appear 1.2MBps in your web browser.
3. Data Rollover
Another thing to keep in mind is checking whether the internet service provider you are choosing has a data rollover scheme or not. And what exactly is that supposed to mean?
With a data rollover scheme, if you are not able to consume the entire data in a month, it will automatically be transferred to the next month’s data without any extra fee. Yes, you can totally do that! Just make sure to go with a provider that has a data rollover for this amazing service.
Apart from this, there are providers that give you the option of pausing your broadband in case you plan to leave for a few months and cannot use the data. It does charge you a minimal fee, but it is worth the money. This feature saves you the trouble of surrendering your connection and once you return you can get it back immediately.
4. Fair Usage Policy
If you have been using the internet for quite some time, you might already have an idea about this term. At peak times, fair usage policies limit the demand for a resource on a particular user so that the other members of the group can perform effectively.
An ISP, for instance, offers you a 100Mbps speed with a 100GB data allowance. You might see your speed reduced to 10Mbps once 100GB has been used up.
There is a limited amount of bandwidth available through the ISP. When users who download a lot take away all the speed, it will affect other users. This is where the Fair Usage Policy comes into action.
5. Customer Support
No matter how much effort you put into finding the perfect ISP, there is a great chance of dealing with unwanted issues and disputes. But how are the disputes and problems catered to is what matters the most. A crappy customer service decides whether the internet service provider you have chosen is a big hit or miss. So, do not forget to go through all the reviews and blogs related to the provider on the internet.
Conclusion
Choosing an internet service provider is not an overnight decision you can make. You have to consider all the factors that might affect this decision. Whether it is the Fair Usage Policy or the pricing, make sure to consider every point to avoid unwanted consequences. We hope this blog was helpful.
