High-speed internet has opened up a world of possibilities. Like many of you, my family enjoys Netflix streaming at home. This service would be impossible if a standard developed in the mid 80s, the T1, was still the industry benchmark for high bandwidth. This is 2011. From court or tax e-filing to e-mail to online research your office increasingly depends on your internet connection.

I’m sure you regularly review your internet connection options to take advantage of the continual evolution of service and improve your “bandwidth for the buck”. Yet I regularly I come across offices where there is either insufficient bandwidth, too much money being spent on internet & telephone service, or both.

Let’s start with the basics of internet connectivity. What does “bandwidth” mean? It’s the capacity of your connection to transmit or receive information. This is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) which is simply how many ones and zeros can be transmitted per second. It is important to note that bandwidth is measured in two directions:

• Down: information coming from the internet to you
• Up: information going from you to the internet

Every interaction consumes bandwidth in both directions and both figures are important. However, for most offices, there tends to be more traffic going down than up.

T1 and metro ethernet service are “symmetrical” where both the up and download speeds are identical. In the case of a T1, this is 1.5 Mbps both up and down. By contrast, cable modem and DSL are “asymmetrical” with higher download than upload speeds. There is business cable modem service (where available) in Phoenix that can provide 50 Mbps down & 5 Mbps up or roughly 30 times the download speed and several times the upload speed of a T1 and at a cost that may be lower than a T1. That’s not to say that a T1 might not still be a good solution for you, particularly when considering how it’s configured as part of your voice solution. It’s just not as “high-speed” as other options.

To help make these numbers more meaningful, let’s go back to our Netflix example. Video is a bandwidth-intensive use of the internet. A Netflix movie streaming in high definition requires around 4 Mbps down (roughly 3 T1s) and standard definition requires about a half a Mbps (1/3^rd of a T1). Of course, this is just an example to provide some perspective. Were your internet bandwidth to be saturated by Netflix, you’ve probably got bigger management issues than the size of your office internet connection. However, when meeting legitimate internet demand and managing cost, people are sometimes surprised or frustrated that they’re not getting the same internet performance in the office as they get at home. If you’re used to 20 Mbit download speed at home and only get 1.5 in the office on a good day, this is understandable.

Consider the following suggestions:

1. Review your circuit contracts and renewal terms. It’s in your best interest to have terms that are as flexible as possible. There are some providers that have 36-month terms with an “evergreen clause” that automatically renews for additional 36-month terms. If you are presented with these terms when signing a deal, ask your provider to remove them. If these terms are already in place with your agreement, I suggest you immediately notify your provider in writing that you do not intend to automatically renew the agreement.
2. Consider your options. Every office is unique with respect to physical network facilities that are available. There are various options and technologies to consider: T1s (single or bonded), Flex T1s, Cable, DSL, Metro Ethernet, PRI, SIP Trunking, etc. Having someone versed in all of these different technologies such as a good circuit broker can help.
3. Evaluate single vs. multiple providers. It’s generally best to keep things simple. A single provider for data and voice can be a good option. However, your specific needs may be better served with two providers. For example, the best option for my office was a business cable service for my primary internet and a T1-based voice/data service for primary voice and backup internet with automatic failover.

Your internet service options continue to improve and grow every day. I hope you find these recommendations to be helpful.

Have a question for the IT Expert?

Email dkinsey@totalnetworks.com