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Internet Connectivity

Author: TechShortcut Staff | Article updated: July 18, 2009

1. Overview

The Internet has invaded our lives and, for better or for worse, you know you can't live without it—especially if you want to grow your business. It is also possible to use the Internet for all your communication needs—phone, fax and email—which makes your choice of Internet service very important.

We describe some of the types of providers within the wired and wireless categories below. Companies that provide Internet connectivity are typically called Internet Service Providers (ISPs). A connection with a speed exceeding 768 Kbps is considered broadband.

Once you get your Internet connection, you will need to determine the best way to share it with computers and users on your network. At a minimum, you will need a router to share the Internet connection.

Considerations

Upload vs. Download Speed
Always find out the speed of both uploading and downloading.
Mobility
If you travel frequently you will likely want to focus on the wireless options.
Networking
Will you be sharing the Internet connection between multiple PCs?
Reliability
Connectivity can vary by provider and location so be sure to evaluate a provider for your area.
Bandwidth Needs
Consider all the data you plan to send and receive.
- Networking
  If you plan on sharing the Internet connection with your network be sure to consider the demands for all users.
- Voice over IP (VoIP)
  If you plan to use VoIP you need to ensure that it will have enough bandwidth.
- Backups
  Will you be using an Internet backup service that may mean uploading or downloading large amounts of data?

Wired Options

Wired options are the primary choice when you need to add Internet connectivity to a network.

1. Phone	2. Cable
Phone line options from highest speed to lowest include T3, T1, DSL and dial-up. T1 and DSL are the most popular for businesses. Dial-up use has steadily declined because at 56 Kbps it is simply too slow for browsing sites that offer rich content.	Cable television companies offer Internet access at fast speeds for both businesses and consumers. Speeds can exceed DSL but cable has been primarily in residential areas so availability in business locations can be limited.

Wireless Options

Wireless options offer a great deal of flexibility but service may not always be the most reliable.

1. Cell Phone Network	2. Wireless Hotspot	3. Satellite
Cell phone carriers offer Internet connectivity through their cellular networks by using devices or your cell phone to connect to your computer. Connecting a cell phone to a computer for Internet access may be called "phone as a modem" (PAM) or "tethering". This can be a great option for people who are on the road constantly. However, not all cell phone networks include fast speeds throughout the network. Network speeds can range from dial-up of 56 Kbps in some locations to 400 to 700 Kbps in other locations. So you must look into the plans carefully and find out the speeds you can expect in the best and worse case scenario.	A hotspot is simply a location that offers wireless Internet access to people within range of a wireless router or access point. You may find these at cafes, airports, libraries, hotels or city government offices. The number of wireless hotspots is growing. Wireless hot spots may be free or fee-based. It is important to keep in mind that when an access point is public. Your computer is vulnerable to outside access and any unencrypted data being transmitted to or from you computer can be captured by others. AT&T, Boingo, iPass and T-Mobile are examples of nationwide Wi-Fi hotspot service providers.	For locations that do not have access to a broadband phone or cable service, there are satellite Internet access services. Some services may use satellite for downloading data and a phone line for uploading data.

1. Cell Phone Network

2. Wireless Hotspot

3. Satellite

Cell phone carriers offer Internet connectivity through their cellular networks by using devices or your cell phone to connect to your computer. Connecting a cell phone to a computer for Internet access may be called "phone as a modem" (PAM) or "tethering". This can be a great option for people who are on the road constantly. However, not all cell phone networks include fast speeds throughout the network. Network speeds can range from dial-up of 56 Kbps in some locations to 400 to 700 Kbps in other locations. So you must look into the plans carefully and find out the speeds you can expect in the best and worse case scenario.

A hotspot is simply a location that offers wireless Internet access to people within range of a wireless router or access point. You may find these at cafes, airports, libraries, hotels or city government offices. The number of wireless hotspots is growing. Wireless hot spots may be free or fee-based.

It is important to keep in mind that when an access point is public. Your computer is vulnerable to outside access and any unencrypted data being transmitted to or from you computer can be captured by others.

AT&T, Boingo, iPass and T-Mobile are examples of nationwide Wi-Fi hotspot service providers.

For locations that do not have access to a broadband phone or cable service, there are satellite Internet access services. Some services may use satellite for downloading data and a phone line for uploading data.

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