I decided to post on the subject of bandwidth ‘cause let’s face it that is THE key to technology today for the small and mid size business computer user. If you don’t have a big enough pipe to handle the amount of traffic you’re pushing out or pulling down it’s a huge issue.

When providing IT Support or doing a Network Audit we spend a lot of our time analyzing network traffic for our customers. We use that data to help them make informed decisions as to how much bandwidth they really need. Sometimes it’s a matter of fixing some network issues or blocking Sally from streaming music to her desktop to restore an acceptable level of performance. More often than not though the problem is related to the fact that business today is done primarily over the web – it’s just a matter of people needing more bandwidth. This is true whether you are supporting a VoIP (voice over IP) Unified Communications System or just web traffic.

So once you know it’s not a network issue you know you need more bandwidth. It’s just a matter of analyzing what technology is best for you and what company you should use to provide it. It’s all about choice. You might think you have a lot of choice but when you peel back the onion there’s a lot of commonality to each option. For land based carriers i.e. XO, One Communications, Broadview, the local circuit is provided by Verizon. Actually Verizon provides ALL local circuits in this area. The other carriers buy them at a steep discount and resell them to the end user. The local circuit connects your site to the carrier’s POP (point of presence – the place where you jump on their network). So sadly enough Verizon is the provider for that “last mile”. Our experience has been that clearly 80% or more of trouble with service points back to the local circuit provided by Verizon. Some clients mistakenly think that if they cut out the middle man (the alternative carriers like XO, Broadview etc.) that Verizon will treat them better because they are a direct customer. Not true, just not true. Verizon operates as they always have by using standard procedures. If the book says they have 4 hours to respond then that’s what it will take…no exceptions. As I sit here writing this our Verizon feed into the building is lying broken next to the telephone pole out front. Verizon’s response – “it’s a holiday you know and none of our techs wanted to work today”.  So that means we would be without service if we didn’t have our Comcast back-up circuit until after 12:00pm tomorrow afternoon. THAT is why we ALWAYS recommend you have two different methods for delivering bandwidth to your organization.

One of the methods we have been recommending often is wireless internet service. These connections are provided by line of sight dish receivers and can provide some pretty substantial connections. The pricing is also very aggressive. Typically the provider will work with building management to survey the site and determine if they can provide service based on location. If they can installation can be performed within 24 hours if need be. We’ve used this when clients couldn’t get regular service installed in time for relocation. One call and the service is installed next day - not that the providers want to operate under the gun like that but they will expedite if you need them to. One thing to be aware of is the possibility that the landlord will want to “rent” you the roof space. Mind you the receivers they use are 8 inch by 8 inch….still they want to charge. We actually had one landlord tell the customer their rent was going up $250 a month for the right to use an 8inch by 8inch space on the roof. Just an FYI…. All in all this is a great option as you take the physical cable out of play. No more relying on Verizon for the circuit into the building. It is definitely a great back-up option if not your primary option.