Did you know that 56.7% of the world population now has access to the internet? These days, businesses can’t hide from the internet. Even the smallest mom-and-pop shop is almost required to have an online presence.
And, with the rise of remote working, more people than ever before rely on the internet to do business. This has opened up the conversation on how fast business internet speeds should be.
So, exactly how fast should they be? If you want to learn the answer to this question, and more, then you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about business internet speeds, starting with how they’re measured. Let’s get started!
How Are Business Internet Speeds Measured?
Before we dive into how fast your business internet should be, let’s first find out how it’s measured. That way, we know what we’re looking for regarding WIFI for businesses.
When measuring internet speeds, people look at the bandwidth of the internet. Specifically, this is the amount of data downloaded per second. And, keep in mind that this bandwidth applies to your entire network.
That means that if two people are downloading something simultaneously, then your internet speed is cut in half. Currently, Mbps (or megabits per second) is the industry standard for measuring bandwidth.
So, the higher your Mbps is, the faster your internet speeds.
What Are the Different Types of the Internet?
There are three main types of internet: DSL, fiber optic, and satellite internet. DSL stands for the digital service line. This type of internet is very fast in the business.
It does this by sending internet over existing telephone lines. The only problem is that if the lines are damaged, the internet is out. Fiber optic cables provide an industry standard for the fastest speed.
This is because of their low latency. The only problem is that it’s not widely available yet, so it’s pretty expensive.
Finally, there’s satellite internet. This type tends to be the least expensive. However, it also comes with frequent latency issues.
What is the Average Business Internet Speed?
At this point, you’re probably asking yourself, How fast is business internet for the average business? Sadly, there’s no easy answer to this question. That’s because every company has different internet needs.
Most companies don’t rely that heavily on the internet for their day-to-day operations. As such, around 25 Mbps is the average.
However, it’s generally recommended that businesses try to shoot for 100 Mbps these days.
But, as we mentioned, the need for this depends on what you’re doing. In this next section, we’ll break down how fast your internet should be depending on what tasks you’re doing.
How Fast Should the Internet Be For Your Business?
There are two things that you should factor in when determining the speed of your business internet. First: the number of employees using it. As we mentioned before, bandwidth is applied to your entire network.
So, if thirty people are using the internet intended for five people, it’s going to slow down to a crawl.
The second factor you should look at is what you’re using the internet for. Not all tasks require high internet speed.
For instance, emailing requires very little bandwidth. However, other tasks like server hosting or cloud computing require quite a lot of bandwidth.
Slow-Speed Internet
In some scenarios, it may be appropriate to have a slow speed. For example, slow internet these days is usually between 5 Mbps and 25 Mbps. This type of internet will support between one to five employees.
With it, you can do simple tasks like emailing, online browsing, research, basic wifi, and large-file downloads. Just keep in mind that there isn’t much wiggle room for adding more employees.
Moderate Speed Internet
Moderate internet speed is between 75 Mbps and 150 Mbps. This type of internet will support between five to fifteen employees using it simultaneously.
Employees can also perform tasks that require faster internet speeds. Some examples include video streaming, file sharing, multiple POS transactions, cloud computing, video conferences, and data backups.
Fast Internet
Finally, there’s the industry standard for fast internet. This is generally defined by download speeds that can reach between 250 Mbps and 1 Gbps (or 1,000 Mbps).
These speeds can support between twenty to thirty or more employees using the internet at once.
They can also perform high-demand tasks, like server hosting, constant cloud computing, and fast streaming/conferences with no stutters in speed.
What Is the Best Business Internet Package For You?
At this point, you’re probably wondering what business internet package is right for you. Regardless of which service you choose, it’s essential to make them work for you.
If you feel like your internet quality is below average, go with a different company. Also, make sure that you try and bundle services if you need multiple ones for your business.
For example, Cox Business Internet allows you to bundle internet with business phone and television. That way, you can save money on all three services.
Want More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you answer the question, How fast should your business internet speeds be? As you can see, there is no one set answer to this question.
Instead, it depends on the demands of your business. But, if your business relies on a stable internet company, or you expect to add on many employees in the future, you should make sure to prioritize faster speeds.
Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find more topics that you’re sure to love.
