How Much Does a Business Internet Access Service Cost?
Last Updated: January 10, 2022
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It's hard to imagine the world without Internet. We use the web to shop, research, and connect with our family, friends, and colleagues. It's just a natural part of our daily lives.
In the world of business, having a fast and reliable Internet connection is absolutely crucial. An Internet connection is the backbone of communication between employees, customers, and vendors. A slow or spotty connection hampers business activities and makes you look unprofessional.
As dial-up Internet has become archaic technology, most businesses have turned to DSL, T1, or T3 connections. Each is priced differently. The service that's right for you depends on the size of your business, your budget, and the volume of network traffic.
Business Internet Access Average Costs #
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) charge a one-time setup or installation fee and then bill on a monthly basis. Equipment is usually either free or wrapped into your monthly bill.
DSL vs. T1 vs. T3 – Cost Comparison #
- DSL is the least expensive high-speed connection. Budget about $50 to $250 per month. Installation and setup costs vary widely, ranging from $50 to more than $600.
- T1 broadband, a faster and generally more reliable high-speed connection, usually runs $300 to $1,000 per month. One-time setup costs usually fall in that range as well.
- T3 broadband, a very high-speed connection for networks with a high volume of traffic, runs $750 to $3,000 per month. One-time setup costs also typically fall in that range.
No matter which service you choose most ISPs will require you to sign a two or three year contract.
Choosing High Speed Internet Access #
Many business owners have a difficult time deciding which type of Internet service to purchase. DSL, T1 and T3 are all considered high speed Internet connections, but speeds vary widely between the three. The most common dilemma is deciding between DSL and T1.
T1 connections have a fixed speed of about 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) for both uploads and downloads. The service is consistent when it comes to quality, with downtimes that rarely last beyond a few minutes.
The speed of DSL is highly dependent on your proximity to the Internet Service Provider. Download speeds can reach up to 7 Mbps, but that requires very close proximity. On the other end of the spectrum, the connection can be very slow if you're one of the furthest points. DSL also has slower upload speeds - a max of 1 Mbps - and is prone to longer downtimes.
T3 is one of the fastest broadband connections available, transmitting data at a lightning speed of 45 Mbps. It is really only necessary for business that have an extremely high volume of traffic or those that need to transfer very large files.