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July 21 th, 2022

How Much Bandwidth Does My Business Really Need?

When starting a business, one of the many decisions you’ll need to make is what Internet service provider (ISP) is best for you. This blog post will explain bandwidth and help you determine how much your business will need, so you never miss a beat!

 

As a business owner, you know that bandwidth is essential. But how much do you need to run your business? The answer may surprise you. Bandwidth measures the amount of data transmitted over a network in a given period, and it’s critical to ensure that your business has the resources it needs to function smoothly. Bandwidth is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps), and the greater the megabits per second, the speedier your internet is! Large enough bandwidth is essential for businesses because it allows you to connect to your customers and clients. It also allows you to connect to your employees and partners. It is necessary to remember that bandwidth is cut in half when more than one user tries to download or upload on the same network.

Establish A Starting Point

When determining how much bandwidth is ideal for your organization, you must understand where your organization currently stands. The best way to do this is to assess your current speed. You can do this by running an internet speed test. These are free and easy to use while providing you with crucial information. Run your speed test here to measure your current internet speed at this very moment!

 

Now that you have a solid idea of where your internet speed sits, it is crucial to think about what might be causing a slower connection before considering upgrading. Several factors could be causing your internet speeds to slow.

  • Line congestion – when many users access the network simultaneously, the internet speeds will drop. In a perfect world, your network should be hearty enough to handle all users, but that is not always the case!
  • Devices – the devices connected to the network could be causing slow speeds. Some devices only support a certain Mbps, so the full speeds can never be reached. Having up-to-date equipment will ensure that the fastest internet speeds can be supported.
  • The type of internet connection – there are several types of internet connections that are not one-size-fits-all. The most common internet networks are cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber optic, and satellite.
  • Cable: this is the same wiring that delivers the cable to your home. The speeds that cable internet can produce range from 10 Mbps to 500 Mbps, with upload speeds coming in at 5 Mbps to 50 Mbps.
  • DSL: digital subscriber line internet utilizes your businesses’ landline.
  • Fiber optic: With fiber optic cables at work, this is the fastest internet option with download speeds up to 1 Gbps, but more commonly 150 Mbps to 500 Mbps.
  • Satellite: radio waves deliver this internet type with download speeds of 12 Mbps to 150 Mbps.

But how much bandwidth do you really need?

The answer depends on the size of your business and the nature of your business. You may only need a few Mbps if you have a small business. But if you have a large or online business, you may need hundreds of Mbps or even Gigabits per second (Gbps). The average business operation requires at least 25 Mbps download speed paired with 3 Mbps upload capabilities. 

 

If you’re not sure how much bandwidth your business needs, there are a few things you can do to figure it out.

  • One way is to contact your internet service provider and ask them for a recommendation. Your ISP will be able to look at how much bandwidth you are receiving and using and how could better optimize your operation.
  • Another way is to use an online bandwidth calculator. Wiresurfer’s bandwidth calculator is located above, titled ‘Bandwidth Calculator.’ From there, you will answer a series of questions specific to your organization, from the types of services you require to the number of employees expected to utilize the services. It also dives into using the cloud amongst your organization like OneDrive, Google Drive, and iCloud. Most importantly, it considers your organization’s budget when calculating the amount of bandwidth and the best solution for your company.

Bandwidth Estimation

 

 

Number of Users / Devices

Speed

Tasks

1 or 2

5 Mbps

Online browsing, research, checking email

3 to 5

25 Mbps

Downloading large files, business communications, primary Wi-Fi usage

5 to 10

75 Mbps

Video streaming, Point-of-Sale transactions, frequent file sharing

10 to 15

150 Mbps

Video conferencing, cloud computing, data backups

15 to 20

250 Mbps

Seamless streaming, server hosting, conferencing

20 to 30

500 Mbps

Multiple servers hosted, large online backups, consistent cloud-based computing

30+

1,000 Mbps or 1 Gbps

Extreme speed operations with virtually zero interruptions

The good news is that there are many options available to businesses when it comes to bandwidth! Once you know how much bandwidth your business needs, you can start shopping around for an internet service provider that can give you the speed and reliability you need. There are many great options, so take your time and find the right one for your business.


So, what’s the moral of this story? Don’t skimp on your internet service. You may be able to save a little money in the short run by going with a lesser-known or budget provider, but you will likely end up paying more in lost productivity and frustration down the line. And don’t forget to check your speeds regularly! One way to do this is by using a provider like Wiresurfer. We can help you ensure you have enough bandwidth for all your needs without breaking the bank. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help optimize your internet experience.

Liked this insightful article for your business’ future? Why not share it with a friend or two so they also start preparing for the Smart Working? 😉

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