User Guides > Choosing an ISP
To get your business connected to the Internet you need an ISP (Internet Service Provider). At the very least, an ISP will provide your connection to the Internet, and most business-oriented ISPs provide a range of other services such as email addresses, domain name registration and web hosting.
There are various ways of connecting to the Internet, and we can help you decide which one is best for your business. The main ones are:
Dial Up
A dial-up connection is suitable for individuals users, or workstations that are not on a corporate network. With this style of connection, you use a modem and existing phone line to dial an ISP. The connection speed is typically 56kbps. It is also possible for two or more computers on a network to share a single dial-up connection to the Internet, although this would be noticeably slower if used by more that one person at the same time.
ISDN
Internet access over an ISDN line at 64kbps is faster than over a conventional phone line. ISDN connections provide cost effective Internet connectivity to small to medium sized businesses with a small network of computers. ISDN will be usually delivered over a standard pair of copper wires from your telephone service provider, which in the UK is likely to be, but is not always, BT.
Broadband Services
ADSL
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a special telephone line that allows you to access the Internet at between 10 and 40 times faster than a normal modem. Many ISPs offer an ADSL service for businesses, which allows you to connect your office network permanently to the Internet for a fixed monthly fee. ADSL makes use of your your existing telephone line. It splits the signal into two, one for voice communications and the other for the high speed data connection. ADSL is only available in areas that are near enough to a suitable exchange.
Cable modem
Internet access is now available from some Cable TV companies through the same coaxial wires that deliver your TV pictures. Connection speeds are comparable to ADSL, with download speed around 512K. This is usually a cheaper alternative to ADSL because little extra equipment or configuration is required, and the infrastructure is already in place. Needless to say this is only available in areas that have been cabled.
Satellite
In areas where neither ADSL or cable Internet access is available an alternative is satellite broadband. Satellite broadband offers the same high speed transfer rates as ADSL but at a higher cost. Pages are transmitted by satellite (as with satellite TV and phones) to an ISP who then forwards them to the end user.
Dedicated Internet Access (Leased Lines)
A dedicated Internet connection, or leased line, provides you with a permanently open, high bandwidth, connection to the Internet. Leased lines come in speeds from 64 Kbps to 34 and 45 Mbps all the way up to ultra-high bandwidth 155 Mbps connections. Organizations with a significant number of users on a LAN will be interested in a dedicated connection. ISP's usually offer different billing options such as a flat monthly rate or a fee based on usage. Contact us for more details.
Some questions to ask a prospective ISP:
1. Are they a backbone provider?
Most ISP’s simply resell Internet connectivity from larger providers and don’t have their own network infrastructure. Backbone providers generally give you a better quality service.
2. Do they monitor their network 24 hours a day?
A respectable ISP should monitor the performance of its network so that prompt action can be taken in the event of failures and network congestion.
3. Do they provide 24 hour support?
If you experience problems with your connection or your email, for example, you need to be able to contact someone to get the issue dealt with as soon as possible. After all, it could be affecting your business.
4. What percentage of their core capacity is typically being used?
To avoid network congestion when there are surges in Internet traffic, an ISP should have bags of capacity to spare. ISPs working at near full capacity will continually have problems that will directly affect your Internet connection.
5. Are the advertised prices fully inclusive?
Make sure there are no hidden extras such as set up fees and hardware that are not included in the monthly fee.
6. Can you trust them to be around tomorrow?
Internet companies come and go with surprising regularity. Choose a company with an established reputation that has been gained through providing a good service.
7. Do they guarantee bandwidth across their network?
If you buy a 2MB line, are you actually guaranteed that connectivity?
8. Do they offer a service level guarantee?
An ISP worth its salt should have some form of Service Level Agreement. Some ISPs offer service level agreements guaranteeing you 100% uptime or your money back on dedicated connections.
9. Do they offer a fully bespoke solution?
A flexible ISP will save you money by offering solutions that meet your company's needs rather than offering you expensive kit that you do not need.
