Internet Speed: Are You Getting What You Are Paying For?

Matching Broadband Spend with Broadband Performance is easy!

With broadband speed increasingly important for day-to-day business operations and Internet costs rising, more businesses are questioning whether they are receiving the broadband speeds they are paying for. Additionally, if your business has had the same ISP contract in place for some time, you might be paying too much for too little speed. Often you can negotiate faster connectivity for the same or less than you are paying for today. The first steps in determining if you are getting what you pay for (and if you want what you are actually buying) is the following:

1. Check Your Bill

Many businesses are paying more than they expect due to expired promotions or excessive fees. Your business internet billing statement may include various taxes, surcharges, and fees here is Comcast’s explanation of them. Review your bill and make sure you understand the charges that are being presented.

2. Check For Unused Services

You might also be bundling unneeded services such as television programming or digital phone services in your current agreement. Check to see if these are included and determine if you truly need them. Does anyone still stream news over cable in their office anymore? Reach out to your ISP and remove any unnecessary services.

3. Check to See What Speed is Listed on Your Bill

There are numerous tiers of download and upload speeds with each provider. Make sure the speed you are purchasing is appropriate for your needs and then check one of the many speed tests tools including Speedtest.net, SpeakEasy Speed Test and Bandwidth Place to see if the speed you’re getting matches what you are paying for. Make sure you do a speed before and after a reboot. If your results are not consistent with your service agreement, reach out to them to address.

4. Most of the Time it’s Not the Internet’s Fault, it’s the Networking

Sometimes it is possible that the IP settings or network configuration that you receive from the Internet service provider are incorrect or must be updated. Sometimes, the connection between the modem and the ISP may be experiencing problems. To update the settings on the modem or the router, you must restart the device. Restarting the device will also create a fresh connection to the Internet service provider. You can also reach out to your ISP and have them check the firmware to see if you are on the latest version.

5. Check for Outdated or Low-Grade Equipment

If you have had your equipment (modem, router, switches) for some time, it might be time to upgrade your devices. Your ISP can provide the latest and greatest modem (you are paying for it anyway), and your IT provider can evaluate upgrading your internal network infrastructure. Modernizing your network equipment can bring benefits besides just better speeds. Better security, reliability, and quality of service improvements are some of the additional benefits of upgrading equipment.

After completing the above steps, your internet speed should be appropriate for your needs with a bill to match. If you do not feel this is the case or find you need help reviewing your existing solution we would be happy to help.

Interested in learning more about Skyen’s services? Contact us for a free evaluation and consultation.