As a Telecom Broker and Consultant, I am always looking for better, faster, less expensive options for my customers as it relates to high speed internet, voice and hosted VoIP phone solutions. I remember when one T-1 with 768K of internet and 12 voice lines from XO Communications was $1.169.00 per month for a business customer. Now that same service can be had for around $300 or less per month.
I sometimes forget that I am a customer too. Each month I spend over $440.00 for Cell phone, TV and Internet to my home. When I received my last bill from ATT, I decided to check out ATT’s the NEW Gig Fiber service available in my neighborhood. Like many of my customers, the thought of Gig fiber speeds was enticing and the price was about the same or slightly less than I am paying today. At my house, we use as much bandwidth as we can get so I was eager to take advantage of the speeds Gig Fiber can offer. I decided to make the upgrade.
When it came time to install my ATT Gig Fiber services, I was determined to make sure the Fiber was “home run” to my modem which needed to run thru the attic. I helped the ATT 
tech run the Fiber Optic Cable thru my attic which involved inhaling insulation, dust and who knows what all. By the time we finished, I was filthy and drenched in sweat from the sauna that is my attic in the Georgia heat.
So now our Fiber is installed and guess what? There doesn’t seem to be a noticeable difference between ATT U-verse and the ATT Gig Fiber. I asked my wife if she noticed a difference and she said “No”. What is up with that? Don’t they advertise Gig Speeds? Well yes but this is consumer level service. It is shared with your neighbors does not come with an SLA (Service Level Agreement) meaning the speed can vary.
In addition to the advertised bandwidth from the provider, the capabilities of your home/office equipment that can limit the internet speeds you experience. Every piece of your network can have an impact on what internet speeds you’ll experience. Can your computer’s wireless card handle the speed? Are your switches and/or routers able to pass thru the extra speed? Check these before you run your speed test to get bragging rights on how fast your internet speed is.
Would I upgrade my home to Gig Fiber again, knowing that I’ll probably only get a few Mbps of extra speed? Probably not.
On the other hand, if it is your business that needs a faster internet connection, make sure you evaluate a true “business class” internet connection that comes with an SLA. You may pay more for a business class fiber connection, but by understanding your bandwidth needs, you won’t have to pay for more than you need. Or better yet, renegotiate your current agreement with a faster speed for less than your paying today.
Call us today and we’d be happy to share our stories with you in how we help many different sized businesses reduce their costs while getting more services. Plus, we will take the hassle out of switching services providers. High Speed Internet, Business Phone System and Project management is what we help our customers do at TeleData Select.
Teledata Select offers a whole range of services that will help you meet your business goals. Starting with a complimentary review of your current telecommunication bills to find opportunities for savings. better service and more functionality. We also offer project management for new service implementation and infrastructure installs, including fiber and low voltage cabling. Contact us for a detailed discussion of your specific business technology needs.
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