Choose the right connectivity for your business

You know you need a fast internet connection to get work done these days. But how do you choose the right connectivity for your business? What does FTTP mean and is it better than 5G? We’ll explain in this 2-minute read.

What are your internet connection options?

There are a range of technologies to choose from, but these are the most common:

4G/5G – If you’re a very small business and highly mobile, then getting your internet from the wireless phone networks makes sense. 5G is up to ten times faster than 4G, making it possible for every aspect of your business to move more efficiently.
ADSL, Superfast & Ultrafast – These are different speeds of the internet you probably have at home. They can handle big loads and are usually reliable. ADSL is too slow for most business applications, however.
Ethernet over FTTC & Full fibre Ethernet – This is more secure and faster using glass and plastic cables to deliver the quickest speeds possible without having to share or get signal interference from other nearby businesses. Full fibre or FTTP is the fastest currently available.
Satellite – Through companies like Elon Musk’s Starlink, very rural locations can benefit from speeds up to a strong 300mbps by beaming the signal from space. But, in comparison to other options, it’s very expensive and only worthwhile for countryside locations.

You might need to switch

PSTN – the Public Switched Telephone Network is being turned off in 2025. So, you might be forced to evaluate your connection before then. tThe PSTN supports several products from Openreach which are sold to businesses including Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines. Depending on the size of business you operate, you could have either ISDN2 or ISDN30 lines. However, at the end of December 2025, these fixed lines and services will be switched off and services withdrawn. So, you’ll want to make sure you move to a VoIP solution that doesn’t use the PSTN before then. As part of that move, why not join the fibre revolution with one of the FTTP options below?

What connectivity is right for my business?

Small offices and remote workers

If you just need minimal internet browsing and access to your email, then a 4G or ADSL2+ broadband connection will work for you. With upload speeds around 1Mbps and download speeds up to 24Mbps, it’s cheap and basic.

SMEs with VOIP

When you’re using applications on the cloud you need Superfast, FTTC or 5G. This will give you better performance for a greater load with more security options. A typical upload speed is up to 20Mbps with a download speed of up to 80Mbps, but this varies by provider.

Full digital businesses/ large enterprise

If you’re running a huge company and using bandwidth-heavy applications, VoIP telephony and video conferencing apps then you need Ultrafast FTTC, FTTP or satellite internet (if rural). At up to 1Gbps, these connections offer the best business connectivity that money can buy and the ultimate in low-latency, secure and safe browsing.

Still not sure how to choose the right connectivity for your business? Talk to our expert team about your needs here.