When you are placed in a position to choose a new internet service provider, it can be a little intimidating to select which professional to work with, how long to sign a contract for, and which plan to sign up for. Fortunately, by thinking carefully about what you want out of an ISP, you can quickly and efficiently narrow down your options. The purpose of this website is to cut through the jargon that many people use regarding Internet providers, so you can identify what you want out of a service and how it could benefit your family. Check out this blog for great tips that can help.
5 Questions to Help You Get a Good Internet Provider
The internet has become integral to life today, at work and in social life. Almost all activities today depend on a good internet connection: business, entertainment, education, dating, etc. Having a good internet provider is almost a basic necessity today. Here are some questions that can help you get a reliable internet provider:
1. What Speeds Do You Offer?
Different activities require different speeds or bandwidths. For example, if you want an internet connection for online gaming, the bandwidth you pick must support it. If you are working from home, get the bandwidth that supports video conferencing and file uploads. You should also consider the number of other users in the house sharing the connection.
2. Do You Have Data Caps and Speed Throttling?
It is important to ask about data caps to know the limits of your usage. Data capping cuts off your connection when you get to a certain limit, e.g., 5GB in a day. Speed throttling reduces your internet speed when there is a high demand on the network.
The ideal package offers unlimited internet for your subscription period. It should not have capping or throttling. Unlimited internet ensures you get stable speeds 24/7, regardless of the people accessing the internet through the internet provider.
3. What Is Your Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
Any professional internet provider has an SLA. It is a commitment to the customer to maintain service quality. It addresses network downtime and how the ISP ensures the client accesses internet connectivity.
The SLA will also show the mean time to repair (MTTR). It is a commitment from the internet provider to address problems in a specific period. For example, the internet provider says the MTTR is 3 hours, you can expect your internet connection to never have a downtime lasting more than 3 hours.
4. What Does Customer Support Entail?
You should know the customer support to expect from your internet provider. Do they have technicians who can give you a video walkthrough when there is a problem? Do your inquiries go into a ticketing system, or do you get personalized service right away?
You could ask about the location of the tech support because some issues require physical diagnosis and fixing. Ask about managed options arrangements where the internet provider manages everything, including the network equipment and the apps. Managed options are very useful in keeping IT costs low.
5. What Are the Costs?
Your internet provider must be transparent about costs and show them upfront before you sign the contract.
Do you need fast and reliable internet for home or office use? Talk to an internet service provider to explore a good package for you.