You have a choice about which high-speed Internet service you use

Many rely on their Internet service provider to tell them what kind of service they need without understanding what’s available to them.  This mini blog is intended to educate you about the primary options available to your company, so that you can make a smarter decision about the provider and service you choose.

High-speed Internet options

The type(s) of high speed Internet service you are able to select depends on a few primary variables:

1. Your company’s geographic location,
2. What your building is structurally equipped to handle, and
3. How much you are willing to pay.

Below, we provide a comparison of the different types of Internet service products and their pros and cons.

• Dedicated T1 – Although a T1 is limited by speed, it is still one of the most commonly used digital transmission services in the U.S.  Originally the circuit was provided over copper, but newer technology now allows for the circuit to be provisioned over fiber optic networks.  T1’s are limited to an Internet speed of 1.5MB and are not expected to be sold once fiber becomes available in more areas in the country.
• Coax – Coax is faster than a T1, runs over high-capacity cable and provides asymmetric speeds.  It’s most commonly used for audio, video and data applications.  Because the service is run over a shared circuit, speeds are not guaranteed.  The availability of Coax depends on the building’s location and infrastructure, and it’s known to have a number of technical issues
• Shared Fiber – Shared Fiber provides symmetric Internet speeds as high as Coax at similar prices. Because it’s a shared service, however, speeds are not guaranteed. Fiber service usually has less technical and maintenance issues. Availability depends on the building’s location and infrastructure.
• Dedicated Fiber – Dedicated Fiber is the most reliable and fastest of all five types of high speed Internet access because your company has its own dedicated connection.  As with Coax and Shared Fiber, availability depends on the building’s location and infrastructure.  This is usually the most expensive option, although prices have gone down over the last few years.
• Dedicated Wireless – This option provides location flexibility, but the quality of service depends on the Line of Sight (i.e. how open the antennas are between the customer location and the carriers Internet Point of Presence). Wireless services are usually limited to buildings where providers have installed antennas.

GTB can help  

In business for 25 years, GTB has provided a variety of High-Speed Internet Services with Cyber Security and managed Business Phone Solutions.  Headquartered in Baltimore County, we provide the latest technology and local customer care to companies in Maryland, DC and Northern VA. Rather than find multiple providers for each service, we also make acquiring and managing these services easier by providing a “one- stop- shop” experience.  GTB tailors our solutions to meet your unique needs and offers a free assessment of your Internet system to see if we can save you money and/or provide you with higher speed Internet access.  Learn more about our High Speed Internet Service. 

Contact us for your free assessment

Related: Getting High Speed Internet and Fiber-Based Service, How to Test Your Internet Speed and Know Which Speed You Need, and Best High Speed Internet – How to shop for what you actually need