Not too long ago I got a call from one of my long-time clients, “Hey Benny, I just signed a lease and we’re going to be moving into a building in a couple of months. I need to get an internet line installed, usual ISP please.” he said.
I took a deep breath and replied, “Okay, give me the address and let me see what it looks like.”
I entered the address into my computer and in a few moments, I knew what I was going to say wasn’t going to be well received.
“It looks like this one’s going to take a little while, they’re saying that some construction is required, I’ll have to verify with a site survey, but I hate to tell you it might be past your move-in date.”
You can imagine that the response I got wasn’t too happy, we managed to do a workaround for a few months while a circuit could be installed, but that particular location took over 6 months for the ISP to build a circuit to the building.
When a company moves into a new building, it’s easy to assume that internet service is already up and available especially if there are other tenants in the same building using a particular internet provider. However, a dirty little secret in the internet biz is, that you might not be able to get service quickly or in some rare cases – no service at all. In fact, there could be a long wait for internet service due to construction or because the Internet Service Provider (ISP) is not willing to install service to that particular location for any number of reasons. I wanted to let you know we gotta’ discuss why you shouldn’t assume internet service is ready to go in a building and what alternatives you might want to consider.
Construction Delays
When a company picks a new location whether it be a 100 year old building or new construction, you cannot assume that there is internet service ready to go. There can be any number of reasons why service isn’t there such as the building’s location, the infrastructure of the building or the available service that runs from the ISP’s facilities to the building itself. For example, if the building is in a remote location, it may take longer for the ISP to lay down the necessary cables and establish connectivity. Moreover, if the building has an old infrastructure, the ISP may need to upgrade the infrastructure before providing service to that location. This can result in a long wait for a company to have internet service, which can create delays in being able to use the new office space.
ISP Restrictions
Another reason why a company shouldn’t assume internet service is ready to go in a building is because the ISP may not be willing to provide service to that location. Again, there could be a variety of reasons such as the location being too remote, lack of budget available or the cost of installation being too high for it to make economic sense. In such cases, the company may need to consider alternative internet service providers.
Alternative Internet Service Providers
If the traditional ISP is unwilling to provide service to the building, the company can consider alternative internet service providers such as Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), fixed wireless, building a microwave connection, and satellite internet service providers. WISPs provide internet service through wireless connections as well as fixed wireless which can traditionally be found through mobile network providers, these can be a great alternative for companies located in remote areas. Microwave internet service providers use high-frequency radio waves to provide internet service, which can be a good option for companies in areas where cable or fiber-optic connections are not available. Satellite internet service providers provide internet service through a satellite connection, which can be a good option for companies in rural or remote areas.
Planning Ahead
To avoid delays in getting internet service to a new location, companies should plan ahead before moving into a new building. They should check with technology provider such as Velocity Technology Group to help you determine if you’ll be able to get service and how quickly. If there isn’t, they should contact ISPs and alternative internet service providers to get quotes and compare prices. It’s important to consider factors such as reliability, speed, and cost when choosing an internet service provider.
Companies shouldn’t assume that internet service is ready to go in a building. They should be aware of the potential delays due to construction or ISP restrictions and consider alternative internet service providers. Planning ahead is crucial to avoid delays and ensure that the company’s operations are not interrupted. By considering all the options available and choosing the best internet service provider for their needs, companies can ensure that they have reliable and fast internet service.