An Internet Service Provider is a type of company that provides access to the Internet. There are different forms of Internet providers in Florida or ISP, such as commercial, community-owned and private. You need to carefully choose the type of Internet service that these companies offer. You can connect to the internet through multiple ways, but it depends on whether it is available in your area. Currently, most ISP’s use the telephone or DSL line, cable television line or satellite connection to connect to the Internet.
Before Internet service providers were introduced, access to the Internet was limited. Only those affiliated with a participating university or government agency had the privilege. In the late 1990s, Internet service providers had grown significantly to approximately 10,000 worldwide, with more than half located in the U.S.
Most Internet service providers were small companies that contracted for Internet services from larger ISP companies, such as America Online, and offered their services to customers and businesses. AOL became one of the leading providers for ISP’s around the world. However, at the same time, many state-owned ISP’s in Asia entered the business.
Existing types of Internet Providers
The dial-up Internet provider AOL had its downfall when customers switched to broadband service for a faster Internet connection. Dial-up requires access to a landline phone service to connect to the Internet. The average download speed of 24-48 Kbps is a bit slow.
It is not recommended to download massive files over the Internet or watch full HD videos on YouTube. Still, occasional users who check their emails regularly, browse web pages or visit social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter will have no problem using the dial-up connection.
Satellite uses a wireless connection to the Internet. That is much faster than a dial-up internet connection. Usually, the quality of the internet service is affected by the weather. People who like to get online when DSL or cable Internet is not available in their area would consider satellite as one of the alternatives
.
Cable Internet is for people who use the Internet primarily for downloading vast amounts of data and media consumption such as video calls, online videos and large files. The average download speed of DSL is 3 Mbps, while cable Internet is faster at 4-6 Mbps.
On the other hand, the average speed of a high-speed cable is 12-20 Mbps. Another option would be to use mobile device technology, such as a cell phone, tablet or laptop. It would help if you had an ISP that offers a 2G, 3G and 4G wireless connection for these devices to work.
While these devices can be helpful, they provide only a limited amount of data that you can use to surf the web. Still, if you are signed up for an unlimited monthly data plan, you can enjoy surfing the web for months using the wireless Internet.
Things to Consider While choosing an Internet Provider
Availability and Location
Before requesting an installation, you should check if the service provider has connection points within your area. Most ISPs have a map on their websites, that represents their availability. This map allows you to check their availability throughout the region. You can also call the ISP’s headquarters to confirm if they offer services within your area.
Uptime and Reliability
First, you must understand that it can be challenging for an Internet provider to offer 100% uptime 24/7. The majority of Internet providers will always have a backup for your primary connection if it fails or there is a drop in speed. So be sure to check the uptime statistics of the Internet service providers you are considering. All problems are not the ISP’s fault either. Sometimes the reason is something in your home network.
Also, be sure to read the service level agreements. It is essential to know if the ISP will reimburse you in case of unavailability or how long it will take to respond to such problems. It will do you no good to have Internet at home when you can barely use it because it is slow or unavailable most of the time.
Cost
It would be great to always look for a package that offers good value for money. Most Internet Providers offer several packages for Internet at-home services. Packages for home Internet can cost as little as $20. In most cases, the price varies depending on bandwidth or speed. Other additional services, such as VOIP will attract additional fees. Rates may be different if you get cable Internet and use a triple play service. You also need to review data limits, if any, and how much you will be charged for extra usage.
Customer service and Response time of Internet Service Provider
Customer service is everything when it comes to dealing with customers. I bet you’ll want the ISP to answer your calls every time you call to report downtime or slow speeds. Most ISPs will have your email and contact number on their website. Other than that, you should know their response time if your network has a problem. When you locate Internet Providers in your area, look for more information about them on the web. You can get a lot of information from past and present customer reviews, and this will give you a good picture of what you can expect from them.
Connection Types of Internet Service Provider
There are three main types of connections being used by internet providers. Radio, fibre optic, and VSAT connections. It is an advantage if Internet Providers can provide both a Radio and Fiber Optic connection to provide a Backup service, which is very important to avoid network outages.
Equipment quality and Flexibility
ISPs know which Access Points (also known as modems or Routers) are high quality and come with a built-in firewall. They will most likely recommend what they believe is the best and primarily support it after conducting a physical site survey.
ISPs generally do not provide choices when it comes to Access Points. However, you can request a specific device that you trust, but listen to what the ISP has to say.
Contract length
Typically, most contract durations in Nigeria start from 12 months. If you think that’s too long, then you probably don’t want to be in business for the next 12 months. The advantage is even when you don’t pay when due for some reason (assuming you are paying in instalments).
The Internet Providers will still keep your Internet active because of the contract and considering you are running a business. Many Internet Providers may also offer a temporary discount, especially if the company is not going so well, or you can increase your bandwidth for a day to meet high demand, say for an event.
