news

Setting up Internet service shouldn't be tricky - or costly
Michael Binder
Fort Worth Business Press
September 12, 2005

With the rapid advancements in Internet technology, a multitude of Internet service options are available for small and medium-sized businesses, often making the decision complex and confusing.

The standard has long been for companies to leverage traditional wired networks, which usually requires going through local phone companies, also known as incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) for service and installation. Unfortunately, most ILECs have not responded well to the needs of these customers, particularly in regards to installation intervals and scalability. The wait time for installation can often be lengthy, and a six-week delay of Internet service usually does not meet the immediate needs of most businesses.

Secondly, these customers are finding that the reliability, security, cost, and the flexibility and responsiveness of the typical service provider are not acceptable. With the growing demands for increased bandwidth, many businesses are recognizing that a scalable network is an important factor that will fully benefit their company.

While installation of a wired network is time-consuming and costly, fixed wireless networks can be deployed much more efficiently because there is no need to go through the ILEC for service or to lay additional cable.

Businesses should always be concerned about the reliability of service and most realize that they will experience issues at some point. However, if a company owns its wireless network, the company isn't reliant on third parties to address network or service issues and can be much more responsive. The inherent nature of fixed wireless networks enables providers to quickly address issues by replacing equipment or rerouting traffic - something that can not be easily achieved when traditional providers experience fiber cuts. Also, for customers that demand higher levels of reliability and business continuity, such companies offer dual-path redundancy, which means that in the event of wireless interruptions, service will immediately revert to wired T1, in most cases without the customer even realizing there was a switch over.

As mentioned, many businesses are concerned about the scalability of their Internet service.

Cost continues to be an important factor when deciding on Internet service. Installing a fixed wireless network costs considerably less than a wired solution - 40 to 50 percent in some cases - because there is no need to install fiber, copper or costly infrastructure at the customer site.

In addition to data service, some fixed wireless providers also offer voice service. Many businesses today are recognizing the benefits of voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP). This technology allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (analog) phone line, eliminating the need access the ILEC or long-distance provider for services.

Because VoIP utilizes a broadband connection, it offers features and services that are not available with standard phone service, including: lower-cost, long-distance calls; integrated messaging; compatibility with computer applications such as Microsoft Outlook; and the convenience of taking your VoIP phone with you anywhere in the world to make calls where ever an Internet connection is available.

As businesses continue to embrace advances in technology and seek out long-term solutions, many will pull away from the traditional approach to Internet service. Fixed wireless service is a solution that businesses of all sizes are viewing as a long-term and cost effective solution to their Internet needs.

As executive director of engineering at airBand Communications, Michael Binder is responsible all engineering functions of the airBand network and all production and business systems. He can be reached at 469-791-0000