The importance of having access to the internet has never been greater than it has been in recent months. Work and business have been conducted from home, including day-to-day business operations, communication with colleagues, dealing with clients, and even transaction processing. With so much internet use, you might be thinking if you should switch to business internet or if residential internet is sufficient.
So, what exactly is the difference between Residential Internet and Business Internet?
Yes, both types of internet connections exist. However, the plans differ and there may be a huge pricing variation. Although they may be the same speed, why is one more expensive than the other?
The differences are in the fine print and details. The following are some of the significant distinctions between business and residential internet:
- Improved Internet Speed *
- SLA/contract
- IP Address
- Upload/Download Speed
- Bandwidth Allocation
- Customer Service
- Price
Table of Contents
Improved Internet Speed
The speed of residential and business internet is one of the most significant distinctions. Home Internet speeds usually range from 1 – 25 Mbps, whereas commercial internet speeds can reach 1 to 2 Gbps advertised – but at a greater cost. However, providers like Cox do offer internet speeds as high as 2 Gbps for home usage. You may check out Cox internet packages if you have a large family with extensive internet users. Bear in mind, faster internet speeds are essential for organizations, especially when it comes to operations, client meetings, and customer service.
SLA
For commercial transactions, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is required. There are agreed-upon performance levels between two organizations (yours and the provider), such as bandwidth and uptime, that are recorded and reviewed regularly. If something has to be fixed, there is a time limit on when the provider will send someone in to address the problem.
In some ways, this is the service provider’s guarantee that both parties have committed to. You can negotiate changes in price or service offers if these aren’t met.
There is no guarantee of internet speed for residential internet, and it varies depending on how many people are using it. Immediate repairs are not guaranteed; they might take anything from a few hours to a few days.
IP (Internet Protocol) Address
A static IP address is assigned to the business internet, whereas a dynamic IP address is assigned to the home internet. Because static IP addresses are more dependable and secure, organizations may use them to host their network infrastructure, including servers and file storage.
Home internet with a dynamic IP address, on the other hand, might change without warning from the provider and is typically less secure and stable. These are quite prevalent with household internet connections that don’t necessitate enterprise-level security and bandwidth utilization.
Download/Upload Speeds
Symmetrical internet speed refers to the upload and download speeds of your internet connection being near to, if not identical. This is critical for businesses that upload and download huge amounts of data and files.
Because downloads are frequently favored, residential internet has uneven speed. The majority of home users use the internet for low-bandwidth activities including web browsing and surfing, as well as media streaming.
Allocation of Bandwidth
Because companies demand reliable internet access, having a dedicated bandwidth allotment is critical to their success. Additionally, the firm gains secure connectivity and increased capacity as a result of this. Point-to-Point (P2P) is the term for this type of dedicated bandwidth (P2P).
When it comes to residential internet, the bandwidth is shared among neighbors in the region, and there are noticeable variations in performance during peak times, such as sluggish internet speeds or connection disruptions. The connection is supplied to a network of users rather than a single user.
Customer Support
It’s no surprise that customer service is better when business internet comes with a service level agreement (SLA) that frequently includes customer assistance and a premium price point. There are also options that provide VIP customer assistance, depending on the corporate internet bundle.
Residential internet users, on the other hand, are promised excellent customer service, but this is not true for all of their clients. When compared to commercial accounts, this might result in slower customer service.
In contrast to corporate internet users, who frequently interact with account managers, a residential internet user may have to go through numerous departments before speaking with the appropriate person in the event of an issue.
Pricing
Because home internet is a simplified form of corporate internet, it has fewer operational needs and is typically available at a lower cost. The majority of residential internet services cost approximately $20 per month, whereas business internet costs anywhere from $60 to $500 per month or more, depending on the package.
Bottom Line
Business internet connectivity becomes a requirement rather than an option as your company expands and you utilize more complex technologies like your infrastructure, mail server, and other enterprise-level applications. Working with client data necessitates a high level of data security, which makes corporate internet connections more secure.
Before making the transition, evaluate your company’s requirements. While the benefits of a corporate internet account are appealing, the fees may be prohibitive for a small company owner or someone working from home.
