Residential Internet
If you’ve ever signed up for a home internet service, then you’ve probably noticed one thing in particular: the download speeds you’re getting are greater than the upload speeds. It is written like this: 600/20 or 100/5, which means 600Mbps download, 20Mbps upload, or 100Mbps download and 5Mbps upload, respectively.
That’s fine for residential services, but for business users, there’s a growing trend to demand symmetrical internet speeds. This is also for good reason, as symmetrical internet speeds can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your business.
1. Improved communication and collaboration
The modern office tends to have a complex communications environment. Employees are more mobile, which means they need to take advantage of cloud-based video conferencing and collaboration tools to communicate with their teams and work on projects.
Slow upload speeds have traditionally been the reason quality has been spotty. One person might have a super-fast download speed, but if their upload speed isn’t up to scratch, there will be a loss of quality in the video streams they stream, as well as a delay in their efforts to collaborate in real time. Tools like Microsoft 365, with its rich teams and whiteboarding services, are built with a constant and stable internet connection in mind. That consistency is not provided when the upload and download speeds are different.
With Symmetrical Internet, two (or more) users can participate in an online video call. Equal download and upload speeds should not only help video and audio quality, but should also allow other members of the business to carry out their work as usual.
2. Faster Ecommerce
With so many companies now engaged in e-commerce, the speed of doing business is critical, and the Symmetrical Internet helps with this. E-commerce is an incredibly data-intensive form of business, with IoT devices within the organization collecting and sharing data in real time. Technologies like CMS, supply and logistics environments must be able to filter and provide workers with instant feedback. For that to work, upload speeds are much more important than download speeds.
3. Minimal congestion issues
Businesses tend to be located around other businesses, which is great for a sense of community, but not so great when it comes to internet usage. During peak hours, when everyone is using the Internet at the same time, there can be noticeable drops in Internet speeds.
Symmetrical Internet can be a solution for that. To provide a symmetrical connection, your ISP will give you what’s known as a dedicated service, which means that your own uploads and downloads to your computer are partitioned and won’t be affected by what other businesses around you are doing with their Internet connections. It’s like having your own private road – congestion issues solved!
4. High definition
Home internet plans are capable of downloading 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) content, but not as capable of streaming it. This raises the question: how is that content going to be made available?
Symmetrical speeds are the answer. With upload speeds of up to 10,000Mbps, organizations will be able to create and share 4K content efficiently and in a timely manner. As more organizations do this with UHD, it will become the primary video solution on the web, which means that those organizations that are not able to do so will have a hard time capturing the attention of their audience.
5. Virtual and augmented reality
‘VR’ and ‘AR’ (as they are popularly known) are the next big thing in content as they promise to bring digital spaces into our world. Both are highly immersive technologies and provide users with fully 3D experiences. However, this brings with it some significant data requirements.
It’s not really the download where the challenge lies. Because both VR and AR need to be highly responsive to what the user is doing, the ability for quick feedback is key. That feedback needs a fast upload speed to maintain a real-time data feed.
6. IoT
refers to the network of physical objects, devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items that are embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity, allowing them to collect and exchange data. These devices communicate with each other over the internet, enabling them to be remotely monitored, controlled, and managed.
IoT technology has been used in a wide range of applications, including smart homes, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture. For example, a smart home system might use IoT sensors to monitor the temperature, lighting, and security of a house, while a healthcare provider might use IoT devices to remotely monitor a patient’s vital signs and health status.
The potential benefits of IoT technology include increased efficiency, improved safety, and enhanced productivity. However, there are also concerns about data privacy and security, as well as the potential for IoT devices to be hacked or used maliciously. As the IoT continues to grow and evolve, it is important to carefully consider the risks and benefits of this emerging technology.
The future: sooner than expected
As collaboration, communication, and e-commerce occupy an increasingly important place in our workday, the symmetrical Internet will be indispensable.
To this internet we must add a robust internal distribution network with high availability as well as a cybersecurity plan to protect your data.
Do you want to stay ahead with connectivity? Talk to Ovnicom’s team of experts today to find out which internet plan is right for your business.
