Internet is the one service every other system depends on. Phones, Microsoft 365, payments and line of business software all stop when it does.
For a small business, the decision is not only about speed. It is also about what keeps you working through an outage, and which providers can actually serve your address.
The main connection types
Fiber broadband
Fast, usually symmetrical speeds and consistent performance. Availability varies building by building, and a new install can require construction.
Cable broadband
Widely available with fast downloads, but slower uploads and shared capacity in the neighborhood. A solid choice for many small offices.
Dedicated internet access
A private circuit, usually fiber, with guaranteed bandwidth and a service level agreement. It costs more and fits offices that run phones, video and cloud apps all day.
Fixed wireless and 5G
Useful as a backup connection or where wired service is not available. Performance depends on signal and line of sight.
Plan for outages
One connection is a single point of failure. Storms, construction work and provider outages all happen, and a backup plan is far easier to build before you need it.
- A second connection from a different provider, ideally over a different path
- A firewall or SD-WAN device that fails over automatically
- Cellular backup, which suits most small offices and costs little
- Battery backup for the modem, firewall and switches
- A short written plan for who calls which provider during an outage
What to ask before signing
- Is service confirmed at our exact address, not just the zip code?
- What is the install timeline, and are there construction costs?
- What is the upload speed, not just the download speed?
- What is the term, and what happens when it ends?
- What will the price be after any promotional period?
- Do we get static IP addresses, and what do they cost?
- Is there a service level agreement, and what are the credits?
Why prices drift
Internet pricing keeps moving down for new customers while existing contracts stay where they were signed. Circuits priced two or three years ago are often well above what the same provider charges a new customer today. A renewal or a competing quote is usually the moment to close that gap. Our renewal checklist covers the timing.
How Level2 helps
We check availability across multiple carriers at your address, collect quotes on the same specification, design the backup connection and coordinate the install. See internet and phones or book a free review.
Questions we hear about this
Not always. Cable broadband works well for many small offices. Fiber or dedicated internet makes more sense when you rely on cloud phones, video calls and large uploads all day, or when you need a service level agreement.
For most businesses that cannot take payments or answer phones without internet, yes. A cellular backup is often the least expensive way to start.
It ranges from days for broadband already in the building to several months when fiber needs construction. Ask for the timeline in writing before you give notice to your current provider.
Yes. Phone numbers can be moved to a new provider through a process called porting. If your phones and internet come from the same company, plan the move together.