Top tips: connectivity and broadband

Need a bit more information before you commit to broadband? Nicholas Jeffery, UK managing director of PSINet UK offers his top ten tips to help assist you in making a Dec

1. Connectivity
Connectivity is simply a term that describes the way in which you connect to the internet. There are a number of connectivity options available and a large variety of potential providers in the UK alone. Connectivity can be delivered through dial-up (PSTN), ISDN, ADSL, SDSL or a Private Leased Line. Broadband is most associated with xDSL connectivity, however, it officially refers to any type of larger bandwidth (high speed/high performance) connection. The most important consideration with respect to connectivity is what internet capacity your business requires. It is also important to understand the impact on the running of your systems should the demand for internet bandwidth exceed this capacity.

2. Number of sites/staff
The number of staff demanding access to the internet is directly related to the required capacity. Consider site location, internet applications used by your staff and file transfer requirements. Profile internet usage: do all staff demand usage at the same times in the day? If it is possible to stagger internet access then the required bandwidth will ultimately be less.

At the simplest level, if access to web pages or transferring large data files is a significant part of your business operations then broadband will speed things up. If you are currently using a Private Circuit or Leased Line then you may be able to achieve the same functionality more economically with an ADSL or Cable internet connection. Of course, when implementing a corporate networking solution, each location may have different requirements in terms of applications needed, data speeds and availability of connection. 'Mix and match' solutions are available and can be tailored to fit your needs should this be the case.