Battle for Best Business-class Internet: Fiber Optic vs. Fixed Wireless

Business Internet Comparison Fixed Wireless vs. Fiber-optic
 

What is the best Internet service for business?

Internet is the lifeblood of modern business – an essential component of day-to-day operations, whatever those may be. It’s not enough to just have connectivity either. When selecting the best Internet service for business, most organizations require Internet connectivity that’s fast, reliable, and high-quality in order to operate with efficiency. And that’s not all—or at least it shouldn’t be. Businesses should consider other factors when choosing the right Internet connection because seemingly small differences can significantly impact operations, uptime, and the bottom line.

The top 5 factors to consider when choosing business Internet:

  1. Capability – Performance plays a major factor when selecting an internet service, which often means a lot more than just Internet speed.
  2. Cost – While many enterprises can afford big-budget Internet connections, small and midsized businesses looking for quality Internet service may be a more complicated sourcing decision.
  3. Ease of Deployment – When an organization is under time constraints or needs connections in multiple locations, easily-deployed Internet can make all the difference.
  4. Uptime – Dealing with Internet downtime can be painful to businesses of all stripes. Some Internet services have redundancy built-in to make sure you always stay online.
  5. Availability – Most Internet technologies require some infrastructure to be available in your area, so sometimes options are simply unavailable or limited.

 
Fixed Wireless Internet
 

Fixed Wireless vs. Fiber Optic

Fixed Wireless and Fiber Optic Internet are two of the best Internet connectivity options, with each offering unique benefits that businesses can leverage, depending on their needs. Let’s evaluate the two technologies.

What is Fixed Wireless Internet?

Fixed Wireless Internet allows for the transmission of data between two fixed points. Fixed wireless providers use towers, antennas, and an express line of sight (LoS) to deliver high-speed broadband Internet access to a business location in the form of radio waves.

The Pros of Fixed Wireless Internet

  • Upfront Costs – Compared to fiber’s high initial cost of installation, fixed wireless does not require an intensive setup. Businesses only need an antenna installed with network access.
  • Fast Installation – Because fixed -wireless-only requires an express line of sight (LoS) to a location and an antenna to receive the signal, installation is incredibly quick – especially compared to fiber. For example, a GeoLinks’ ClearFiber™ Fixed Wireless installation can be completed in just 7-10 days.
  • Uptime – Companies like GeoLinks have fixed wireless Internet networks with multipoint redundancy built into the service, which means each circuit installed has at least one additional fixed wireless backhaul for always-on connectivity.
  • Unlimited Bandwidth – Some fixed wireless services – like GeoLinks’ ClearFiber™ – offer businesses unlimited bandwidth without the throttling or capping employed by other internet providers.

The Cons of Fixed Wireless

  • Limited Speed – Providers like GeoLinks can deliver speeds up to 10Gbps with fixed wireless, while a GeoLinks’ fiber connection can reach speeds up to 100Gbps.
  • Line of Sight (LoS) Dependency – Fixed wireless requires a direct LoS, meaning that trees or buildings can potentially interfere with the signal. Also, proximity to the tower can often play a factor in signal strength or even the ability to use fixed wireless at a business location. Fixed wireless is less widely available than fiber. See if GeoLinks ClearFiber™ is available in your area.

 
What is fiber-optic internet?
 

What is Fiber Optic Internet?

Fiber optic Internet refers to an Internet connection that transfers data through fiber optic cables. Within the fiber optic cables, data is converted into light signals that pass through thin glass wires inside the larger protective cable. Transferring data in this way (by light signals) is what makes fiber-optic Internet incredibly fast.

The Pros of Fiber Optic Internet

  • Connection Quality – As previously mentioned, using light signals to send data makes for an incredibly fast connection and one of the fastest broadband options available. GeoLinks’ Flexible Fiberoptic™ fiber-optic Internet is available at speeds up to 100Gbps. Distance also does not degrade the connection like in other wired connections, or especially wireless ones.
  • Scalability – Fiber allows for bandwidth to be increased or decreased nearly on-demand, which is useful for businesses whose needs might change quickly.
  • Security – Although modern fixed wireless solutions are highly secure, fiber is generally considered the more secure technology.

The Cons of Fiber Optic Internet

  • Upfront Cost – Unlike fixed wireless, fiber optic cables are incredibly costly and usually require trenching to run the cables to a business location.
  • Slow to Deploy – Because the provider has to physically run fiber optic cables to a business location (trenching), they often require installation permits. Between the labor and permitting process, fiber can sometimes take longer than a month to install.

Compare Other Business Internet Provider Solutions

Both fiber optic Internet and fixed wireless Internet are considered some of the best in business-class Internet, but how do they stack up against other internet options? Here’s how GeoLinks’ ClearFiber™ Fixed Wireless Internet and Flexible Fiberoptic™ Fiber Optic Internet compare to cable, DSL, and satellite:
 
Compare Internet Services
 

Which Internet is best for your business?

Depending on what your needs are, fixed wireless and fiber optic are excellent choices for business internet. Chat with one of our in-house experts to see if GeoLinks ClearFiber™ Fixed Wireless Internet or GeoLinks Flexible Fiberoptic™ Fiber Optic Internet is right for your business. There are no high-pressure sales tactics here – we promise. We treat you like we would want to be treated.

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