1) Key metrics

  • Download speed (Mbps / Gbps) — how fast data comes to you. Important for streaming, downloads, cloud services.
  • Upload speed (Mbps / Gbps) — how fast you send data. Critical for video calls, cloud backups, file sync, hosting services.
  • Latency (ms / round-trip) — delay between request and response. Important for gaming, VoIP, real-time collaboration. Lower is better (under 30 ms is good for most real-time apps).
  • Jitter (ms) — variation in latency. High jitter harms voice/video quality.
  • Packet loss (%) — percentage of data packets lost. Even small loss rates (≥1%) degrade real-time apps.
  • Symmetry — whether upload and download speeds are equal (symmetrical). Fiber typically provides this; DSL/cable usually don’t.
  • Data caps vs unlimited — monthly consumption allowance. Caps matter if you back up to cloud, stream 4K, or run many connected devices.
  • Service Level Agreement (SLA) — uptime/reliability promises, repair windows, credits for outages — important for business use.
  • Static IP(s) — required if you host services (VPN, mail, servers) or need stable remote access.
  • Redundancy / backup connectivity — secondary link (cellular/DSL) for failover for business continuity.
  • Installation / equipment — modem/router included? Is the router business-grade or consumer? Any managed router options?
  • Peering and last-mile quality — affects real speed and latency; two plans with same advertised speed can behave differently.
  • Onboarding and support — 24/7 support, dedicated account manager, business hours SLA vs standard consumer support.

2) Access types: pros, cons and when to use them

Fiber (FTTP / FTTH)

  • Pros: High symmetric speeds (hundreds of Mbps → multiple Gbps), low latency, reliable. Best for heavy upload users, cloud apps, multiple users.
  • Cons: Availability still limited in some areas; can be pricier for very high speeds.
  • Use if: You run a small business with cloud servers, do heavy video conferencing, large uploads or need future-proofing.

Cable (DOCSIS)

  • Pros: Widely available, high download speeds (hundreds of Mbps to 1–2 Gbps), good for streaming and general business use.
  • Cons: Shared neighborhood bandwidth can cause variable speeds/latency during peak hours; upload often much lower than download.
  • Use if: Fiber not available but you need high download capacity for streaming, downloads, remote office.

DSL (VDSL, ADSL)

  • Pros: Broad availability in suburban/rural areas; generally lower cost.
  • Cons: Lower speeds (tens to low hundreds of Mbps depending on tech and distance), higher latency than fiber.
  • Use if: Budget constraints or no cable/fiber available; acceptable for light office work and standard home use.

5G/4G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

  • Pros: Fast to install, competitive speeds in covered areas, mobile backup possibilities.
  • Cons: Variable performance depending on signal, congestion, weather; data caps/tiering common.
  • Use if: No wired options available or you need quick deployment and reasonable speeds; also useful as secondary backup for business.

Satellite / LEO (e.g., modern low-earth orbit services)

  • Pros: Coverage where nothing else reaches.
  • Cons: Higher latency (traditional GEO satellite very high; LEO better but still higher than fiber in some cases), possible data caps, variable throughput.
  • Use if: Remote locations lacking terrestrial options.

3) Selection checklist

  1. Match the package to usage: estimate peak concurrent devices, high-bandwidth applications (4K streams, backups), and upload needs.
  2. Required speeds: state both download and upload needs (don’t just accept “up to” speeds). Ask for typical sustained speeds during business hours.
  3. Latency/jitter guarantees: ask for measured latency to key destinations (e.g., your cloud provider) or to the nearest city POP.
  4. Data cap and overage policy: ask for cap amount, rollover policy, and overage charges or throttling thresholds.
  5. SLA and credits: confirm uptime target, repair response times, escalation path, and credit formula for downtime (for business plans).
  6. Static IP(s) & DNS: confirm whether static IPv4/IPv6 is available and any additional cost.
  7. Redundancy options: ask about automatic failover (cellular or secondary wired link) and how switching happens.
  8. Router / firewall: who manages equipment? Is a business-grade router/firewall included? Are advanced features (VLANs, QoS, VPN) supported?
  9. Security & optional managed services: DDoS protection, managed firewall, content filtering — availability and cost.
  10. Installation & lead time: installation window and whether temporary solutions available until fiber is active.
  11. Contract length & exit terms: notice period, early termination fees, and price lock terms.
  12. Real customer feedback / throughput tests: request sample speed test results from the provider for your neighborhood or ask about third-party testing.
  13. Price transparency: clearly ask what’s included (taxes, equipment rental, activation fees).

4) Practical rule-of-thumb capacity & example

Below are example packages you can request or use as targets when comparing offers. These are generic — adapt to your local market/price points.

Home use

  1. Home Basic — “Light”
    • Download: 25–50 Mbps
    • Upload: 5–10 Mbps
    • Latency: <40 ms
    • Data: Unlimited or ~500–1000 GB
    • Best for: 1–2 people, web browsing, HD streaming, smart devices.
  2. Home Streaming / Remote Work — “Everyday”
    • Download: 100–200 Mbps
    • Upload: 10–50 Mbps
    • Latency: <30 ms
    • Data: Unlimited or high cap
    • Best for: 3–5 people, 4K streaming, multiple video calls, home office.
  3. Home Power / Creators — “Creator”
    • Download: 300–1000 Mbps
    • Upload: 150–1000 Mbps (symmetrical preferred)
    • Latency: <20–30 ms
    • Data: Unlimited
    • Best for: heavy upload (large media uploads, livestreaming), multiple heavy users, gamers.

Small business (1–25 employees)

  1. Small Business Standard
    • Download: 100–300 Mbps
    • Upload: 50–150 Mbps
    • Latency: <25 ms
    • SLA: Business class (next-business-day technician / faster for higher tiers)
    • IPs: Optional static IP(s)
    • Data: Unlimited or high cap
    • Best for: offices with cloud apps, VoIP, regular backups.
  2. Small Business High-Availability
    • Download: 300 Mbps – 1 Gbps
    • Upload: 150 Mbps – 1 Gbps (symmetrical ideal)
    • Latency: <20 ms
    • SLA: 4-hour or 8-hour SLA, guaranteed MTTR, uptime credits
    • IPs: Static IPv4/IPv6 block
    • Redundancy: Secondary link (FWA/DSL) with automatic failover
    • Extras: Managed router, DDoS mitigation, business support line.
    • Best for: e-commerce, VoIP-heavy offices, hosted services, small data centers.

Price guidance (very approximate, market dependent)

  • Home Basic: low tier — typically lowest monthly cost.
  • Better home / remote work: mid-tier — reasonable monthly cost per family.
  • Home gig / business class: premium pricing for symmetric high upload.
  • Small business standard: price similar to high-tier consumer plans but with business features.
  • Small business high-availability: materially higher — pay for SLAs, static IPs, and redundancy.

(Do not use price alone; match SLA, static IPs, and support to your needs.)

5) How to size your connection — quick method

  1. List critical concurrent activities: number of simultaneous 4K streams, number of video calls, number of heavy downloads/backups at peak times.
  2. Use rough bandwidth per activity:
    • 4K streaming ≈ 25 Mbps
    • 1080p streaming ≈ 5–8 Mbps
    • Group video call (HD) per participant ≈ 2–4 Mbps upload
    • Cloud backup / large file transfer — plan for 50–200 Mbps during working hours or schedule outside peak.
  3. Add a safety margin 25–50% for overhead, OS updates, IoT devices, and peak bursts.
  4. Choose a plan with symmetric upload if you have many concurrent uploads/real-time services.

6) Router, LAN, and QoS recommendations

  • Use a business-grade router/firewall for small business (VLANs, QoS, VPN, logging, NAT rules).
  • For homes with heavy streaming/gaming, use routers with hardware QoS and capacity for many devices.
  • Implement VLANs to separate guest IoT devices (untrusted) from business or personal devices.
  • Set QoS rules: prioritize VoIP/video conferencing and critical business services over background downloads.
  • Consider managed Wi-Fi or mesh for large homes or offices; ensure backhaul supports your WAN speed.

7) Redundancy & continuity for small businesses

  • Always consider a secondary link (5G FWA or DSL) with automatic failover for critical operations.
  • Use multi-WAN routers with health checks and failover policies.
  • For absolute uptime needs, ask providers about SLAs, Synchronous circuits, or business continuity services and test failover regularly.

8) Example questions to ask a provider

  1. What are your typical sustained download and upload speeds in my exact street/zip code during business hours?
  2. Is the plan symmetric? If not, what are upload speeds?
  3. What are your latency and jitter guarantees and how do you measure them?
  4. Do you include a static IP? If not, can I add one and at what cost?
  5. Do you have an SLA for business plans? What is the guaranteed uptime and repair response time?
  6. Are there data caps or fair-use policies? What happen if I exceed the cap?
  7. What are the installation lead time and fees? Do you supply the router and will you manage it?
  8. What is your escalation process for outages and the contact for business support?
  9. Can you provide speed test results from my neighborhood or references from local customers?

9) Quick buyer’s checklist

  • Required download & upload speeds identified
  • Latency target set (<30 ms for real-time apps)
  • Symmetric option available if needed
  • Data cap / overage fully understood
  • Static IP(s) available (if hosting)
  • SLA / repair time acceptable
  • Redundancy / failover plan in place (for business)
  • Managed router / firewall available if needed
  • Total monthly cost + fees computed
  • Contract length, price lock, exit terms checked

10) How to present this to stakeholders

“Recommended: take fiber (symmetrical) where available for core business services; if unavailable, choose cable with a managed business add-on plus a 5G FWA backup; always verify SLA, static IP availability, and real sustained upload speeds against our peak use case.”