The internet is critical for nearly every business. Whether it’s a morning team video call, or collaborating on your latest merchandise designs, you want smooth, uninterrupted digital experiences.
Business internet services over the nbn® help you connect to the internet with confidence. With different plans and providers available, how can you choose a service that suits your business’ needs? In this article we break down the key things to consider.
The first factor to check is whether nbn is available at your business address. There are over 12 million premises connected to the nbn, or ready to connect, so it’s likely you’ll have access to an nbn service.
So, first check if your premises is nbn ready and what nbn technology type is available at your address. Service provider offerings may be limited by the technology available.
Two of the most common types of nbn technologies are fibre to the premises (FTTP) and fibre to the node (FTTN).
Services running on FTTP technology tend to have the highest maximum speeds.
If you’re unsure whether your premises is nbn ready, you can check your address online to determine the nbn availability in your area.
If there is no nbn availability, or your business premises is not nbn ready, you’ll be shown alternative available connection types.
The speed of the nbn connection will influence your internet experience.
Some of the common things you might want to do as a business can rely on a higher nbn upload speed as well as download speeds. These include:
Higher upload and download speeds can help you be more productive.
Service providers show speeds in Mbps (megabits per second), using the typical maximum speed for the plan. Here is an example of how different speeds might meet different needs.
Remember that several factors influence the speed you experience. These include in-premise set-up and wiring.
It’s worth looking into how your potential service provider approaches tech support. Capabilities can vary widely. What ongoing support does the provider offer? And is that in line with what’s important to you?
For example, do they offer 24x7 nbn tech support over the phone? No one wants to have a problem with their nbn connection. Having experts available around the clock gives you the peace of mind you can get issues fixed fast.
You may also want to see if providers offer proactive support to help deliver a seamless installation experience.
When you sign up with us for a new nbn connection, or switch your service to Telstra, you get an expert connection manager from the moment you submit your order. We conduct a pre-connection assessment to get you ready for installation, send you regular updates on your order progress, and check in with you after connection to ensure everything works as expected.
Check how the service provides reliability and resilience to minimise the impact of downtime. This is critical if your business relies on internet connectivity to carry out your day-to-day operations.
At Telstra, we offer 4G mobile backup with each business nbn plan (in areas with 4G mobile coverage.) In the event of a fault on the nbn, our Smart Modem can switch your service to the 4G mobile network automatically. We’ll switch your service back to the nbn when the fault is resolved.
The 4G mobile backup service is uncapped and unshaped when there’s a fault. This means there is no limit on data allowance or speed, and it's included in the plan, so you don't have to worry about additional charges.
The safety and privacy of your business and its data is a paramount concern. Check whether the service provider offers security measures such as two-step verification and 24/7 network monitoring.
Telstra’s industry-leading cyber security measures and expert security team helps stop cyber threats and scams before they even get to you. And we block millions of cyber threats every single day.
Business conditions can change rapidly, and you want the ability to change with them.
Look for nbn plans that offer the flexibility and scalability that allow you to adapt your service. Consider your needs today but also your projected growth. This way, you can avoid paying for a level of service you don't need, while also having access to bandwidth to support your growth and make your operations more efficient.
Choosing the right nbn plan for your business can be a challenge. There are many business internet options and many different service providers to consider. Having a clear understanding of what’s available to you, what your business needs, and how the options available meet those needs is a good first step.
Insights and tips for small and medium businesses to boost productivity and empower teams.
Get fast business nbn® with help from start to finish using our dedicated nbn® connection manager.
