May 28, 2021
Choosing the best type of internet connection for your business
As Kenya is one the leaders in Africa's ever-expanding digital revolution, the list of internet service providers (ISPs) available to Kenyan businesses is growing rapidly. Figuring out which ISP is best, based on your company’s specific needs, may seem like a daunting task.
However, having a better understanding of internet choices and what options are available will help to make this decision easier. Connectivity has come a long way since the days of dial-up and modems. Today, successful companies rely on internet connectivity that is fast and reliable, so the first step lies in understanding the types of connections that are available.
Types of internet connection
Keeping your company’s specific requirements in mind, such as the purpose, price, speed of the connection and how many links are needed, here is a list of the most common types of internet connection available in Africa:
Wireless hotspots - Wireless hotspots work similar to a radio signal in that an internet signal is received by a digital device, such as a laptop or smartphone, which converts it into data. Most digital devices these days are wireless-enabled and a wireless hotspot can be set up pretty much anywhere. The speed and quality of the connection is entirely dependent on the type of internet connection that you are receiving via the source router.
Cellular - A cellular connection is also wireless and is accessed through cellphone networks. The most common cellular connections available nowadays are 3G, 4G and 5G connections. The data is received via radio waves from the nearest cellphone tower. The higher the number (3, 4 or 5), the better the overall speed, efficiency and traffic capacity. A 2G connection has a maximum speed of up to 50Mbps whereas a 5G connection has a maximum speed of up to 10Gbps.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - The most common type of DSL line is ADSL (Asymmetric DSL) broadband which uses existing telephone lines to transfer data. A DSL filter (splitter) is used to separate your phone line from your ADSL broadband connection. The maximum speed an ADSL connection can reach is 24Mbps.
Satellite - A satellite internet connection works by sending a signal to a satellite in space which is then sent back to a satellite dish connected to your building. The satellite dish is connected to a modem in the office which a computer can then connect to, either via cable or via WiFi. The maximum speed of a satellite internet connection is 100Mbps.
Fibre optic - A fibre internet connection is by far the best in terms of speed and reliability. With a fibre optic internet connection, you won’t experience any throttling throughout the month as fibre optics can handle more users and more data. A fibre internet connection uses optical fibre cables made of thin glass or plastic tubes. Data travels through these fibres as pulses of light (at speeds approaching the speed of light). A fibre optic internet connection reaches the fastest speeds available - up to 1Gbps.
SEACOM Business's Fibre Internet Access service gives you access to the internet via our own global high-speed data network and is delivered to your business using last-mile fibre connectivity. Knowing these various internet connection types available to you should allow you to choose the internet package that best suits your needs. Please contact us today to enquire about our connectivity services or to get a quote.
SEACOM owns Africa’s largest network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including fibre optic networks and subsea cables. We offer a wide range of industry-leading scalable ICT solutions for large companies that operate throughout the region.
SEACOM is privately owned - making it adaptable to the needs of the client. We are the preferred ICT and internet connectivity supplier for African enterprises. We can guarantee fast, reliable and secure internet and networking services at affordable prices.
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