6 M A Y 2 0 2 4 Madison Communications hears this question frequently from our business customers, and there’s no single right answer. For some small businesses, a download speed as fast as 100 Mbps may work fine. Larger businesses with many devices and data-intensive applications may need a download speed as fast as 1 GIG (1,000 Mbps) for optimal performance (multi-gig internet speeds coming soon!). How many devices are using your internet service? Add up all the desktop computers, tablets, smartphones, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, security systems, and other internetconnected devices at your business location. Remember to also include devices used by visitors and customers on your Wi-Fi network, if applicable. The more devices you have, the more speed you need. How do your employees use the internet? If your employees’ online activities consist mainly of email, web browsing, and POS terminals, then a moderate internet speed may suffice. However, if you have many employees simultaneously streaming HD video, engaging in video conferences, uploading and downloading large files, and using cloud-based applications and storage, then your business may be a candidate for upperlevel speeds. What are your performance requirements? Think about the impact to your business if your internet service were to slow down from heavy use on insufficient bandwidth. Would your employees be able to do their jobs? Would customer service be adversely affected? It’s important to equip your business with plenty of internet speed for your current usage and upgrade your plan as your needs grow. If you want to discuss an internet speed upgrade for your business, call Madison Communications at 1-800-422-4848. How Much Internet Speed Do We Need? NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association represents more than 850 independent, communitybased telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural America. These companies range from less than 100 subscribers to more than 50,000, and Madison Communications is proud to be one of them. Despite enormous challenges of distance and density, NTCA member companies are delivering high-quality communications solutions via fiber in some of the hardest-to-serve and underserved rural areas of our country. These sparsely populated areas were long ago left behind by larger companies because they lacked a business case for development. (On average, the customer density of NTCA member companies is approximately seven subscribers per square mile, while larger telecommunications companies serve an average of 130 customers per square mile.) Were it not for small, independent providers such as Madison Communications, residents and businesses in many rural communities would lack access to reliable broadband, voice, and data communications. For more information on our fiber build projects in rural areas, visit gomadison.com/fiber-to-the-home. We Proudly Belong to NTCA
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