Doing business with ADSL

In this day and age, it’s almost unthinkable to run a business without broadband Internet. For businesses with more than one office, a broadband Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) makes it much easier to create what’s known as a Wide Area Network (WAN) for the use of employees, enabling data to be shared between remote sites. In other words, disparate branches can operate as one. Administration can be done online meaning taxes, as well as ordering and procurement, can be easily dealt with. Furthermore, all Government documents relating to your business are easily accessible.

The advantages for business

With broadband ADSL, you and your business can:

• More easily integrate the data of your client with yours

• Host your own email and web space

• Easily exchange large files with clients and customers

• View and edit customer documents while talking changes through on the phone

• Easily send large amounts of data such as presentations or images

• Enable video conferencing

• Enable virtual private networking (VPN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN)

ADSL packages for your workplace

A range of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer ADSL to companies of varying sizes in Australia. Depending on the size of your business, and the speed of ADSL you opt for, prices can differ greatly. On the plus side, many companies can integrate your current networking set up with minimal hassle, while also offering far more support for business customers than can be expected for residential set ups. This includes guaranteed service as specified under service level agreements.

Many companies specialise in business packages, throwing in extras such as a certain number of free email addresses or web space. Although more expensive, “corporate” plans are often faster than “business” plans – usually around 1500kbps to 6000kbps. Often, you are able to use broadband modems you already have. This will depend on the ISP. They will usually prefer to provide you with their own modem and this does have advantages for you – it will make servicing easier should problems arise.