Bandwidth is the amount of digital information you can transfer between your computer and another device per second. For example, if your internet speed is 100Mbps it means you can download at a speed of 100 megabits per second, or around 12.5 megabytes every second (bits and bytes can be confusing, but all you really need to know is that there are 8 bits in a single byte of memory). If your bandwidth is 20Mbps, then that's 2.5 megabytes per second. Most people would want to have at least 10Mbps bandwidth for basic email and web browsing. You need bandwidth for almost everything today.

There are plenty of reasons to list when it comes to why your business may need more bandwidth, because if you have a business it is likely that there will be times when you need more than the allocated bandwidth in your plan. The solution to this problem is to look at your bandwidth needs and understand when and why you will need more than the current amount.

1. Your company needs to send large files regularly.

Many businesses require regular file transfers, whether it's sending customer invoices or promotional material. There are many different file formats and not all internet service providers (ISPs) have plans that take this into account. Some ISPs simply allocate a large monthly data allowance, but do not increase the size of the files that can be uploaded or downloaded. For example, say you're an architect and need to regularly upload and download files such as CAD drawings, BIM files and 3D images. With the bandwidth allocation of some internet plans you may find yourself waiting several minutes to upload your files. This can result in a loss of time and money for your business.

2.The number of employees at your company is increasing.

If you see an increase in staff members then it's likely that your bandwidth needs will also increase. Internet bandwidth is not unlimited and so if an employee downloads or uploads a large file, this could mean that other employees do not have the bandwidth they require.

3. Transitioning to a server that hosts online backups or virtual machines

When you regularly upload and download large files, it can affect your business in a number of ways. Large file transfers can affect other employees who are trying to work at the same time, reducing productivity. The system running the backup or the virtual machine will take up large amounts of bandwidth which could mean you exceed your monthly data allowance easily. This can be costly for your business or you could find your internet “shaped” down to minimum standards across the company, affecting productivity.

4. Your internet connection is not fast enough for business.

If you're experiencing slow speeds at certain times of the day and your business depends on having a faster upload/download speed, then it's likely that you need to upgrade your existing plan or switch to one with no contention from other users.

5. You wish to have access to cloud services such as Office 365 and Google Drive from home.

Many companies are adopting a 'cloud first' policy when it comes to IT these days. If this is the case, you will need access to cloud services from your home or on the road if you are working remotely. It's likely that you will require an internet speed upgrade in order to do this successfully.

6. You need more than just telephone and Internet.

When upgrading your plan, consider whether your business needs any extras such as a static IP address or an unmetered phone line. If your business uses VoIP or needs an unmetered phone line to work it could be worthwhile investigating the plan you need.

7. You have a mobile workforce and need mobile data plans for them.

If your staff members use mobiles and want to access company resources such as cloud storage, then you will require a plan that has mobile data inclusions. Extra mobile data may be beneficial for you if you have staff who use their mobiles extensively for work, even when they're not at the office.

8. You are sending out promotional material and need to send large files to your customers.

If you are sending your customers promotional material via email or through a cloud storage system such as Dropbox, you may wish to upgrade the plan you use for your business. Sending files can affect your email system and make it slow; if this is something that happens regularly upgrading your business data plans could be beneficial.

9. You wish to have access to high-definition telepresence services from your office.

A high definition telepresence (video conferencing) experience can be a great way for you and your staff members to stay in touch with each other, even when they're working remotely. It's likely that your business will require a faster connection speed in order to stream this service successfully.

10. You are experiencing issues with your VoIP system.

If you are experiencing issues when making or receiving calls through your VoIP phone system, it could be due to low bandwidth. Upgrading your business data plans can help improve the performance of this service and ensure all employees can communicate effectively.

11. You want to access VoIP services during emergencies.

If the regular phone services are cut in an emergency, it can be a real lifeline to have a backup communication technology like VoIP. But you will need to have sufficient bandwidth to make the service useful. It can be worthwhile investigating data plans with more bandwidth for your business a long time before an emergency ever occurs.

12. You want to be able to access your company's cloud storage service when you are travelling.

If you often work on the road for your business then it could be beneficial for you and your colleagues to have access to cloud services when you are travelling. It can be beneficial for you and your colleagues to have access to the internet in areas such as airports and cafes. This means that employees can still work with each other remotely even if they're out of the office. If this is something that happens regularly, it can be worthwhile investigating increased bandwidth for your business.

13. Your business needs high data storage capacity.

If your business requires a lot of data storage capacity, such as digital video footage or photography, then it is extremely helpful to have the capacity to store the footage on a remote server. This means that you can access it even when there is limited or no network coverage and your local network doesn't have the necessary data storage capacity.

14. You wish to sync company data with offsite backups for security purposes.

If you need to back up your business's data, such as emails and customer records, to a remote server so you can access it even when there is limited or no network coverage as well as ensuring your data is secure, this means that employees can still work with each other remotely even if they're out of the office. This also ensures smooth running of your business in the event of equipment failure caused by storms, floods or fires.

15. You wish to have access to company data during internet outages.

If you wish to take advantage of cloud technology and improve collaboration across your business so that employees can always access company resources, even if they're not in the office it can be beneficial for you and your colleagues to have access to cloud services when there is an internet outage. This means that employees can still work with each other remotely even if they're out of the office. If this is something that happens regularly, it can be worthwhile investigating increased bandwidth for your business.

16. You wish to have access to data networks during storms or floods.

If you live in an area where storms and floods are common, it can be beneficial for you and your business if there is backup connectivity available so that employees can still work together even if they're out of the office due to a storm or flood. This also ensures smooth running of the business in the event of equipment failure caused by storms, floods or fires.

Conclusion

Since you are reading this, it's likely that your business is in need of more bandwidth. If you're considering expanding your network to accommodate the needs of your company or If any of these reasons above sound familiar then it may be beneficial for you to consider increasing bandwidth by purchasing business grade internet services that are suitable for your needs.