We, therefore, thought we’d make it easy for you to check that you’re getting the best service possible from your provider without all the tech speak. And if your prospective (or current) internet provider can’t competently answer these questions, we recommend you finding someone who can!
In this blog, we look at the top 4 questions to ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to make sure you are getting the fastest Internet possible for your business.
You definitely want to check out Question 3.
Question 1: What’s your local internet knowledge?
Most people don’t realise this, but if you want really fast Internet, it’s important that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) knows their way around your suburb – literally. When you go onto mainstream network sites and sign up for internet, 3 things can happen:
1. They tell you fast internet is not available in your area (rare as most of their system’s default to ‘yes’)
2. They tell you fast internet is available in your area – but you find out 2 weeks later actually, it’s not
3. They tell you fast Internet is available in your area – but DON’T reveal that they’ve got an over-subscribed user base in your suburb. This means they can have the best pipes and Internet speed in the world, but with too many people on them, you’re all sharing, which = SLOW speeds for everyone.
What to do instead:
The best local Internet providers know exactly who to reach out to in each area to get the best service and fast internet for you. They tell you the truth the first time because they know the area and the exchanges in that area. They have multiple companies they can reach out to in order to get the best service available in your suburb.
If you’re hanging on for the NBN – they will probably have the latest information to hand for your area too.
Question 2: Are you available to help with my internet when I need you?
Every Internet Company out there has staff available for your account. But can they help you? Many Australian ISPs have off-shore call centres in India or the Philippines. While the person on the end of the line is friendly and really does try to help – often with language barriers and lack of local understanding, it’s just not an efficient way to get your problem fixed.
And add onto this the call wait time …. (don’t get me started!).
If you want the best Internet service on the market, you are better off getting a special Business Account (for example the Telstra Business Account- and make sure you dial the RIGHT service number) or go with a local provider like Netlogyx IT Services on the Gold Coast. Local providers – especially for business – are immediately available if anything goes wrong. Coupled with their local knowledge, they’re your best bet for getting a fast resolution to any problem you may face.
Question 3: What’s your track record of uptime for your internet and network?
You really want to ask this one.
Ask about their uptime history – this means the % of the time any of their client’s business networks and Internet has been up and running. A good provider should have a consistent track record of around 99.9% – or thereabouts!
Question 4: Are there any similar clients to me that I could speak to?
Usually, good providers have no problem answering this question with a ‘yes’. They’ll usually have to check with their client of course, and there may be privacy issues, but they can usually at least speak about other similar companies they’ve been working with for a number of years. So go ahead, ask the question.
If you’re not used to dealing with providers, you may be a little intimidated asking these 4 questions. But we’re here to tell you – we appreciate it! Here at Netlogyx IT, we love customers who ask the tough questions, because it gives us an opportunity to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and show you how good we really are.
Unsure as to what you need? We’d be delighted to help you with a free 1 hour needs analysis session. You don’t need a Computer Science degree to sit down and chat with us. We pride ourselves on putting it all into non-tech speak. Click here to contact us and claim your free session today.