Fiber Internet and IoT: Enhancing Connectivity for Smart Businesses

Fiber internet and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer exciting possibilities for today’s businesses. The fast speeds and high bandwidth of fiber make it an ideal choice for businesses that want to take advantage of the latest technologies for increased productivity and security—including IoT. 

Read on to learn about the benefits of fiber and IoT for your business. As always, if you have questions or you are ready to get high-speed fiber internet for your business, contact us. The WOW! Business team is standing by to assist you. 

How Fast Is Fiber Internet? 

Fiber internet is the fastest internet option out there for most small and mid-sized businesses. Speeds can vary and different providers offer different packages. Depending on your location, you could get up to 10 Gbps from WOW! Business. Not every business needs that much speed, which is why we offer lower speeds for lower costs throughout our service area. 

It’s also important to consider bandwidth when you are looking at your possible internet options. Speed is certainly helpful, but bandwidth is also very important when you want to use all the different apps and devices out there. For example, if you want to conduct video conference calls simultaneously with telephone calls and internet research, your network needs to have enough bandwidth to handle all of those demands. 

Probably what sets fiber internet apart the most is its bandwidth. A solid fiber connection should be able to handle as much traffic as you need and then some. 

What Does Fiber Internet Offer Over Traditional Internet Connections for Businesses? 

Fiber internet is the go-to choice for businesses that want to be as competitive as possible. That’s because it offers a myriad of benefits, including: 

Better Customer Experiences 

Customers don’t typically like to wait. Whether they are trying to buy something, looking for help from your team, or just browsing your website, the longer they have to wait the more dissatisfied they tend to become. With fiber, you are maximizing your ability to respond to their needs. It’s not always flawless, but it does make everything you do online faster and more reliable. 

Symmetrical Speeds 

One of the great benefits of using fiber optic technology for the internet is that it offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. That means if you have 5 Gbps download speeds, you also have 5 Gbps upload speeds. When you need to backup data, recover data or use cloud services, upload speeds become extremely important. 

Greater Productivity 

Having faster speeds and more bandwidth means that you and your employees can get more done in less time. You also have to worry about less downtime because fiber internet tends to be more stable than other options. It helps your business get things done.  

What Is an IoT Network? 

An IoT network is a collection of devices that communicate with each other without you needing to do anything. You may already have such a network in your home or business. For example, if you have a smart thermostat and smart lighting that you control from an app on your phone, you are using an IoT network.  IoT applications for businesses are quite varied because each industry has its own priorities. For instance, a shipping company might use IoT to track inventory changes while a gardening center might use it to track soil moisture levels.

How Does Fiber Internet Support IoT for Businesses? 

Like so many of the most exciting technologies, IoT connectivity takes up bandwidth. Having all those devices using the internet to communicate with one another can drag down a slow internet connection. But with fiber, businesses have plenty of bandwidth to handle as many devices as they need on their network.  IoT connectivity may still function on slower connections in some capacity, but not as well as you would like. It only really reaches its full potential when you have enough capacity for it to operate instantaneously over your network. 

What Security Features Does Fiber Internet Have That Benefit Businesses Using IoT Devices? 

Certain security vulnerabilities can arise when you have so many devices accessing your network, especially those that you expect to run in the background like IoT devices. A bad actor could theoretically access IoT devices and use them to steal information for an extended period of time without you knowing.  But fiber makes it much easier to protect your IoT network for several reasons:  

• Better encryption: More bandwidth and speed lets your IoT network utilize advanced encryption options to protect the data transmitted over the network. 

• Easier segmentation: A robust internet connection makes it easier to segment your network so that you can put your IoT devices in their own section. This keeps them safer from outside access. 

• Faster transfer speeds: The less time data takes to transfer, the less time there is for hackers to try and access that data. 

Get a Customizable Internet Plan from WOW! Business Today! 

If you are still wondering about IoT and fiber, we would like to help. Our team can help you understand your options and we can provide guidance on choosing the right level of internet service for your specific business.  Partnering with WOW! Business means you receive more than just reliable internet. We're dedicated to supporting your business as it grows, offering flexibility and exceptional customer service. Contact our Internet specialists for more information about our customizable fiber internet plans.