ADSL Alternatives – Which One Is Best For Your Business

Thanks, ADSL – it’s been real. But times are changing, and we have to start looking at viable ADSL alternatives. Not that we’re not grateful for your loyal service. There’s no doubt we’ve relied heavily on your technology for years. And many homes and businesses will continue to do so for years to come. In fact, you’re undoubtedly one of the most widely available and reliable technologies out there and, until fibre reaches every corner of our vast country, you will remain one of the go-to solutions for both residential and commercial communication.

But the world of work is changing, and changing fast. Even while acknowledging the impressive availability and reliability that ADSL brings to the table, we also have to recognise that it is, undeniably, a receding technology, and that general financial investment in ADSL is on the decline. As a business, your communication requirements, and the tools you need for the future will demand a transition to faster, more reliable technology.

The reason for this growing shift towards more advanced communication platforms is that ADSL, although admirably adapted to modern communication needs, actually has its origins in copper cables –one hundred-year-old technology that’s been the preferred way to “wire” homes since the telephone was first invented over a century ago. These cables were originally intended purely as a way to transmit voice signals, and this is still something they do perfectly well.

The problem is, that the increasing demands of modern business are now forcing these cables to punch way above their weight. This is not, however, a reason to panic. There is light at the end of the ADSL tunnel, and there are already a number of exciting ADSL alternatives available – you just have to choose the one best suited to your business.

What Are The Best ADSL Alternatives?

Fibre

What’s the first thing you think about when you hear the word “fibre?” Speed. Beautiful, reliable speed. Optical fibre is hundreds of times faster than ADSL or wireless systems. The cables also have much higher bandwidths than traditional copper cables, so no bottlenecks, buffering or slowdowns.

Fibre cables are also pretty resistant to noise and electromagnetic interference. This means you can send a signal over a long distance – up to 200kms – without any significant dip in quality.

Fibre cables even beat copper ones in areas that have nothing to do with telecommunications! For example, as they don’t conduct electricity, they are much safer than copper wires. They are also much stronger, meaning they don’t break as easily or need replacing as often.

4G/LTE Technology

Despite the massive and ongoing roll-out of fibre throughout areas across South Africa, there are undoubtedly outlying areas of our country where it is very unlikely to ever reach. In these areas, 4G/LTE technology will play a significant role in providing access.

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a completely wireless broadband solution. One of its biggest advantages is that it’s completely mobile. It also relies on broadcasting towers, not cables, making it a convenient, fast ADSL alternative for areas which don’t have fibre access. LTE is also not vulnerable to cable theft and is unaffected by the weather.

The truly great thing about LTE, though, is its mobility. You can take your router anywhere, and use it wherever there is an LTE signal. This gives it a distinct advantage over fibre, where your connectivity is fixed, and you can only connect from your office or home.

You might pay a little more for data with an LTE connection when compared with a landline or fibre line, but the added dependability of the connection more than compensates for this.

Microwaves

And no, we’re not talking about the kitchen appliance. Microwave communication is an excellent ADSL alternative. It offers carrier-grade connectivity and dedicated bandwidth. This means your business benefits from its own bandwidth, instead of scrambling for a share of a communal one on a first come, first served basis.

How does it work? A microwave link is made up of radio waves that operate at high frequencies. These waves then transmit large amounts of data from one point to another – anywhere from a couple of metres to a couple of kilometres apart. Dedicated repeaters, or relay systems, maintain the quality of the signals and also ensure that audio, video and data are transmitted quickly and efficiently.

When it comes to ADSL alternatives, each business has its own, unique communication requirements. Contact us to discuss yours.