Are you Aboard the Broadband Train Yet?

Are you Aboard the Broadband Train Yet
Communication technology has come a long way from the time Alexander Graham Bell made a first phone call to Watson. The rise of internet in the last 10 years has benefited communication technology by demanding an ever increasing need for speed. As a result, tasks that used to take 20 minutes to download in the early days of internet can now be accomplished in 2 seconds. Financial firms are putting more and more advanced technology to increase the speed of their trade execution even by few milliseconds. Communication companies have responded to this need by developing and deploying advanced technology.

Firms such as AT&T and BT Vision are at the forefront of this revolution. They have laid out fiber optic cables and advanced wireless technology nationwide to satisfy ever increasing need for bandwidth and speed. This has enabled them to provide services beyond just phone. More and more these companies are bundling phone, TV and internet services into one affordable package. Prices for these services have come down significantly in the last 5 years. They are also offering multiple options to suit all types of budgets and needs.

Individuals and businesses who do not take advantage of this broadband revolution stand to lose their competitive edge in this digital world. Individuals can leverage digital broadband to provide kids with advanced education resources from around the world. They can also improve quality of their pleasure time by being able to download video movies and music at faster rate. Businesses can benefit even more by being able to process their tasks faster ad by providing better customer service.

So how can your small business take advantage of this broadband revolution? Here are some use cases I have come across in many different types of industries and regions.

  • Restaurants / Pubs – These establishments can utilize broadband speed to provide HD quality TV to their patrons. Just imagine the impact on your sales when fans flock to your restaurant to watch football games on HDTV. They can also provide free Wi-Fi to their customers, which help increase customer loyalty. Many coffee shops, such as Starbucks, are offering free Wi-Fi in their establishments.
  • Hotel / Motel – These companies can also offer high quality HD television in their guest rooms. Also, by increasing the speed of internet they can attract business customers, who have constant need to connectivity on the road.
  • Retail – These businesses, along with restaurants and hotels can increase the security of their computers by backing up files regularly over broadband. The always-on nature of broadband enables them to proactively back up their data and have peace of mind.  Another great use of high-speed broadband is to install surveillance cameras and monitor activity of their employees remotely over the internet.
  • Customer Support – Businesses that have a need to provide customer support can do so by deploying remote video conference solutions that enable them to talk to their customers remotely, thus saving thousands of dollars in travel and other costs.

Advances in telecommunication have enabled all types of businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life for themselves as well as for others. If you do not climb onboard the broadband train you may miss out on these benefits and be at a disadvantage in the future.

What other services can small businesses provide with broadband?