To best understand scalable bandwidth, it is first helpful to understand the concept of bandwidth itself. Bandwidth is characterized as the amount of data that can be sent and/or received through a network connection at a given point in time. The speed at which this information is passed often is calculated in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
If a business wants to operate efficiently, it first needs a network connection with bandwidth to support every facet of its operations. Similarly, if a business needs access to additional bandwidth in order to scale properly as the business grows, it should have a network connection with room to grow. A business that continuously exceeds its set bandwidth limits should choose a network service provider that is able to accommodate a bandwidth upgrade or an occasional spike in bandwidth at a moment’s notice.
Everything You Need To Know About Rate Limiting
Network service providers will use bandwidth limits to manage the amount of traffic on a network. Rate limiting can negatively impact a business’s goals, notably by slowing down performance. Two common scenarios in which a business may need additional bandwidth: an occasional, temporary surge or the sustained influx due to growing business needs.
Some network service providers often impose a cap on their customer’s purchased bandwidth, resulting in potentially slow traffic when they need that capacity the most. In some cases, providers will allow a customer to burst over their bandwidth rate limit at a cost — and a significant cost at that.
If temporary spikes become more frequent, or you want to set up your organization for successful growth, it may be time to increase your bandwidth rate limit. The best network service providers focus on the future and proactively install circuits that can easily be upgraded on request to deliver the needed increase in bandwidth capacity.
If a network service provider has not anticipated such a request or has oversubscribed a circuit or their network, what could have been a simple upgrade could turn into a major network build, assuming the network can handle it at all.
How can an enterprise business plan for and navigate these inevitable situations? Start by choosing a network service provider that can offer and implement scalable bandwidth.
When Do I Need Scalable Bandwidth?
When the need for additional bandwidth is infrequent — say for an annual event or end-of-the-quarter surge — look for a network service provider that allows bandwidth bursting at no charge. No bandwidth caps provide an enterprise with the flexibility of on-demand bandwidth when needs increase temporarily. With no data caps, network slowdowns or excessive rates, your business continues to operate at peak performance.
On the other hand, if you know your growing business will need a provider that is capable of delivering scalable bandwidth, research your options wisely. Partnering with a network service provider with the ability to scale fiber internet or ethernet connections from the start could save a lot of time and profitability down the road.
To learn about Everstream’s no-charge bandwidth bursting watch our video or contact an Everstream expert to schedule a free consultation today.