Backup Business Internet: Is Your Second Connection Really Redundant?

Having two internet connections doesn’t always mean you have true redundancy.

A company may have its primary internet connection with one provider and a backup connection with another. On paper, that sounds like a good plan. The question is what happens outside the building.

Two providers can sometimes depend on common infrastructure, follow similar physical routes or enter a property through the same area. A construction accident, damaged fibre or other local infrastructure problem can potentially affect both connections.

Look at the Path, Not Just the Provider

When planning a backup connection, it is worth asking how that second connection actually reaches your building.

This is one reason fixed wireless can work well for redundancy. Instead of following the same underground route as a wired fibre or cable service, a fixed wireless connection reaches the building over the air from an iTeraTEL network location.

That can give a business physical diversity as well as a second internet provider.

What Depends on Your Internet?

For many businesses, an internet outage now affects considerably more than web browsing and email.

Microsoft Teams, cloud applications, VoIP phones, VPN access, payment processing and other hosted systems may all depend on the same connection.

If you’re reviewing backup connectivity, look beyond speed and monthly price. Find out whether the secondary connection actually gives you a different path into the building.

iTeraTEL provides business internet and Fixed Wireless service in select areas of the Greater Toronto Area. Fixed Wireless can be used as a primary connection or as an independent backup connection where coverage is available.