Selecting An Internet Service Provider For Your Event: What You Need To Know
In an increasingly tech-enabled world, connectivity is essential for any business and event. With so many options available, how does one select the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) for all their event needs? If you’re debating over Internet Service Providers for your event, you may consider these key factors.
1. Dedicated or Shared Bandwidth?
Depending on the scope of your event, the first decision event organisers will need to make pertains to dedicated vs shared bandwidth. Specifically, how do you want to allocate your bandwidth?
If your event requires minimal connectivity, perhaps only setting bandwidth aside for Point-of-Sale machines utilising Cloud Services, shared bandwidth is the obvious and low-cost choice. However, in instances where 100% connectivity and uptime are necessary for attendees, dedicated internet might be a non-negotiable requirement and event organisers can begin shortlisting their potential internet service providers based on that criteria.
Leveraging on that information, other factors to consider include the runway speeds necessary, potential latency, and packet loss. For example, MyRepublic Business Internet Access solutions offer up to 10Gpbs of uninterrupted internet speeds, coupled with ultra-low network latency and minimal packet loss which guarantees that event organisers get the full bandwidth they subscribe for. Ultimately, it boils down to the operational importance of reliable and high-speed connectivity, and whether it is crucial for your event’s success.
2. Fibre or LTE (Long-Term Evolution)?
To begin, we need to understand the difference between fibre optic broadband and LTE. The key distinction lies in the method of connectivity. As its name suggests, connectivity for fibre optic broadband is dependent on the fibre optic cables that carry digital data signals. Through a fibre optic access point, or Optical Network Terminal (ONT), users can facilitate wireless connectivity through routers plugged into ONTs. Unlike its fixed counterpart, LTE leverages mobile networks to facilitate connectivity. It functions like a portable router that doesn’t require any access points, making it perfect for wide coverage in open spaces.
In the context of event organisation, the key criteria to consider is whether your event location has access to fibre broadband. If your event space does not have ready access to ONTs, setting up fibre broadband can be a tricky task that requires levels of approvals and logistic coordination. On the other hand, LTE offers a simple and fuss-free set up but might not fully support bandwidth heavy events, like live streaming for example.
If all that sounds like a lot to consider, consider MyRepublic Business Event Broadband Solutions. Boasting reliable high-speed connections for events, large and small, MyRepublic’s broadband lines come pre-installed at many popular event venues and are ready to be activated in an instant for seamless connectivity.
3. Range
The last point to consider is the size of your event. When it comes to having the option between fibre and LTE, it is crucial to consider how access points are located relative to your event setup. While fibre broadband boasts quicker speeds, users might experience areas of non-connectivity, also known as dead zones, without ample access points around the venue. This is due to the limited range that most Wi-FI routers possess, coupled with fibre broadband’s need for routers to be physically connected to ONTs.
Conversely, LTE might have slower connection speeds but make up for it with the ability to be scattered far and wide to ensure maximum coverage and prevent dead zones. This could be make or break for certain events – where dead zones could affect Point of Sale machines, which rely on staying connected to Cloud Services, to process transactions.
If you’re worried about service disruptions, opt for an all-encompassing internet service provider that has multiple layers of failsafe. In the case of MyRepublic Backup LTE, we leverage fibre broadband with an LTE failover to prevent service disruptions during crucial moments.
Still worried about how to best plan for your event rollout? Need a little more help with a tailored Connectivity Solution? Contact us today and we’ll reach out to you for a consultation on how we can benefit your event!
