ADSL is coming to an end – should you upgrade to fibre or wireless internet?

In today’s modern office environment, you rely on fast and reliable internet to keep pace with your business operations. ADSL internet connectivity, which sends data via a copper telephone line, has been servicing businesses for decades but will disappear sooner than you might think. 

As per the latest information, ADSL will gradually be phased out from 1 September 2020. What this means for businesses is that they have to start migrating to a more modern internet solution to stay connected. If you are an ADSL subscriber, you’ll have the choice between fibre internet and wireless internet. But which replacement to go for? Here, we compare the two, so that you can make the right choice for you.

Check if you have fibre internet in your area

Fibre internet is the most attractive solution as it is a relatively new innovation in terms of connectivity. It brings with it the promise of superior speeds (up to 200 Mbps) and reliability (its signal doesn’t degrade with distance from the connection point). What’s more, you no longer need to pay extra for a telephone line rental. 

Internet service providers like Nashua offer a range of fibre packages with different line speeds and add-ons such as VoIP, and will professionally install the equipment to get you connected. 

Your business’ readiness for fibre largely depends on the availability of the coverage in the area. Even as you read this, fibre is rolling out across South Africa. A good indication of fibre expansion near your business is either the installation of new cables in street poles or trenching along the sidewalks. If you want to check the network status in your area, contact your internet service provider for an update. 

Fibre is the ideal internet solution for companies powered by AI technologies and IoT devices, medium and large businesses that heavily rely on cloud services and applications, or any type of organisation that requires a steady, high-performing network.

Choose a WiFi solution that is specifically designed for business

If fibre is not yet available in your area, nothing that can come close to the convenience and effectiveness of wireless internet for your business. 

Getting a wireless local area network (LAN) set up is much more cost-effective nowadays than it was in the past. Even smaller businesses are now able to afford uncapped, high-capacity, enterprise-grade wireless with speeds of up to 200 Mbps. When you consider the productivity benefits for your business, making the switch to wireless is an obvious choice.

Wireless internet can make a notable difference in workflow and your company’s technology infrastructure. Unlike ADSL, which tied employees to a desktop computer, employees can move around the office and stay connected on their laptops, tablets, or smartphones. It also makes it possible to upgrade to wireless printers, which enable employees to print from anywhere in the office and on any device, as well as network security cameras that offer you intelligence and analytics. 

Final thoughts

It makes sense why internet providers are moving away from ADSL; there are newer technologies that provide vast improvements in efficiency, reliability, and quality. Fibre and wireless internet check all the boxes that ADSL cannot, and can seamlessly support the wide range of tools and platforms your business uses.