It’s been a couple of years since I started remote work. It wasn’t a smooth ride to be honest, as I was new to remote work and didn’t know the necessary prerequisites for remote working. In these years, I’ve understood that the internet is the most important factor for any remote worker. If it’s reliable, there’s nothing as good as remote work. And if your internet is spotty, then remote work may become your biggest nightmare.
In this article, I will share some vital factors to look out for in an internet connection for remote work. Also, I’ll start with a brief overview of how much speed you need for seamless remote work. So, let’s start:
How Much Speeds You Need for Remote Work?
I believe it’s a subjective question of how much internet speeds would be enough for remote work. It’s because the number of devices and users connected to a network may vary in each household.
That being said, the Federal Communications Commission has set up a minimum of 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds for every ISP to offer in their plans. And if you’re a single internet user, I believe these speeds are more than enough to cater to your remote work activities.
Factors to Look for in an Internet Connection:
Fast and Consistent Internet Speeds:
I believe remote workers’ productivity largely depends on the internet speeds they get for remote work. Be it online meetings, tools and software for working, sharing files, and more, everything in remote work requires internet connectivity. So, with a swift internet connection, remote workers can seamlessly get their work done.
Now, if I talk about a connection that may offer the best internet speeds, then fiber and cable internet are two reliable options. Fiber internet is arguably the fastest internet connection type as it offers symmetrical speeds, i.e., similar upload and download speeds. Although fiber internet is not as widely available as cable internet, some fiber internet providers, for instance, Optimum are quickly expanding their services around the country. You can contact Optimum customer service to check its availability in your area.
That being said, cable internet is widely available and its plans may be cheaper than fiber internet. However, unlike fiber internet, cable internet does not offer symmetrical speeds. But still, it’s one of the most reliable internet options for remote workers after fiber internet.
Reliable Customer Support:
As a remote worker, you want a reliable ISP to provide you quality internet connection. However, you may also want trustworthy customer support. In case your internet speeds dip or get disconnected, you’d want reliable support to readily solve your issue and have your back.
Quality customer support would offer insights about a particular problem you’re facing at the moment. Plus, they may also offer some easy steps or guide you to troubleshoot the internet problem.
No Data Caps:
As a remote worker, I always prefer no caps on my data limit. Simply because I want my mind at ease of not crossing the data limit in the middle of an important meeting. Or even if any plans have data caps, I always make sure that they’re so high that it’s almost impossible to cross them.
Simply because remote workers may engage in a lot of online meetings, and use heavy tools that consume a lot of data. And do not forget that every remote worker may use the same internet for personal use, i.e., streaming, gaming, and more. So, remote workers should ensure that they have enough data available in their internet plan that help them stay connected without any worry.
Tips to Optimize Your Internet Network
Place Your Router in an Ideal Position:
Even with a high-speed internet plan, your connection may still not reach top speeds if your router is placed in an unideal position. Routers emit internet signals to your devices via airwaves. As these signals travel via airwaves, they need a clear path to our devices. Any obstruction, for instance, heavy furniture, electronic devices, or thick walls can hinder the internet signals movement.
So, to ensure your internet signals do not drop while you’re working, place your router in a position where it can easily propagate signals to your devices.
Use Ethernet Cable:
Contrary to wireless connections that use air to propagate signals, the ethernet cable is directly connected to your device to provide the internet. As ethernet cable delivers the internet via a physical wire, it may offer better speeds. Simply because interference, for instance, furniture, walls, or electronic devices that obstruct the router signals are eliminated when you use an ethernet cable.
Bonus Suggestion: Look out for Hotspot Zones:
Hotspot zones are a must for remote workers as they may often travel for work. Or they may take advantage of remote opportunities and become a digital nomad. Anyway, hotspot zones are a plus for every remote worker and most ISPs include them for free. This way, remote workers may not need to depend on cellular hotspots for connectivity and get high-speed and secure hotspot zones from their ISP.
