Small Business NBN Internet is the lifeblood of SME’s in Australia, regardless of whether you use Smartcom business internet plans or plans from other NBN Internet providers. For clarity, NBN is a wholesaler, and that NBN Internet service providers such as Smartcom or Telstra for that matter, have business internet plans that they retail to the small business sector.
The ageing copper network is unable to cope with Australia’s increasing reliance on the internet. Moreover, it is imperrative that Australia has fast and reliable Internet to be globally competitive. By contrast, NBN is a fibre network specicifically designed for efficient phone and Internet services.
The starting point is to conduct an ‘NBN Check’ to ascertain whether or not NBN is firstly available in your area – and secondly, if so, what type of NBN technology is available. For clarity, there isn’t a choice of NBN technologies. Instead, the type of NBN technology in your area will determine your NBN capabilities.
If you are planning on moving to a new premises, we strongly recommend that you consult with Smartcom to determine what type of NBN technology is available at the proposed new site. After all, moving office is an oppportunity to future-proof your broadband capabilities.
NBN Internet providers such as Smartcom can quickly conduct an NBN Check to determine the type of NBN technology available at your business location. Fixed-line connections to your premises are either full fibre, or mixed-technology (a combination of fibre and existing copper infrastructure).
The reason there are different NBN types is a result of cost management and meeting roll-out timelines. Rather than NBN being Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) across the entire network as per the original plan, the existing copper infrastructure has been leveraged. For instance, Fibre to the Node (FTTN) uses fibre to a node located in the street, with copper used for the final leg to your premises.
The NBN types are as follows; 1) Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) 2) Fibre to the Node (FTTN) 3) Fibre to the Building (FTTB), 4) Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), 5) Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), 6) Fixed Wireless and 7) Sky Muster Satelitte.
A fixed line NBN Internet connection is a physical line running into different premises ie; FTTP, FTTB, HFC, FTTC and FTTN.
A Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) NBN Internet connection runs a fibre optic line from the nearest available NBN fibre node to your premises.
A Fibre to the Building (FTTB) NBN Internet connection runs a fibre optic line to the fibre node in your building’s communications room. Thereafter it connects using the existing technology in the building to each office.
The fibre node is likely to be a secure cabinet in your building’s communications room. Referred to as an MDF (Main Distribution Frame), it allows the NBN access network signal to travel over a fibre optic line to the existing network technology in the building.
NBN Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) is when fibre is extended close to your premises. It connects to a small Distribution Point Unit (DPU) located inside a pit on the street. The existing copper network is connected to the fibre to form the final leg of the NBN Internet connection.
NBN Fibre to the Node (FTTN) utilises the existing copper phone and internet network. The NBN access network signal travels over a fibre optic line from the exchange to the cabinet. It then connects to your premises via the existing copper network.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) is an NBN Internet connection that ultilises the existing ‘pay TV’ network. An HFC line runs from the nearest available fibre node to your premises.
NBN Fixed Wireless is mostly used in regional and remote areas. It utilises data transmitted over radio signals to connect to the NBN broadband access network.
The ‘Sky Muster’ satellite service delivers NBN to businesses in regional and remote Australia via satellites.
Firstly, NBN Internet connections that use copper are capped at 50/20 Mbps. In other words, 50 Mbps download, and 20 Mbps upload speed is the fastest internet speed available from NBN Internet providers.
On the other hand, if you have full fibre available at your premises, speeds up to 100/40 Mbps are available.
In addition, the Small Business sector may also choose Enterprise Ethernet – a symetrical NBN Internet service. Enterprise Ethernet speeds range from 10/10 Mbps to almost 1 Gbps.
In short, assymetrical connections such as NBN 50 or NBN 100, are cost-effective and sufficient Internet services for most small businesses.
However, the downside of assymetrical connections is that they are subject to ‘contention’. In other words, businesses and homes in your immediate area are contending for the available bandwidth. As a result, the more homes and businesses in your area, and increased use of data in teh area, will invariably effect the speed of your connection.
The above may have little affect on many small businesses, because essentially, they are not heavy users of data. However, if your business happens to be a heavy user, and equally requires consistent Internet speeds, then contention could pose a problem for your organisation. In this case, you may which to consider NBN Enterprise Ethernet from NBN Internet service providers such as Smartcom.
Enterprise Ethernet is a point-to-point symmetrical fibre connection to your premises. As a result, the data is not contended, and importantly, it delivers consistent data speeds.
For instance, an NBN Enterprise Ethernet 100/100 delivers equal download and upload of 100 x 100 Mbps. In other words, your business has the full broadband capacity to yourself.
Consistency in download speeds is vital for consistent business-grade day-to-day functions such as video conferencing or utilising cloud-hosted platforms and services.
Likewise, NBN Enterprise Ethernet has a wide range connection sizes, ranging from; 10/10 Mbps, to almost 1 Gbps.
Further, symetrical NBN can accommodate QOS (Quality of Service). Therefore, unlike assymetrical connections, voice can be separated from data. VoIP phone call quality is consequently maintained as a result of a clear path for voice packets to reach their destination.
NBN Enterprise Ethernet is however, not available in some areas. NBN Internet service providers such as Smartcom can to do a quick NBN Check of its availability in your area.
Internet modems/routers act as the conduit between your Local Area Network (LAN) and the Internet. An Internet router is therefore business critical in running any business.
Like any IT equipment, you essentially get what you pay for. That said, the standard modems issued by ISP’s are often sufficient for running a small office.
A more advanced router will essentially process data faster and more efficiently. Therefore, if your business is increasingly using more data, in particular for video calls, its recommended that you consider sourcing a quality router such as Cisco from Smartcom.
Above all, the router used with your Internet connection is business-critical. In our experience, there’s a lot to be said for spending a little extra on a Cisco device for instance – from a reliability, capability and support perspective. Smartcom offers Cisco routers as an outright purchase or as a monthly charge.
As an Australian organisation, Smartcom Business Communications is attuned to the local marketplace. As a result, we understand the challenges facing Australian companies in a COVID 19 economy.
Moreover, the quality of our Australian based support is a critical component to our success. Importantly, we incorporate rigorous ticketing and processes, and you’ll be dealing with a team of cloud and telecommunications experts.
Smartcom has a range of different NBN Internet plans to suit the different circumstances of small businesses throughout Australia. see our; small business nbn Internet plans
First and foremost, if you don’t connect to the NBN by the advised deadlines, you’ll cut-off! In other words, at some point, your existing phone and internet services will stop working, and you’re also likely to lose your business phone numbers.
We therefore recommend services be moved over to the NBN sooner than later. If you are unsure as to the cut-off dates, ask Smartcom to assist you. See our: small business nbn Internet plans
There are two methods of deploying a business phone system with the NBN. Firstly, if your current phone system is IP (Internet Protocol) enabled, Smartcom can set up VoIP as part of your NBN service (call charges apply). (To check your business phone system is IP enabled, the handsets use a standard computer ethernet cable to connect to the network).
Alternatively, your can purchase an on-premise IP enabled phone system and then have Smartcom set up VoIP as part of your NBN service.
The second method is to deploy Smartcom’s cloud-based, Hosted PBX. The difference from an on-premise system, being that the capabilities of our cloud business phone systems deliver the small business sector with unprecedented mobility and agility.
In short, for most small businesses, the answer is yes. Phone calls are not typically a burden on bandwidth. To determine the bandwidth required for a cloud-based Hosted PBX, the maths is as simple as the following;
Note: the above does not take into consideration contention factors associated with assymetrical Internet connections such as; NBN 50 & NBN 100.
Your security system may require an upgrade prior to cutting over to NBN, as alarm systems traditionally use the copper network.
It’s important to register fire alarms with NBN’s Fire Alarm and Lift Emergency Phone Register to migrate from existing networks.
Payment and/or Health Claim Terminals may not be compatiable with the NBN. Its recommended that you contact your provider/s in this regard for alternatives.
Smartcom will manage the porting of phone and fax numbers on your behalf, to ensure that these numbers are retained.
Fax is an analogue technology from the1980’s and hence reliant on the copper network in its traditional format. Rather than retain your fax machine, the Smartcom Hosted PBX business phone system accommodates fax to email.
According to NBN, some safety-critical devices like medical alarms, fire alarms and lift emergency phones may not be compatible with the NBN access network at all times, including during a power blackout.
In addition, all types of landline phones (cordless phones, as well as older style un-powered corded phones) will not work in a power outage. This is because the NBN access network requires power at both the exchange and within the business it operates.
Further, it’s not within NBN’s control, nor of NBN Internet providers to guarantee power at both ends of the network at all times.
To learn more about Smartcom Business NBN services, or check our NBN Internet plans; email: info@smartcombusiness.com or phone: 1300 196 386.
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