Business broadband in Ireland: Why fibre-optic is essential for reliable connectivity

Gone are the days where you would sit across from your old desktop computer, waiting patiently for the dial-up internet to establish a connection. The familiar symphony of beeps, screeches and static protruding from the screen. For most small businesses in the 90s, dial-up was effectively the only way to access the internet. Speeds were slow, and highly dependent on the quality of the phone line, the distance from the telephone exchange and the type of modem used.

Thankfully, a lot has changed in the last 30 years. With the introduction of broadband in the early 00s, including ADSL and cable, access to the internet reached a turning point and dial-up internet was gradually phased out. At the time, small businesses were slow to adopt, mainly as a result of cost concerns, and perceived necessity. However, by the late 00s, most small businesses had made the transition from dial-up to broadband.

Adoption of fibre-optic broadband remains slow

If history has taught us anything, it's that it has a habit of repeating itself. Over the past several years, a familiar pattern has emerged. Much like with the cable and ADSL broadband of the early 00s, small businesses have been slow to adopt fibre-optic broadband – despite its availability, enhanced speeds and reliability. According to ComReg, just 12% of Irish businesses are using a full-fibre connection, even though it is accessible to 81% of premises.

This is perhaps surprising given the increasing importance of reliable connectivity for business operations. With demand for cloud services, AI and IoT driving the next wave of innovation and increasing demand on network speed and reliability, a strong broadband connection is essential for small businesses to harness these technologies effectively. Fibre-optic broadband can handle multiple different users and AI workloads, much better than that of copper or cable broadband. So, whether small businesses are hosting an online sales call, answering customer queries through email, or using AI to automate their processes, they must be prepared to meet rising digital demands.

As with the adoption of broadband in the 00s, cost concerns remain a major barrier to deployment. While it may seem like a difficult hurdle to overcome, fibre-optic is much more flexible than people realise. Small businesses can opt for scalable bandwidth, enabling users to increase or decrease their data transfer speeds based on traffic demand. They can also speak to their managed service provider or to their broadband provider directly – for example, Pure Telecom offers customised plans for small businesses, ensuring they get the right speeds at competitive prices.

Tailored options for different needs

The reality is that no two businesses are the same and their broadband shouldn't be either. Different businesses require varying speeds, capacity and scalability. While a small rural office off the coast of Co. Clare may be fine with 100 Mbps broadband, a video production company in the centre of Dublin may need 1 Gbps. What does remain the same, however, is that fibre-optic broadband is the best choice for both of them to ensure reliability and to future-proof their connectivity. Fibre-optic networks are less prone to interference and maintain higher upload speeds and lower latency. This means that connections are more reliable, response times are faster, and activities like remote working and cloud back-ups are better managed.

Preparing for the future

In the coming years, we will likely get to the stage where copper and cable broadband becomes obsolete, much like that of dial-up internet. The truth is that connectivity is constantly evolving, adapting to meet the demands of emerging technologies such as AI. As we step further and further into the digital age with no signs of slowing down, businesses will have no choice but to adapt. If they don’t, they risk falling behind, held back by poor connectivity, slower growth, and lost opportunities.

If you're a small business and would like to enquire about your options for fast, reliable connectivity, get in touch with a member of the Pure Telecom business team today.