What to Look for Before Upgrading
Slow, unreliable Wi-Fi is more than an inconvenience for a modern business.
From card machines and cloud software to laptops, phones, CCTV and VoIP, more systems now depend on a reliable network connection throughout the working day.
For businesses across Norfolk, improving Wi-Fi often starts with a simple question: do you need faster broadband, better Wi-Fi, or both? They are not the same thing.
Fast internet does not always mean fast Wi-Fi
One of the most common problems we see is a business upgrading its broadband connection but still experiencing poor performance around the building.
Your internet connection brings connectivity into the premises. Your Wi-Fi network then needs to distribute that connection reliably to the places where people and equipment use it.
A fast fibre connection will not solve weak Wi-Fi coverage, badly positioned access points, old network equipment or problems caused by the layout of the building.
Before changing your broadband package, it is worth finding out where the problem really sits.
Look at coverage, not only speed
Running a speed test next to the router only tells you part of the story.
Think about where Wi-Fi is needed across your premises.
Can staff work reliably in every office?
Do card terminals maintain a stable connection?
Are meeting rooms properly covered?
Do customers or guests need their own Wi-Fi?
Are warehouses, workshops, outdoor areas or separate buildings part of the network?
A properly designed business Wi-Fi network starts with coverage requirements rather than simply installing a more powerful router.
Consider the building itself
Norfolk has a wide variety of commercial premises, from modern offices and industrial buildings to hotels, pubs, converted barns and older buildings with thick walls.
The construction and layout of a property have a major effect on wireless coverage.
Brickwork, stone walls, metal structures, insulation, plant rooms and other physical obstacles all affect how easily a wireless signal travels through a building.
This is why putting a single Wi-Fi router in the middle of a large premises rarely gives the best result.
A business network normally works better with multiple access points positioned around the site and connected back to a properly designed network.
Think about how many devices now use your network
Businesses have far more connected equipment than they did a few years ago.
Alongside computers and mobile phones, a network might now support:
- Card payment terminals
- VoIP phones
- CCTV cameras
- Printers
- Smart TVs
- Door access systems
- Building controls
- Staff mobile devices
- Guest devices
- Cloud-based business systems
Each device adds another requirement to the network.
When planning an upgrade, it is important to look at the network as a whole rather than concentrating on one laptop or one area with poor signal.
Business Wi-Fi should be managed
Consumer Wi-Fi equipment works well in many homes, but business environments often need more control.
A managed Wi-Fi system gives greater visibility over what is happening across the network.
For example, a business might want separate networks for staff, visitors, CCTV, payment systems and other equipment.
This keeps the network organised and makes future changes easier to manage.
At Netcom, we install and manage business networking solutions using platforms including Ubiquiti UniFi, allowing access points, network switches and other equipment to work together as one managed network.
Guest Wi-Fi should not be your business Wi-Fi
If you provide Wi-Fi to customers, visitors or guests, keeping it separate from your main business systems makes sense.
A hotel guest does not need access to the same network as reception computers.
A customer using Wi-Fi in a pub does not need to share the same network as the tills.
Visitors to an office should not sit on the same network as internal computers, printers and servers.
A properly configured network separates these services while still allowing them to share the same underlying internet connection where appropriate.
Think about what happens if your internet connection fails
For some businesses, losing internet access means losing access to far more than email.
Cloud applications stop working. Card payments might become unavailable. VoIP phones could stop working. Remote systems become inaccessible.
If connectivity is critical to your business, an upgrade is also a good time to consider resilience.
This might include a secondary broadband connection or a mobile connection which takes over when the primary service becomes unavailable.
The right approach depends on how much your business relies on being online.
Do not forget the cabling
Good Wi-Fi still relies on a good wired network behind it.
Access points need reliable connections back to network switches and the main internet connection.
Older cabling, poorly installed network points and overloaded switches all have the potential to limit performance.
For larger sites, fibre links might also form part of the network, particularly where buildings are separated by distance or where a high-capacity backbone is required.
A Wi-Fi upgrade is therefore often a good opportunity to review the rest of the network infrastructure.
What about separate buildings?
Many Norfolk businesses operate across more than one building.
Farms, estates, holiday parks, hotels, schools and industrial sites often need connectivity across a much larger area than a traditional office.
Depending on the site, separate buildings might be connected using fibre cabling or dedicated wireless links.
Once connected, those buildings can become part of the same managed network, providing consistent connectivity across the site.
Start with a site appraisal or survey
The best Wi-Fi upgrade does not start with choosing an access point.
It starts by understanding the site.
At Netcom, we look at the building, existing internet connection, current network equipment, areas requiring coverage and the devices and services which depend on the network.
From there, we can recommend a practical solution based on what the business needs now and what it is likely to need in the future.
That might involve improving Wi-Fi coverage, replacing outdated network equipment, upgrading cabling, installing fibre, improving the internet connection or combining several of these changes.
Business Wi-Fi across Norfolk
Netcom has been helping businesses and organisations stay connected since 1995.
Today, Netcom Connect provides business broadband, leased lines, Wi-Fi, network infrastructure, structured cabling, fibre, VoIP and managed networking solutions for businesses and organisations across Norfolk and beyond.
If your business has slow Wi-Fi, unreliable coverage or a network which has grown without a clear plan, speak to Netcom.
We offer free site appraisals and can help identify where the problems are before recommending the right upgrade.
Call 01603 444 444 or contact Netcom to arrange a site appraisal.
Confidence in every connection.