Internet—What Is the Best Choice?

Published June 2020

Choosing the Right Internet Service for Your Community
By Jean Simmons

More than ever before, having fast, reliable internet access is essential for any household! Many associations, once familiar with bulk video services, are now looking to do the same with internet providers. There are often many choices, making it difficult to know where to start. Associations should first determine what features are most important to their residents. Price, speed, equipment, network type, and/or provider reputation are just a few items to consider. Did you know it’s possible to negotiate speed levels up to one gigabyte (1 GB)? As speeds increase, do you know if your current network can handle the increased demand?    As a result, providers are now offering fiber upgrades at no cost to the association in exchange for a longer-term agreement. To avoid future issues, miscues, and pitfalls, ask for references from communities that went through the same negotiation process, or seek services from a professional firm to help your community.

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For more information on Communications Consulting Group, visit www.ccgconsult.com, call (561) 671-9996, or email j.simmons@ccgconsult.com.

Fiber versus Cable. AON versus PON. What’s Best for Your Community?
By John Von Stein

In today’s digital world, fast, reliable internet connectivity is an absolute necessity. So, how do you choose the right technology and architecture?

Start by understanding what you currently have versus what you can have. Cable was originally deployed to compete with Over the Air (OTA) TV broadcasting. A one-way broadcast technology, cable was later retrofitted with modems to create a bi-directional flow of data for internet delivery. In the 1990s, splitters were used to distribute one-directional TV signals over cable. But managing today’s bi-directional data flow on old copper cables via splitters results in diminished signal strength, low bandwidth, asymmetric (uneven) upload/download, and privacy and security risks.

The best telecom industry connection is fiber optic. Ironically, most providers still use splitters and OLT (optical line terminal)/ONT (optical network terminal) equipment in a PON (Passive Optical Network), resulting in similar frustrating and disappointing results.   

The undeniable best practice for fiber-optic deployment is to install a dedicated fiber strand to every home (Active Optical Network: AON)—no splitters, no OLT/ONT equipment, no commingling of data, and fully symmetric (equal) upload/download capacity of every network connection.

You will rebuild your telecom infrastructure once; do it right the first time with AON architecture to best position your community today and down the road.

John Von Stein is president of Boca Raton-based QXC Communications Inc. For more information, connect with him at (561) 708-1500, email speed@qxc.us, or visit QXC online at www.qxc.us.