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FAQs

Have you the right Broadband for Business?

These are the questions that you should be asking when considering what is right for your particular business - and the questions you should ask your provider.

How many people in your business will want to use the internet at the same time?
This is important because while you can expand in due course it is important to get the basics right. The more users in your company you have at any one time the more 'always on' speed you will require.

In what direction is your traffic going to flow over the connection?
If, for example, you are a branch office wishing to download data from your Head Office, an ADSL2+ product such as Magnet Business Broadband will offer you sufficient speed as the download speed is faster then the upload speed on the line.

If, however, you are the Head Office, you may wish to have an SDSL connection such as Magnet Business Broadband Premium which has synchronous download and upload speeds on the line.

How does your business broadband connection affect your telephony?
This depends on the type of telephone system you have in place and on the type of broadband you choose.

Broadband offers the ability to use telephones and the internet at the same time, over the same lines. In addition, with increased use of e-commerce and email you should be able to reduce your phone usage. It is advisable to discuss your broadband/phone interface with both your telephone and ISP supplier and this would be a good time to review suppliers to see where costs could be saved. Voice over IP (VOIP) is now becoming available and could cut your telephone costs considerably. It is worth noting that Magnet Business is planning to launch a Business Voice service over the coming months.

How much is your company prepared to pay monthly?
"Special offers" may work out more expensive in the longer term so it is advisable to always check what you are buying and to compare offers from different providers.

What will your company want to use the internet for?
Most businesses find that by adopting broadband not only do they increase the amount of e-commerce they do but they also modify their processes to become more efficient. You may wish to use an internal server or to have space with your ISP off site. Some uses you may wish to consider are:

• Downloading and exchanging large files e.g. architects, estate agents, builders, printers, design companies, engineers, manufacturers, logistics, software developers
• Partnership networks with key customers and key suppliers
• Online enquiry and order processing
• Sales force automation
• Webcam and virtual tours e.g. tourism venues, retailers, hotels, B&B
• CCTV for monitoring premises (with alerts if the cameras fail)
• Virtual private networks (VPN) if working from a number of locations or accessing details from clients/remotely
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) across multiple sites/different media
• The ability for staff to work from home downloading files and needing encryption

What speed do you really need?
It is rare to find speeds slower than 1Mb/128Kbps on the market. Depending on the number of users in your company and nature of your business you will require faster speeds. Magnet Business offers broadband packages with speeds of up to 10Mb/1Mb.

What is "contention ratio" and why is it important?
Contention ratio refers to the sharing of line connections among users. Eircom's DSL network utilises a technology known as ADSL. ADSL provides for 24 users on each individual port at the exchange. Each port can provide a certain level of capacity, for example, 6Mb. However, that capacity is shared among the 24 users of the port. On the other hand, Magnet's DSL network utilises a more advanced technology known as ADSL2+. ADSL provides for singles users on individual ports at the exchange. Each port can provide a certain level of capacity, for example, 6Mb. However that capacity is dedicated to the single user on that port. Consequently, as your business uses its connection, Magnet Business does not require you take a cut in the level of service experienced when more users come online as other broadband service providers do. Magnet Business undertakes to maintain this quality network guarantee going forward.

What contention ratio do you need?
As a business you require a dedicated broadband connection. Most providers of ADSL and SDSL lines utilize shared bandwidth to the internet to help reduce costs. In Ireland most business broadband services are contended at the ratio of 24 to 1. This means that your connection could be shared with up to 23 other businesses. The result of this is that at peak-times the speed of your connection can slow down considerably.

Magnet Business broadband has a contention ratio of 1 to 1 meaning that the service is contention free. Your business will become more efficient because it will not suffer from slower speeds at peak times.

Do you need service that you can rely on and how much are you paying for it?
For business the type and quality of service is very important. Do consider whether there is local help. Ask the ISP about what service levels there are - and are they always available. Is this only online or available over a phone? Are you going to have to pay for a premium rate helpline which could be expensive? Service levels vary dramatically both between providers and depending upon the package you are buying.

How much will it cost to connect?
If using a phone line you will need a modem and a micro-filter or splitter which allows you to connect both your broadband modem and your telephone at the same time to your telephone line. If you have multiple users you will need a router as well. Some ISPs offer this free of charge in order to sign you up but it is important to ensure that your total costs over the length of your contract are clear. You may also need to hand the equipment back if you change suppliers. Do you require a wired or wireless network? This may affect the system that you adopt. Magnet Business broadband provides a wireless router enabling you to benefit from both wired and wireless access in your office.

What extras do I need?
Many providers offer services packaged with email addresses, website hosting and online data back up. Your company may already have these services hosted by a third party but you have the opportunity to combine everything into one package with the potential for savings by switching to Magnet Business Broadband.

Can I transfer my existing email addresses and domain names?
With Magnet Business broadband you can move existing domains, email addresses and websites seamlessly. Alternatively, if you don't currently have your own domain Magnet Business can facilitate the setting up of this.

Is commercial web hosting included in the agreement?
Commercial Web Hosting is an add-on that the customer can avail of from Magnet Business if required.

How difficult is it to connect?
Magnet Business provides broadband service over a standard telephone line. The customer nominates a telephone line for Magnet to unbundled. The unbundling process takes on average three weeks. If a telephone line is not available Magnet will request a new telephone line for the delivery of service.

Is there any facility available to back up and store my data securely in the event of a hardware failure?
Magnet Business provides a secure Business Online Back up service the details of which can be found here.

Magnet Networks Ltd. Registered Office. International Exchange Centre, Clonshaugh Industrial Estate, Dublin 17, Ireland. Registered in Ireland. No. 3911441