Understanding exactly what kind of internet connection and package you need is not as straightforward as you may think. That’s why we created this Business Internet & WiFi Solutions Guide to help small business owners understand their options and requirements.
Essential Pre-Lease Checklist
Always verify internet availability before signing a lease. Many Toronto businesses have learned this lesson the hard way. There are parts of the city where high speed or fibre is available on one side of the street but not on the other.
It’s much easier to confirm internet speed options before you sign the lease than deal with the aftermath.
Critical Steps:
- Research multiple providers using the exact address
- Verify available speeds and connection types
- Get installation timelines in writing
- Understand infrastructure requirements
- Consider backup internet options
Related Read: Office Relocation Checklist: 5 Key Areas To Get Right
Understanding Speed & Bandwidth
Megabits Vs Megabytes Explained
Megabits are expressed as Mb (note the lower case b), or Mbps for megabit per second, and refer to data transfer speed, or how much data you can upload or download on your internet connection in one second.
Megabytes are expressed as MB (note the upper case B) or MBps and refer to file size or total data transferred. In summary:
- Megabits (Mb) measure data transfer speed
- Megabytes (MB) measure file size
- 1 Megabyte = 8 Megabits
- Speed is usually shown as “300/300 Mbps” (download/upload)
File Size Matters
File size affects how much storage space you need, how much working memory your computer needs to open or read a file, and how much internet bandwidth is needed to transmit a file.
Smaller files are basic word documents or Excel spreadsheets.
Bigger files are large or high resolution photos, video files, image heavy files such as longer PowerPoint presentations, blueprints, architectural drawings etc.
To give you a sense of file sizes and their transmission speed, check out the table below.
To understand how internet speed affects your business operations, here’s a comparison of common file types and download times with current business internet speeds:
| File type | Estimated file size | 100 Mbps | 300 Mbps | 500 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams Meeting Recording | 100 MB | 8 s | 2.7 s | 1.6 s | < 1 s |
| Design File (PSD) | 500 MB | 40 s | 13.3 s | 8 s | 4 s |
| 4K Video Conference (1 hour) | 2 GB | 2.7 m | 53 s | 32 s | 16 s |
| CAD File Set | 5 GB | 6.7 m | 2.2 m | 1.3 m | 40 s |
| Video Production File | 20 GB | 26.7 m | 8.9 m | 5.3 m | 2.7 m |
| Database Backup | 50 GB | 66.7 m | 22.2 m | 13.3 m | 6.7 m |
| Virtual Machine Image | 100 GB | 133.3 m | 44.4 m | 26.7 m | 13.3 m |
Note: These times are theoretical maximums. Real-world performance may vary based on network conditions, server capacity, and other factors. Upload times are typically longer on asymmetrical connections.
If you have multiple staff members uploading, downloading and emailing large files over WiFi, you must ensure your network is designed to handle the load. Your IT provider can design your business network to handle the load.
Common Business Speed Tiers
Business internet plans in Toronto are usually sold in these speed tiers:
- 100 to 500 Mbps: enough for most small offices that work in the cloud.
- 1 Gbps: for larger teams, heavy video calling or large file transfers.
- 1.5 Gbps and up, or a dedicated circuit: for very large files, many users or guaranteed speeds.
Pricing changes often and depends on your address, the provider and the contract term. Get quotes from at least two providers for your exact address, and check whether the plan has the same upload and download speed (symmetrical), which matters for video calls and cloud backups.
Understanding Real-World Performance
Internet speed isn’t just about the numbers on your bill. In practice, your team’s experience depends on how your connection is used. For example, a 300 Mbps connection shared among 20 people using cloud applications, video calls, and file sharing can feel slow, while the same connection might feel very fast for a team of 5 doing basic web browsing.
Connection Types & Available Options
Different areas of Toronto have varying levels of connectivity available. While some areas enjoy full fibre coverage, others rely on DSL or cable connections. Here’s what you need to know about each.
Fibre is faster than DSL, and DSL gets slower the further you are away from your ISP.
Here are some terms to know about fibre internet.
Fibre To The Business (FTTB) refers to fibre internet that runs all the way to the home or business junction box. It offers higher bandwidth, but can be more expensive to install or subscribe to.
Fibre To The Node or (FTTN) refers to fibre connection up to the node that serves a few hundred customers within a close radius. From the node to the home or business junction box, referred to as “the last mile”, the connection can be DSL.
This can slow things down compared to FTTB. FTTB is best for VoIP and video conferencing because the primary advantage of FTTB is low latency , which refers to the amount of time it takes for a data packet to be sent and received.
This affects call quality and video image transmission because both require data to be sent and received quickly in order to maintain clear calls on VoIP or to maintain a video image which has many data packets. If you are not using VoIP or video conferencing, FTTN is fine.
In summary:
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
- Uses existing phone lines
- Speed decreases with distance from provider
- Available almost everywhere
- Speeds typically range from 5-50 Mbps
- More stable than cable but slower than fibre
Cable
- Uses existing cable TV infrastructure
- Shared bandwidth with neighbors
- Speeds can vary during peak hours
- Widely available throughout Toronto
- Generally faster than DSL but less stable
Fibre Options
Fibre To The Business (FTTB)
- Direct fibre connection
- Best performance
- Ideal for: Cloud services, VoIP, video conferencing
- Available from: Bell, Beanfield, Rogers
Fibre To The Node (FTTN)
- Fibre to the neighbourhood, copper to the business
- Good performance
- More widely available than FTTB
- Performance can vary based on distance from node
- Uses DSL for “last mile” connection
Speed Requirements By Business Type
While we can’t cover every industry here, the following examples help guide decision makers.
Professional Services (5-10 Users)
- Email and web: 100 Mbps
- Cloud services: 300 Mbps
- Video conferencing: 500 Mbps
Creative Agencies (10-20 Users)
- File sharing: 500 Mbps
- Video editing: 1 Gbps
- Real-time collaboration: 1 Gbps
Enterprise Grade Internet Needs (20+ Users)
- Multiple workloads: 1-2.5 Gbps
- Data center access: Custom solutions
- High availability: Dedicated circuits
WiFi Implementation
When setting up WiFi for your business, there are three main approaches, each with their own benefits and limitations:
Traditional Router-Based WiFi
- Single router broadcasting signal
- Limited range
- Suitable for very small offices
- Simple setup but limited features
- Signal degrades significantly with distance and obstacles
Mesh WiFi Networks
- Multiple access points that form one network
- Better coverage than single router
- Self-healing capabilities
- Good for medium-sized spaces
- Performance can degrade with each “hop”
Enterprise Access Points (Recommended)
- Hardwired access points throughout the space
- Each access point covers a defined area and handles many users at once
- Superior performance and reliability
- Central management capabilities
- Professional installation required
Why We Recommend Enterprise Access Points
While mesh networks and traditional routers can work for some situations, enterprise access points offer several critical advantages for businesses:
- Consistent performance across all areas
- Better handling of multiple users
- Advanced security features
- Quality of Service (QoS) controls
- Centralized management
- Professional monitoring options
Real-World WiFi Considerations
Signal Distribution And Interference
Modern offices present unique challenges for WiFi deployment. Steel structures, concrete walls, and even certain types of glass can significantly impact signal strength. A properly designed WiFi network accounts for these physical barriers.
Consider this common scenario: An office installs a high-end router in their server room, expecting building-wide coverage. Instead, they find:
- Corner offices have weak or no signal
- Conference rooms experience dropped calls
- Some areas have intermittent connectivity
- Signal strength varies throughout the day
This happens because WiFi signals don’t just stop at walls. They’re absorbed, reflected, and degraded by building materials. Professional installation includes heat mapping and strategic access point placement to ensure consistent coverage.
Physical Infrastructure
The backbone of any business WiFi installation is the physical infrastructure that supports it. This isn’t just about hanging access points on walls. Proper infrastructure planning ensures reliability, performance, and future flexibility:
- Cable routing requirements: Every access point needs ethernet cabling back to your network switch. Planning cable paths through walls, ceilings, and around obstacles is critical.
- Power availability at mounting points: Access points need power, either from electrical outlets or through Power over Ethernet (PoE). Each location must be assessed for power access.
- Building material considerations: Concrete, steel, and certain types of glass can block WiFi signals. Infrastructure planning must account for these barriers.
- Future expansion pathways: Leave room to add more access points or cables as your business grows. Planning for expansion now saves costly retrofitting later.
Network Design
A successful business WiFi network requires careful design that goes beyond just coverage. The design must balance multiple factors to ensure reliable performance for all users:
- Coverage overlap planning: Access points must have overlapping coverage zones to ensure seamless connectivity as users move through your space.
- Capacity distribution: Different areas need different levels of capacity based on user density and typical activities in each space.
- Security implementation: The network design must incorporate security features like guest networks, encryption, and access controls.
- Performance optimization: Traffic routing, channel selection, and power levels must be optimized to prevent interference and ensure consistent performance.
User Behavior And Network Management
One often overlooked aspect of WiFi performance is user behavior. Without proper management, a single user can impact everyone’s experience. For example:
- Team members backing up large files can saturate the connection
- Video streaming can consume significant bandwidth
- Cloud file sync can create ongoing background traffic
- Multiple video calls can strain the network
Quality Of Service (QoS) Programming
This is why we implement QoS programming, which:
- Prioritizes critical business applications
- Manages bandwidth allocation
- Prevents individual users from monopolizing resources
- Ensures stable VoIP and video conferencing
Business VoIP Considerations
VoIP phone systems require special attention in your network design.
While VoIP can work over WiFi, we recommend wired connections for business-critical voice communications. If your calls already break up, see Why Are My VoIP Calls Cutting Out?
Here’s why: Voice calls need consistent, low-latency connections. Even minor interruptions that you might not notice while browsing can cause noticeable call quality issues. For businesses heavily reliant on phone communications, we recommend:
- Dedicated VLANs for voice traffic
- Wired connections for desk phones
- Separate WiFi networks for voice and data
- QoS settings prioritizing voice traffic
Next Steps
TUCU has managed IT for small businesses in the GTA and Durham Region since 2003. Planning your internet and business WiFi, and managing it afterwards, is part of the fully managed IT we provide. If you are looking for an IT partner who looks after this for you, book a discovery call.
