When your business relies on internet connectivity for daily operations, knowing when to upgrade your bandwidth is crucial. Bandwidth is the amount of data your internet connection can handle at once. If your current plan can't keep up with your team's needs, you may notice slower speeds, delays in cloud applications, or interruptions during video calls. These issues can quietly erode productivity and impact customer experience.
Why bandwidth matters for Canadian SMBs
For small and mid-sized businesses in Canada, insufficient bandwidth can lead to frustrating downtime, lost sales opportunities, and even increased cybersecurity risks. For example, slow connections can delay software updates or backups, leaving systems vulnerable to attacks. Staff may waste time waiting for files to upload or download, and customers might perceive your business as unprofessional if digital services lag or fail.
A common scenario: Growing pains at a 50-person company
Consider a 50-employee Canadian marketing firm that recently shifted to remote and hybrid work. Their existing 100 Mbps internet plan was sufficient when most employees worked onsite and used basic email and web browsing. However, with many staff now relying on video conferencing, cloud storage, and collaborative tools simultaneously, the network became sluggish. Deadlines started slipping, and client calls dropped unexpectedly. Their managed IT provider monitored network traffic and recommended upgrading to a 300 Mbps plan. After the upgrade, performance stabilized, enabling smoother workflows and better client interactions.
Checklist: How to decide if you need more bandwidth
- Monitor network performance: Track internet speed and latency during peak business hours. Are downloads/uploads slow? Do video calls freeze?
- Review application use: Identify if more employees are using cloud-based tools, streaming, or transferring large files.
- Ask your IT provider: What bandwidth usage trends do they observe? Are there recurring bottlenecks?
- Check your service agreement: Does your current plan have data caps or throttling policies that could impact performance?
- Consider future growth: Will you add more users, devices, or services soon that require more capacity?
- Evaluate cybersecurity needs: Faster connections help ensure timely updates, backups, and threat detection.
Next steps
Upgrading bandwidth is a practical step to keep your business running smoothly as demands evolve. Discuss your current internet usage and future plans with a trusted managed IT provider or advisor who understands the needs of Canadian SMBs. They can help you assess whether a higher bandwidth plan is right for you and guide you through selecting a solution that balances cost and performance without unnecessary complexity.