How Much Capacity Do You Need When Purchasing Connectivity Services?

How Much Capacity Do You Need When Purchasing Connectivity Services?

When it's time to order an internet connection, one of the most common questions is: How fast a connection do we actually need? Should we choose 100 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s? And how should we think about backup connectivity – is 4G/5G sufficient, or is redundant fiber necessary?

Tobias Jansson, our CTO, explains the key considerations.

When Is 100 Mbit/s Enough?

For smaller organizations with up to around 10–15 users, 100 Mbit/s often works very well, provided the business:

• Uses cloud services such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Holds video meetings via platforms like Microsoft Teams
• Sends email and works in cloud-based business systems
• Does not handle large files on a daily basis

A 100 Mbit/s connection can support multiple simultaneous video meetings and typical office usage. For smaller businesses, this is often a cost-effective and fully sufficient option.

When Should You Choose 1 Gbit/s?

1 Gbit/s (1000 Mbit/s) is a better choice when:

• You have more than 15–20 users
• You work with large files (drawings, video, backups, CAD files)
• You use resource-intensive cloud systems
• Guest networks and staff share the same connection
• The business is fully dependent on stable and fast connectivity

For growing companies, 1 Gbit/s is often the more future-proof option. Today, the price difference is smaller than many people think, while the difference in perceived performance can be significant.

Do You Need 4G Backup or Redundant Fiber?

Capacity is one thing – reliability is another.

4G Backup – Simple and Cost-Effective Redundancy

A 4G backup means having a mobile connection that automatically takes over if the fiber connection fails.

Advantages:

• Low cost
• Fast installation
• Works well during shorter outages

Disadvantages:

• Shared mobile network capacity
• Sensitive to congestion in the mobile network
• Often significantly slower than the primary fiber connection

This is a good option for organizations where short service interruptions are manageable.

Redundant Fiber – The Highest Level of Reliability

Redundant fiber means having two separate fiber connections, often routed along different physical paths and sometimes delivered by different providers.

Advantages:

• Significantly higher reliability
• Independent of the mobile network
• Stable capacity even during major disruptions

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost
• Requires more planning

This is the right choice for organizations where every minute of downtime leads to financial loss or operational risk, such as healthcare providers, manufacturing companies, logistics and warehouse operations, or businesses with mission-critical online services.

What Is the Difference in Terms of Security and Reliability?

4G backup protects against simpler disruptions, for example if a local fiber cable is accidentally damaged during construction work.

Redundant fiber, on the other hand, also protects against larger network disruptions and provides a much higher level of operational continuity.

Simply put:

• 4G is a backup solution.
• Redundant fiber is a continuity strategy.

Not sure what solution fits your business best? Contact us and we'll help you find the right approach. [email protected]