If you are a manager or business owner and your staff includes work-from-home employees, you know all too well how important it is for those remote workers to have reliable internet service. If they don’t, it can disrupt their workflow and have a negative impact on their productivity levels. The best internet service providers (ISPs) for rural locations can vary depending on the specific area and what services are available. However, some ISPs are known for offering reliable and often specialized services for rural areas. Here are a few options for you and your remote employees to consider:
• HughesNet: HughesNet is a satellite internet provider that offers coverage to almost every rural area in the United States. It's known for providing consistent service even in remote locations, although it may have data caps and latency issues typical of satellite internet.
• Viasat (formerly Exede): Similar to HughesNet, Viasat provides satellite internet service to rural areas. It offers various plans with different speeds and data allowances, making it suitable for different needs.
• CenturyLink: CenturyLink offers DSL internet service in many rural areas. While DSL speeds may not be as fast as cable or fiber-optic options, it can still provide reliable internet access in some rural locations where other options are not available.
• Rural Electric Cooperatives: In some rural areas, local electric cooperatives may also offer broadband internet service. These cooperatives often invest in building out internet infrastructure to serve their communities and can provide reliable service tailored to rural needs.
• Fixed Wireless Providers: Some ISPs specialize in providing fixed wireless internet service to rural areas. These providers use radio signals to deliver internet access to homes and businesses without the need for traditional wired connections.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile's Home Internet service utilizes its 4G and 5G networks to provide high-speed internet to rural areas where other options may be limited. This option can be especially attractive if T-Mobile's network coverage is strong in the area in question.
When choosing an ISP for a rural location, it's essential to consider factors such as coverage, speed, reliability, and pricing. Additionally, your employees may want to check with neighbors or local community groups to see what ISPs are available in their area and get feedback on their service quality. Once you feel confident that your work-from-home employees are set up with the most reliable internet service available in their area, remember to also set them up with our state-of-the-art productivity measurement tool, MySammy. Our cloud-based software was designed specifically for managers of remote workers. It accurately measures productivity levels in a totally transparent manner, without the need for blocking websites or use of “spyware.” Sign up for your FREE trial of MySammy today!
