Blog Archives - 123NET

Fiber vs. Cable

Jul 14, 2021

Your connection is only as good as your transport. Coax (cable) and fiber-optic (fiber) are two different technologies for delivering broadband internet service. Cable internet was first deployed in the 90’s and is now installed in over 69 million U.S. homes while fiber internet first started appearing in the mid 2000s.

PRIMARY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FIBER & CABLE

Bandwidth, Speeds & Capacity

FIBER is made up of many small, bendable strands of glass that allows the transport of enormous amounts of data at high speeds over long distances. Fiber technology allows multiple users to access the network at the same time without affecting a user’s internet experience. This is due to its dedicated connection bandwidth, true symmetrical speeds, and scalable capacity.

CABLE is a shared asymmetrical connection. A pool of bandwidth is allocated to several users, leading to the possibility of having your internet performance disrupted by your neighbors at times of peak usage. Cable internet speeds range from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, but cable speeds vary depending on utilization rates by other subscribers in your area.

Physical Characteristics

FIBER includes an outer armor jacket, a buffer tube, glass cladding and a glass core.

CABLE is made up of a plastic jacket, metallic shield, dielectric insulator, and a copper core.

Life Cycle

FIBER has a life expectancy beyond 25 years saving consumers money in the long run. There are also less technical issues with fiber eliminating many repair costs.

CABLE has a similar initial cost structure to fiber, but it will need to be replaced more often due to its shorter life cycle.

Security

FIBER has increased security over cable, primarily due to how it transmits data through pulses of light over the thin glass strands. This makes the data harder to intercept.

CABLE is a shared medium and transmits data through electrical signals. These signals are easier to tap into making cable a less secure option.

WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR BUSINESS? OUR CHOICE – FIBER!

There are a multitude of reasons why fiber has become the preferred solution versus the older coax cable. Previously, fiber was considered the more expensive transport medium, but is now comparable to the cost of cable. Fiber’s glass composition allows it to withstand temperature fluctuations and severe weather conditions. Unlike cable, the glass utilized in fiber reduces the risk of fire and power outages since electricity is not being carried through it.

Fiber has flexible and reliable connectivity, which makes a huge impact on business productivity when reaching customers, working with partners and hosting virtual meetings. Fiber infrastructure supports growing businesses by easily scaling up their bandwidth and network capabilities based on their specific needs. Fiber is the fastest, most reliable transport for internet obtainable today. 123NET has 4,500+ miles of fiber and has been providing internet services across Michigan for over 25 years.

ABOUT 123NET

123NET is a Michigan-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) focused on equipping businesses with an industry-leading data center, network and voice services. Over a dozen Fortune 500 companies and thousands of Michigan businesses trust 123NET to provide them with world-class connectivity. Home of the Detroit Internet Exchange (DET-iX), 123NET operates one of the largest carrier-neutral data centers and peers with technology leaders such as Google, AWS, GM and others.

OUR MISSION: BUILDING NETWORK TO MAKE MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES & BUSINESSES THE BEST CONNECTED ON THE PLANET.

Customer Spotlight – Colasanti Construction Services, Inc

Jul 7, 2021

Customer:

Colasanti Construction Services, Inc

Services:

Direct Internet Access & SIP

Industry:

Construction

Number of Employees:

1000+

At-a-Glance:

In 1953, Colasanti Companies, a family-owned business, started as a small Michigan-based construction company, and since then it has continued to build a reputation as one of the leading self-perform concrete contractors in the United States. Impressively, it has branched off into two separate national companies, known as Colasanti Construction Services, in 25 states. Their offerings include full-service construction management, general contracting, design-build, and self-perform concrete work.

Challenge:

Colasanti Construction needed a local, cost-effective business phone service and internet connection for their headquarters in Macomb, Michigan. They searched for a provider with a reliable billing process and trustworthy technical support system.

Solution:

Initially, 123NET provided internet via a T1 connection with SIP Trunking to Colasanti Construction Services. Two years later, they were able to scale their services and rely on 123NET to upgrade their T1 connection to a 123NET Fixed Wireless internet circuit.

Results:

123NET’s T1 internet and SIP Trunking Services provided Colasanti with a solution that allowed them to expand their business and upgrade their existing phone system. Colasanti was seamlessly transitioned from their T1 connection two years later to a fixed wireless internet circuit, providing them more bandwidth, faster speeds, and enhanced reliability with minimal additional cost.

After years of working together, Colasanti knew it could rely on 123NET to accommodate its growth and needs. 123NET has continued to show its strength and ability to offer service solutions that work for all customer demands, including providing quotes for Colasanti’s construction business which requires temporary wireless internet in its construction trailers on job sites all around Michigan.

“One of the best features of 123NET is the customer service. From the billing to tech support, everyone is super knowledgeable and LOCAL. So, when things are referenced, it is not like I am calling someone out of state if I need help. That is a huge priority to me. The way it looked to me and our executives is 123NET is strictly looking out for us as a customer.”

Will Kosnik

IT Manager, Colasanti Construction Services, Inc

Carrier Partner Spotlight – STELLAR Broadband

Jun 23, 2021

At-a-Glance:

STELLAR Broadband, previously known as Spartan Net, was founded in 2001 and was originally known as a fiber internet and TV provider in East Lansing, Michigan. They delivered the first residential gigabit internet service to both students and multi-family communities around the area and in 2020, they were recognized nationally as the first to deliver 10 Gigabit service to students in off-campus student housing. Partnerships began to grow organically as the demand for high-speed internet increased which allowed them to expand into Grand Rapids and Southeast Michigan. New partnerships brought new demands to fulfill multiple technology needs under one umbrella causing service offerings to evolve. Today they are a turnkey service provider offering engineered and managed solutions.

Agent Partner:

STELLAR Broadband

Number of Employees:

30+

Services Offered:

Multi-Family, Student Housing, and Residential: Fiber Internet, Engineered Wi-Fi, DIRECTV and AT&T TV, Door Entry and Access Systems, Security Surveillance Systems, Voice services, and Internet of Things for Property Management and Residential Amenities

Business: Business Internet, Internet Marketing, Voice, Security & IT Solutions

Primary Industries Served:

Metro-Detroit, Lansing/East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Novi, Brighton, and Traverse City.

Partnership Opportunity:

Both STELLAR Broadband and 123NET share a vision to bring the best internet and connected technologies to businesses and communities in Michigan. STELLAR Broadband wanted to be able to expand quickly without sacrificing any quality or user experience. The two companies have worked together for over a decade, fully aligning with STELLAR Broadband’s “help first” way of serving customers. The service and support that 123NET provides allows STELLAR Broadband to deliver a high level of service while continuing to bring customer satisfaction. As they expand into new geographic markets in Michigan, their existing partnership with 123NET allows them to go “One Step Further” for their customers.

“Our 15 years of working closely with 123NET has developed into a true partnership that is based deeply on common values and mutual trust. 123NET continues to help STELLAR Broadband go One Step Further to serve our clients. We all win.”

Richard Laing

Co-Founder & Vice President, STELLAR Broadband

Agent Partner Spotlight – GTS

Jun 9, 2021

At-a-Glance:

Global Telecom Solutions (GTS) was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 2001 and now has 20 employees with over 3,500 customers globally. The main goal of the company is to be a trusted advisor and assist businesses with all of their telecom needs.

Agent Partner:

Global Telecom Solutions – GTS

Number of Employees:

20

Services Offered:

Connectivity
SD-WAN
Colo & Cloud Services
Internet of Things (IoT) & Mobility
Expense Management
Software-as-a-Service
Security/Cybersecurity
Security/Access Control
Unified Communications, Hosted PBX & Traditional Voice
Call Center (CCaaS)
Telo Aggregators
Work from Home Enablement

Primary Industries Served:

Enterprise & Small-Medium Business

Partnership Opportunity:

GTS has been a trusted 123NET partner for over a decade and was recently awarded the 2020 Top Selling Partner of the Year. GTS believes this success comes from shared core principles of serving local communities with the best ISP, telecom and colocation solutions. 123NET provides a unique and competitive portfolio of solutions to GTS customers, growing and expanding both client bases. Through 123NET’s excellent support team, GTS is able to provide their customers with the best pre-and post-sale support to ensure satisfied clients. Building a company with a culture focused on strong moral ethics is the foundation for GTS and is a shared passion that they have found in 123NET.

Awards:

• 123NET Top Selling Partner of 2020
• 123NET Top Selling Partner of Q1 – 2021

“From our sales support to the project management, the 123NET team has created the confidence at GTS to consistently consider and recommend their services to both our sales partner community as well as direct client base. 123NET has been an integral and trusted partner now for nearly a decade. Congratulations to 123NET for their continued growth and success, and we look forward to many more mutual customers utilizing 123NET services and solutions.”

Mark Stackpoole

CEO, GTS

Customer Spotlight – Amphenol Sine Systems

May 26, 2021

Customer:

Amphenol Sine Systems

Services:

Dedicated Fiber Internet, Business Phone, & Fixed Wireless Back-Up

Industry:

Electrical & Electronic Manufacturing

Number of Employees:

300+

At-a-Glance:

Amphenol Sine Systems was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Clinton Township, Michigan. It is a leader in designing, manufacturing, and supplying high performance interconnect systems for a broad range of industrial applications such as: factory automation, alternative energy, motion control and advanced technology solutions for electric vehicles.

Challenge:

Amphenol Sine Systems needed to upgrade their existing 123NET Fiber Internet, Business Phone, and Wireless Internet Back-Up infrastructure to accommodate an increase in their demand for higher level bandwidth and faster connectivity stemming from a remote working environment.

Solution:

The ingenuity and scalability of 123NET’s original infrastructure created an avenue for 123NET to upgrade the services in a fast and reliable manner. So, after 12 years of partnership, Amphenol Sine Systems depended on 123NET to provide a 1 Gbps solution upgrade to support the bandwidth their remote workforce needed.

Results:

When the workforce shifted for Amphenol Sine Systems, quick network modifications ensured their employees could work efficiently and effectively from home. Through 123NET’s clear communication, Amphenol Sine Systems painlessly transitioned to an upgraded network.

“123NET is always the first option when any technology project starts within our company.”

Gabriel Mayorga

North America Information Technology Manager – Amphenol Sine Systems

5 Considerations when Migrating Data Center Infrastructure

May 19, 2021

Choosing to migrate your business’s networking and storage infrastructure to a data center is a serious decision. Even when done correctly, it requires many hours of planning to keep downtime to a minimum. Why then would any business make the decision to move to a data center? There are several factors that often play a role when making this complicated decision. In most cases, businesses are concerned with, or trying to improve one or more of these things:

Connectivity

As one of the most straightforward topics to discuss, this can easily become costly and confusing, if not properly addressed. Your business may require physically diverse connections to comply with business continuity plans. Depending on bandwidth requirements, redundant high-speed fiber entrances can become quite costly. However, when your infrastructure resides in a carrier-neutral data center, obtaining diverse connections from multiple carriers and avoiding single points of failure becomes quite simple. This simplicity lies in the multiple carriers already located in the data center that are a simple cross connect away with no expensive construction required.

Availability

Selecting a data center environment that ensures your equipment is remotely and physically reachable by your network admin team is paramount. Data centers that are backed by Service Level Agreements (SLA’s), 2(N+1) power infrastructure, and multiple diverse connections guarantees that your business has the necessary connections to remain in control of your equipment.

Security

Security has never been more important, and data centers can help protect your infrastructure in several ways. Secure facilities utilize the following methods to protect your infrastructure: video recording at every point of entry, badge access with two-factor authentication, physically locked cabinet, and in some cases private suites for additional security. Private circuits, like Ethernet Private Line (EPL), allows you to connect with your remote locations, and is a high-capacity, cost-effective solution for businesses requiring direct connections.

Compliancy

The most overlooked aspect when considering data center migration is compliancy. Many businesses do not carry the certifications that may be required for their industry. Certifications like HIPPA, SOC, and PCI, can be very costly, with some certifications costing tens of thousands of dollars per year to acquire and maintain. When hosting at a data center however, these annual certifications are handled by the facility, and can be provided for a business compliance audit.

Infrastructure

Data centers are designed to be scalable to meet the growing needs of businesses. With first right of refusal, space near your cabinet can be reserved for future growth. The most stable data centers are designed, engineered, and constructed with power, battery back-up, and HVAC systems. This provides the most stable environment for your critical networking and storage equipment, all while efficiently scaling connectivity and space.

Next Steps

Once you have decided on a data center, follow 123NET’s Data Center Migration Checklist to ensure your business is successful in transitioning its data to a new facility.

ABOUT 123NET 

123NET is a Michigan-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) focused on equipping businesses with an industry-leading data center, network and voice services. Over a dozen Fortune 500 companies and thousands of Michigan businesses trust 123NET to provide them with world-class connectivity. Home of the Detroit Internet Exchange (DET-iX), 123NET operates one of the largest carrier-neutral data centers and peers with technology leaders such as Google, AWS, GM and others. 