When we’re working with new customers, one of the first questions we ask is what sort of timeframe they’re looking at to have their new services up and running. Usually there’s enough time to get new services installed and tested before they cut over, however every now and again we’ll get a call from someone who’s got a bit of a, shall we say, urgent need.
“We’re moving in 3 weeks. Can you have fiber installed a week before then?”
*OR*
“Our services are going to be turned off when our contract expires next week. What can we have up and running by then?”
Now, emergencies happen – we see it a lot, and we’ll always do everything we can to try and help out when they occur. Sometimes, the people who are researching new options simply aren’t aware of the various steps and timeframes different services require when they’re being installed, especially if the company is moving or there’s a new construction involved.
To help out, we wanted to put together some basic information on the various services we offer, and what the usual timeframe is to get each of them up and running. In nearly every instance where the customer’s not moving, it’s preferable to have our Internet access installed alongside the existing connection so we can fully test the new lines and make sure all parties involved with the changeover are prepared. Sometimes when a customer’s moving and has run into issues with getting services installed, this isn’t quite possible, but we always want to do everything we can to make sure the customer is 100% ready before we turn over the connection to them.
DSL – Most DSL installations average 1-2 weeks; closer to one week if it’s using an existing telephone line (also known as shared DSL), or closer to two weeks if the connection will need it’s own dedicated phone line (also known as a standalone DSL). They tend to be the fastest and easiest of Internet connections to deliver, although with the usual caveats – they’re distance specific, so not everyone will qualify for DSL, nor will some locations be able to get all available speeds. It’s not uncommon to deliver a DSL as a temporary solution if a customer is awaiting another larger connection that needs a longer timeframe for installation.
Wireless – Our MegaBroadband service, which is a DSL equivalent available in the greater Fall River area, is up and running the same day our clients sign up. Our techs configure and hand over their wireless equipment, which they plug in as soon as they’re back in their home or office. MegaNet Business Wireless, which is a T1/Metro Ethernet equivalent service, can sometimes be set up in as little as 2-3 days if conditions are right – the building has easy access and a clear view to one of our towers. In most instances, though, 1-2 weeks is the better timeframe to work off of; this allows our engineers to make sure the equipment is mounted in the best possible way at each customer site, and also takes into consideration potential weather factors when sending technicians onto rooftops.
T1 – T1 lines can take, on average, 3-4 weeks for installation. Once a T1 order is placed, the local telco needs to verify available facilities to the building (which means they check to make sure there is digitally conditioned cabling running to, or near, the installation address) and sometimes will request a site walkthrough. In most instances, a cabling crew is required to finish the installation both to the building, as well as inside the building as most telco closets tend to not be near where the customer actually needs the jack installed. It seems that over time we’ve noticed a direct relationship with timeframe, and installation work – the sooner the client needs it installed, the more work needs to be required to get the cabling and jack run! Here in the NorthEast, inclement weather in fall and winter can often add another week or two to installation timeframes, as install crews quickly become repair crews if a storm hits.
Metro Ethernet – Metro Ethernet carries the longest installation timeframe of them all; it averages 45-60 days for a completed install. Unlike many of the other services we offer here at MegaNet, Metro Ethernet requires fiber to be installed, which is the main cause of the lengthy timeframe. In some major metro areas such as Boston and Providence, there are what’s known as “lit buildings” – buildings that already have active fiber installed into them, ready for clients to tap into. However, the majority of clients we work with tend to need a full installation, hence the 45-60 day timeframe to let the engineers and fiber techs design and build their connection with us. Also, while we’ve yet to run into a client where we couldn’t offer Metro Ethernet, we have seen installation timeframes reach as far as 4 months due to a lack of available fiber to that customer’s building in some more rural areas. It should be noted that Ethernet over Copper’s timeframe is closer to that of T1 (3-4 weeks) since the local loop is copper, not fiber, so the installation requires less work.
We hope this guide will be helpful for when your business plans on having new Internet services installed – perhaps you’re looking to upgrade, provide some redundancy, or you’re making a change along with a location move. In any event, if you have questions about how we might be able to help provide some guidance to your business, please let us know! You can use the contact buttons to your right, call us at 877-634-2638 (877-MEGANET), or send us an email. We’ll be happy to help you any way we can.
Is your business considering changing it’s Internet access for better speed or performance? Or are you perhaps thinking about changing providers to improve your uptime or costs? Download our free Internet Service Provider Change checklist to make sure your company is fully prepared to change your service or provider with ease and minimal service disruption.
