The year is 2021. SD-WAN and cloud adoptions have increased significantly, accelerated in particular by the move to remote working. You would’ve thought that, by now, the process of ordering, implementing, and managing Internet connectivity for businesses should be relatively easy. But in reality, companies still struggle to connect their businesses to the Internet.
The main thing leaders should bear in mind is, when it comes to implementing Internet connectivity to organizations, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The same premise applies to unforeseen events that can inconveniently impact the installation of network equipment. There is no standardization around the world - what is common in the US might be unusual to other markets, such as EMEA or APAC. There are, however, typical use cases that, if not the same in different regions, are most certainly similar. In this article, we’ll have a look at seven of those.
1) Planning on going global?
Let’s start with local businesses used to buying services from local providers. Once their business strategy moves global, they tend to expect the same level of service accessibility internationally. That’s never the case. Naturally, there will be a variety of products available according to countries and regions. In that case, implementing network connectivity will very much depend on the local environment.
For instance, if it's a hyper-competitive location with multiple providers competing for your business, as the law of supply and demand explains, it is very likely that you will get better pricing options from those providers. There's also a chance that the implementation process will go a lot smoother, simply because in this type of scenario providers have to work hard to prove their value.
However, in countries where there is only one Internet provider - usually the government - there is no incentive for better pricing options. There could also be a lack of commitment to delivering services in the agreed time-frame, leaving businesses with the uncertainty of having their office connected in weeks or months.
2) Metropolitan areas
Challenges are not exclusive to businesses going global. You could be opening a new branch, or moving locations within the same metropolitan area - the pitfalls are endless either way. If your office address is on the twenty-first floor of a high-rise building, but the demarcated point is in the basement, and there’s no cable in between those two points, you’re suddenly responsible for an inside wiring bill that may end up being $25,000.
Now, imagine you have the budget that allows for the job. You set up everything on your side for a fiber optic cable installation, but the supplier provides you with a copper interface, which leaves you two alternatives: to buy media converters or redo the service from scratch.
A lot of these may sound like little things, and yet if not caught early, they have the potential to become big issues and delay your implementation process exponentially - especially if only stumbled upon towards the end of the job.
3) Remote locations
From a manufacturing site on the top of a mountain in Argentina to a mining site in Papua New Guinea, remote locations, differently from metropolitan areas, are difficult to access, which in turn can complicate the Internet implementation process dramatically. If the only way to get to the site is via jeeps, through rough terrain, or on a helicopter, how can you dispatch technicians and engineers into the location?
4) Local permits
There are those who want to expand abroad. Those who want to change locations within the same area. And lastly, those who will remain where they are, but perhaps change providers or expand their network capacity. Even then, unexpected situations can affect network implementation.
Let’s take a headquarter office located in London, for example. The HQ’s building is on one side of the road, but the demarcated point of the carrier is across the alley. The provider doesn’t have an extension between the two points, meaning in order to connect your business to the Internet it will need to literally dig up the streets and install equipment. Shouldn’t be an issue, if not for the local permit that allows you to do so.
5) Suppliers
Suppliers, especially cable providers, have part of their data set by zip code. Sometimes, it can be the case that, according to their system, they are present in one location, but not specifically in the building where your office is situated. This means that they have to extend the link into the site, otherwise the connection can’t be delivered. This adds cost and time to the originally planned process outline.
6) Delivery and installation of equipment
It can be tempting to fall for great buying deals, but my piece of advice is: pay attention to the country where the company whose equipment is coming from is based. If equipment needs international shipping, it is very likely that you will have to declare it through customs. This is where things can go seriously wrong. If your equipment gets stuck in customs because paperwork is not completed correctly, you will have to deal with local authorities - and it might be the case that they don’t speak your language. In the meantime, your equipment will be sitting in a warehouse collecting dust.
7) Post-implementation support
Now, imagine you're a global company with offices in the US and Japan. Suddenly, you’re informed by your IT team that the Internet in your Japanese branch is down. What should you do first? Certainly, you must figure out who the Internet provider is. If it's a local company, what is their support information? Once you get on the phone with them, they're going to speak Japanese. And invoice you in Japanese yen. How do you proceed?
The value of a Managed Service Provider
Managed Service Providers have gone through all these challenges and most importantly, have learned from them. They are familiar with local markets, their suppliers, currencies, languages. They deal with these issues on behalf of businesses, giving them the peace of mind to focus on their core business activities. From office locations in major metropolitan areas as well as to very remote manufacturing or mining locations far away from any large city.
