The connectivity solution for rural and remote business
Businesses in rural Canada have long struggled with connectivity and affordable internet. As their importance grows, finding optimal internet is more important than ever.
Imagine yourself as a cashier in a small-town sandwich shop facing the busy lunch rush. There’re dozens of hungry patrons in line and a stack of online orders to make, along with a phone ringing off the hook. Suddenly, the internet goes down, and operations come to a screeching halt. An afternoon of heavy snow and powerful wind finally caused the satellite connection to drop. Online orders are lost, QR code menus won’t load and absolutely no payments can go through the digital POS system.
It’s a nightmare scenario for any business owner but an all-too-familiar one for those in rural regions. For the millions of Canadians in more remote parts of the country, reliable and affordable internet can be difficult to find. This is a particular challenge for business owners who lose money and risk their reputation with every technical issue.
About one fifth of the population lives and works in what’s classified as rural regions but these communities contribute to about 30% of all economic output. This means that not only is rural connectivity a local issue–it’s a national one as well. Like most of the country, rural businesses struggled during pandemic closures but fared well since areas began to re-open. Layoffs were less likely than city counterparts and in fact, one in seven of these businesses plan to grow over the next year.
The connectivity conundrum: Finding quality internet across the country
As a whole, high-speed internet is prevalent across Canada. However, there is a sharp divide among urban areas and rural communities. Little more than half of all rural areas have access to unlimited, broadband internet. Depending on the area, fibre optic cables could be a huge undertaking and far outside the scope of a mobile office trailer or small shop.
The challenge–and opportunity–for businesses
Because getting online is crucial for nearly every industry, it is understandably a top concern for many organizations. Rural businesses, however, are twice as likely to expect the speed of internet connections to be an obstacle compared to those located in a city centre.
That’s why rural, remote and temporary businesses should consider Wireless Business Internet plans. The solution provides connectivity over the Rogers wireless network and is simple to set up. A business specialist will professionally install a small device outside the location and devices can begin connecting.
Top four benefits of Wireless Business Internet
- Speed: Experience business-grade internet at any location
- Security: Automatically block malicious traffic
- Static IP address: Connect remote workers via VPN
- 24/7 support: Access technical help whenever it’s needed
The outlook for rural businesses
As Canadian businesses of all sizes continue their recovery from pandemic shutdowns, remote businesses are highly optimistic about the future and more than half expect their sales to rise to pre-pandemic levels within the year. With busy days ahead, it’s more important than ever for businesses to secure fast and reliable internet to maintain productivity.
For more information on Wireless Business Internet, view the complete details. For more features on connectivity solutions and devices, visit our blog.