Office Internet Advice - nbn or Mobile

Petalop on 05/06/2025 - 15:33
Last edited 05/06/2025 - 17:22 by 2 other users

I am just about to move into a new Office Space with my business partner and there is no Internet available to us.

We can get a connection installed but I was thinking that we may be just as well off to get a mobile broadband connection going instead, since we are not 100% certain that we are going to stay for very long.

Can anybody help to advise me on what the best option might be. If the best option is to pay for a full nbn or broadband connection, that's what I'll do, but I'm just hoping for the least expensive option that will work until we make a final decision. We do a lot of research but aren't especially heavy internet users. We do quite a few video calls though.

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Comments

  • jv on 05/06/2025 - 15:43

    Depends what you need to do…

    Even hotspot may be fine… (until you make a final decision)

  • geekcohen on 05/06/2025 - 15:49
    +1

    Can you install the internet in this new space? Assuming it's an office physical location for just you guys? It isn't a co-working space? Also, where are you based? Sydney? Melbourne?

    Surely there is some sort of NBN and/or Fibre connection to the property and you need to connect it through an ISP.

    You should be able to get an NBN connection. It would cost the same and be more reliable than a Hotspot connection (depending on location).

    Plus, you are running a business. You want something reliable. Don't skimp out on something like then. You need internet to run the business and for it to be reliable. Wouldn't it be annoying to say to a custom, "sorry, my internet is being slow right now, give me an hour?" and potentially lose the sale?

    • Petalop on 05/06/2025 - 17:05

      In Brisbane. We are using a spare room in another firm's office. They dont want to share their internet! But there is definitely internet there already.

      • bargaino on 05/06/2025 - 21:24
        +1

        If they have FTTP, you should be able to get a service using a separate connection over the same fibre.

        The NBN modems have 4 ports, so can provide 4 separate services.

        • simplystu on 05/06/2025 - 21:39

          sort-of … but 100% not - in real world.
          unless there is a DIRECT network route from NBN to that said spare room.

          guessing not.

          in that scenario … best would be VPN - over others network.
          ESP since OP talked about a "spare room - in main firm's office".

          [EDIT] : will come down to Network topology within that office area.

          • bargaino on 05/06/2025 - 22:47

            @simplystu:

            unless there is a DIRECT network route from NBN to that said spare room.

            You mean an ethernet cable? If it is wired like a normal office, why not?

            NTD —> patch panel —> office —> wifi/router. You don't use any of the host's existing switches or routers.

      • geekcohen on 06/06/2025 - 05:45

        That could be a bit awkward. Why don't they want to share the internet? Depending on their configuration, it can be done securely with some extra hardware. It would be a cheaper upfront cost but might be cheaper than the long term of paying monthly internet fees.

        Then you can split the bill for the internet cost.

        Do they have an IT provider? If so, they could help with all of this. Setup a different network for each business which is then VLAN configured to be indepedant and no one can see each other devices. Similar to having a "Guest Network" which is independent. You could also set up QOS (Quality of Service) so each business gets x amount of bandwidth and cannot "kill" the internet because one is downloading more than the other.

        I know a business that did this previously and it worked well, they had a Fibre 400/400 connection.

  • randomusername2017 on 05/06/2025 - 16:09
    +3

    We can get a connection in stalled

    Retrofitted barn?

  • askbargain on 05/06/2025 - 16:16
    +1

    do you have VC funding?

    • Petalop on 05/06/2025 - 18:07
      -1

      What is VC funding?

      • 87percent on 05/06/2025 - 18:27

        Like Silicon Valley (the TV show, not the place)

  • entropysbane on 05/06/2025 - 17:06
    -2

    Tbh, I wouldn’t pick office space without decent internet and then you wouldn’t have this stress.

  • Davo1111 on 05/06/2025 - 17:10

    I'd come to a financial agreement with the existing owners and leech off that.

    Keep in mind, you may also need to 'make good' if you do something too wild.

    Otherwise, nothing particularly wrong with a wireless modem. If you have outside access starlink is very quick. I speed tested it on a mine and i was really impressed.

    • Petalop on 05/06/2025 - 18:08
      +1

      I think this is the first thing we'll revisit. See if they'll let us share for a fee. I don't mind paying, i just don't want to commit to a long term contract.

    • geekcohen on 06/06/2025 - 05:48

      If you have outside access starlink is very quick. I speed tested it on a mine and i was really impressed.

      Whilst yes it is an option. Could be going on $750 (Due to Hardware and Congestion Charge in Brisbane) to setup plus $139 ongoing.

      Could be better to get some hardware to split the internet cost with my suggestion above and potentially have a faster service and/or lower latency service.

      Whilst Starlink is quick, latency is higher than fixed line connections and when doing Video calls it could be an issue. I am a big fan of Starlink, but if you can get Fibre that is reliable, then that is always going to be your best option.

      • Davo1111 on 06/06/2025 - 10:46

        yes, we both came to the same conclusion.

        my first sentence: "I'd come to a financial agreement with the existing owners and leech off that."

        i was in coolgardie WA where i tested, and i was gobsmacked at the quality.

        183.6Mbps down, 37mbps up,. 35ms ping (42 down/31 up).

        Thats on a mine site, shared internet, through wifi

  • 87percent on 05/06/2025 - 18:47

    Lot of ISP do month to month and as long as you return the modem, you won’t (shouldn’t) get charged

    Assuming your location has everything ready (like it’s not a new development or something), it shouldn’t cost you much

  • barge-in hunter on 05/06/2025 - 19:24
    +2

    Honestly, I’d steer away from 4g/5g - if you intend to do any video conferencing/zoom/meets etc.

    A few stutters or poor video quality is acceptable in a social setting, but makes businesses look very unprofessional

  • AustriaBargain on 06/06/2025 - 07:01

    What is your business, what will be happening in the space, how many people in there, are they employees or family?

  • Petalop on 06/06/2025 - 19:31

    Just me and my partner. A cinsulting business. We do kots of video calls, and we get sent a lot of videos via email and into our dropbox. So probably morr data than we think, but i dont know even appropriately how much.

  • tangobox on 17/06/2025 - 15:42

    Maybe a $25 Belong (Telstra-ish) sim and then buy 500gb at a time off eBay (it's dirt cheap)?

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