A connection dropping in the middle of a video conference with a client, a large file taking ten minutes to upload to the cloud: for a business, the choice of Internet service provider directly affects productivity. The right reflex is not to compare the displayed prices, but to understand what each offer concretely implies for your daily operations.
Recovery Time Guarantee: The Criterion That Comparators Ignore
When comparing professional Internet offers, the speed and monthly price are immediately noticeable. However, the most important factor for a business is often less visible: the Recovery Time Guarantee (RTG).
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The RTG is the contractual commitment of the operator to restore your connection within a specified time after an outage. In a consumer offer, no RTG is provided. Your line can remain down for several days without the operator being bound by a repair schedule.
In a professional offer, the RTG varies according to the chosen service level. Some contracts provide for restoration within a few hours, including on weekends. Others are limited to business days. The cost difference between these two levels is often modest compared to the cost of a day without Internet for your team.
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B2B specialized operators like Celeste or Sewan document advanced support commitments in their product sheets, with direct access to a network operations center available at all times and level 2 technicians without going through a consumer call center. To easily compare offers suited to your geographical situation and needs, a tool like ileoo.net allows you to quickly filter the options available at your business address.
FTTH or FTTO Fiber for a Business: Understanding the Service Difference
You have probably seen these acronyms in professional offers. Behind these terms lies a technical distinction that changes the daily experience.
FTTH fiber (fiber to the home) is shared: the speed is shared among several subscribers in the same building or neighborhood. This is the fiber that most individuals use. It is suitable for a small structure with standard uses (email, browsing, a few cloud tools).
FTTO fiber (fiber to the office) is dedicated. Your business has an exclusive link between your premises and the operator’s network. In practical terms, this means:
- A guaranteed symmetrical speed: the upload speed is the same as the download speed, which makes a difference for sending large files or video conferencing
- No performance variation during peak hours, as the link is not shared with other subscribers
- A shorter RTG and stricter service level agreements (SLA) included in the contract
The cost of FTTO is significantly higher than FTTH. For an SME with fewer than ten employees and moderate usage, a professional FTTH with a good RTG is usually sufficient. Beyond that, or if your activity depends on heavy data transfers (architecture firm, production studio, e-commerce platform), FTTO is worth considering.
4G/5G Backup Internet: A Standard Security Measure
In recent years, most major French operators have offered businesses fiber boxes that include a router with a backup 4G or 5G SIM. In case of a fixed link outage, the switch to the mobile network happens automatically, without any action on your part.
Orange Business and SFR Business include this option in their catalogs of fixed offers for businesses. This system does not replace a fiber link in terms of speed, but it maintains access to work tools while the main connection is restored.
Do you run a business with a connected payment terminal? A medical office with online health software? Backup Internet turns a blocking outage into a simple temporary slowdown. Check that the option is included or available in the offer you are evaluating, and test the 4G/5G coverage at your premises before subscribing.
Choosing a Professional Operator: Key Points to Check Before Signing
The monthly price is just one part of the equation. Before committing, ask specific questions to each candidate operator. Here are the points that make a difference:
- Commitment duration and termination conditions: some FTTO offers require a three-year commitment. Check for early exit fees
- Technical support channel: do you have access to a dedicated contact or a hotline shared with consumers? The quality of support varies significantly from one operator to another
- Proactive link monitoring: some B2B operators continuously monitor your connection and alert you before you even notice a problem
- Scalability: if your business grows, can you increase the speed without changing contracts or equipment?
B2B specialized operators (Celeste, Sewan, Leonix) often stand out in these qualitative aspects. Major operators (Orange, SFR, Bouygues) offer more competitive prices on entry-level professional FTTH offers. The best choice depends on the level of criticality of Internet for your activity.
A Technical Detail Not to Overlook: Upload Speed
Most consumer offers display a high download speed but a much lower upload speed. For professional use, the upload speed determines the speed of sending files, the fluidity of outgoing video conferences, and the synchronization of cloud backups.
Always ask for the guaranteed upload speed, not just the theoretical speed. In a shared FTTH offer, this speed can drop during peak usage times in your area.
The choice of an Internet service provider for a business depends less on the maximum displayed speed than on three concrete elements: the contractual RTG, the quality of support in case of an incident, and the presence of a mobile backup link. These criteria protect your business when it matters, that is, when the connection drops.