How To Be Your Own ISP 

We have all bubbled with rage when a cable company says the earliest they can get a technician to fix an Internet connection is a week from now. Judging from numerous online rants, dealing with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can be a nuisance. The easiest recourse to most people in such situations would be changing ISPs, but with current technology, it has never been easier to set up your own ISP.

You never have to worry about a metered connection; ISPs traditionally give you a fixed bandwidth. Running your own ISP guarantees you connectivity on all of your devices. You are in charge of fixing all your glitches; you, therefore, don’t have to wait for weeks for a technical support to come fix it or you.

Starting Your Own ISP

1. Set up building

Look for a suitable building to house a data center. The ideal building should have raised floors for cable routing and antenna installations.

2. Acquisition of power and backup power sources

Acquire and install UPS units, power generators, and HVAC units. Power generators and UPS units are vital to guard against power interruptions. HVAC systems keep the data center cool since the networking equipment needed to generate a considerable amount of heat that might cause damage.

3. Get a peering connection

Secure a peering connection with one or two upstream Internet providers. Your ISP needs to have its own connection to the Internet. The best arrangement is a peering connection from two or three Internet Service Providers. Most ISPs get their Internet connection from Tier 2 ISPs, but at a considerable price tag. However, if you are looking to build a small ISP, Tier 1 ISPs are your best bet. They offer the best price on the dollar.

4. Fiber optic cable acquisition

Install high-speed fiber optic cables for upstream Internet providers. The cables ensure there is no lag in your ISP.

5. Installation process

Install and configure enterprise-grade routers, switches and workstations. Running an ISP calls for commercial grade routing and switching equipment. Anything less and users will frequently complain about your ISP’s dismal performance.

Before you go out and buy all these equipment, it is important that you first research on ISP, this will help you understand what is needed, and you will avoid buying sub standard equipment.