Not that long ago, in the course of our normal routine, remote work used to be the next big idea in enterprise mobility. Kind of the next chapter or, some may say, a utopian idea.

Even before the pandemic struck, the new work model was slowly but surely on its way to becoming a hybrid version. However, COVID-19 has disrupted and accelerated this transition.

Reports show that organizations will continue to embrace change and that the future of work is hybrid. The last two years have proved that working from home is both possible and productive. The successful hybrid model offers the best of both worlds and can provide advantages such as boosted productivity and reduced costs.

Bearing in mind the need to adapt to these new circumstances, organizations and employees had to find new tools to secure efficiency and productivity while working from home.

Consequently, there are a few things you might want to consider when ensuring your new workspace gets the internet connectivity and speeds you require to work efficiently. Are you ready to start a seamless transition from a traditional personal experience (social media, website, streaming multimedia…) to an office at home?

How Fast is My Internet?

The coronavirus pandemic has made video conferencing a vital tool to keeping organizations operating. However, countless employees across the world are facing technical challenges and realizing that video calls can be frustrating and difficult. And we understand that a fruitless communication may lower the productivity of eventual meetings.

Perform a simple internet speed test on your device with Google Speed Test. Usually, for a single device using Wi-fi, download speeds of 10 Mbps are commonly considered good. However, it deeply depends on your online performance and how many devices are connected.

A solid internet connection is a requirement for effective remote working and there are several technical features to consider in a video call:

• Download speed: reflects how quickly your connection receives video from other contacts on the call. Faster download speeds will load your content more swiftly;
• Upload speed: impacts how quickly you can send your video stream to other people. Upload speed is responsible for keeping your amazing face clearly visible during your call;
• Latency: the capability to respond to an action and has a direct impact on connection synchronization. Low latency guarantees a sharp communication. For instance, Zoom suggests a latency of 150 ms.

How to get faster internet

Successful remote work starts with the quality of your Wi-Fi connection. Users are curious with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection due to its speed. Nevertheless, we know that 5 GHz has shorter range and has difficulty penetrating walls. On the other side, 2.4 GHz might be slower but it’s surer: it has a longer range and is superior at diffusing beyond walls. Choose the connection that’s best for your work experience.

If your internet connection looks sluggish, we’ve got six simple tips to help you optimize it for remote work:

• Restart your devices frequently as well as your router/gateway every now and then. It works like magic sometimes;
• Keep your gateway and gadgets away from barriers;
• Set the router centrally
• If required, add a Wi-Fi extender to improve coverage and signal strength;
• Clear your browser cache and cookies;
• Exit streaming and multimedia apps after each use.

Remote work is now more common than ever. Some professionals are facing the technical challenges of a hybrid work ecosystem but there are a few things you can do to improve your experience and enhance your productivity.