We are at a time when an internet connection is more of a necessity than a luxury. It’s the backbone of smart things, a source of information, and a handy communication tool. Of course, these are not the only uses of the internet, but it pretty much sums up everything I do with mine. The internet is open to many possibilities and people want that in today’s modern age, that is why companies such as https://www.satelliteinternetnow.com/hughesnet-voice/ are there for people who want to have a solid connection that can help them with their internet needs.
However, most people buy more internet speed than they need. For example, I had a 25Mbps line to my house. It is superfast, mostly reliable, but severely underutilized. Then I realized that sharing this internet connection could make me money on the side, plus if you use a fiber cable to power fiber-optic internet you can get higher internet speeds at a cheaper price anyway. And that’s how the WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) idea came along.
In this post, I share all the crucial steps for starting an internet-sharing business.
Site Survey
The first thing to do when looking to launch a WISP is to simulate connections. Most networking device manufacturers have online tools that help people with network planning, depending on equipment choice.
Ideally, you want a clear line of sight to every point in your network. Anything that stands between the connections causes interference, which means reduced speeds to end-users. Therefore, before you start, you can simply Google “test my speed” and get a specific number first. if the speed is relatively slow, you can identify the root problem. Sometimes, the external factors may not always be accurate when it comes to influencing the internet speed. They only consider the topology, with no regard to trees and any recent buildings that may have come up. That’s why you need a physical inspection of the area in question.
Plan the Equipment
Once you know where your potential customers are and where to place your infrastructure, it’s time to go shopping. You’ll need radios, routers, sector antennas, access points, PoEs, switches, and lots of cables.
Several companies are offering decent networking gear out there, but I choose to go with Ubiquity. Their prices are affordable, and they also have a vibrant community. That means you will most likely find solutions to common problems online instead of bringing in technicians.
Setting up the Equipment
With a clear plan and equipment at hand, it’s time to put everything together. That involves lots of configuration, which is usually the most challenging part for non-technical people. But once you get that out of the way, you are ready to start accepting clients.
Usually, this step involves getting an internet connection to resell, then placing your sector antennas, access points, routers, and switches on a tower.
If you own land in the area, putting up a tower would be a great idea. It is one way to get passive income from the land – but that is not always possible. I resulted in renting tower space for a small monthly price. That eliminated the need for building one, and it also came with a fiber connection on site.
Climbing towers is not for everyone. And that’s why you need to find networking technicians who can set up the antennas and access points for you. And it’s also worth noting that these guys are not cheap. That’s why I did most of the work myself.
Getting Clients
Here comes the tricky part – connecting clients. This part depends on how well you did the research phase. Is there a need for a good internet connection in that neighborhood? What about competitor pricing? With these questions in mind, you can advertise and win potential clients.
I rely mostly on word of mouth for marketing, but I’ve also put up several door hangers on random houses in my coverage area. You can also opt for e-mail marketing strategies and social media, but more people tend to understand how to navigate emails better – particularly older people. If you want to get your target audience via email marketing, you could use companies like RocketReach as they use email finder tools to collate potential leads’ information, and tailor that into emails that sound hand-crafted by your company. The secret to marketing your internet business is delivering quality services. If you can do that, your WISP will be profitable in no time. Just keep at it and upgrade your gear periodically, and you should be fine.