Working from home in a rural area can be frustrating if you do not adequately plan your Internet requirements. In most cases, you may find your emails taking over 30 seconds to load, only for the Internet to disconnect amid a critical message. The possibility of downloading files on Google Drive or OneDrive is an uphill task. Video calls with colleagues and clients on Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams may be a far-fetched idea.
These predicaments paint a picture of how rural areas have, for a long time, lagged behind the rest of the country with regards to digital development.
Lack of rural Internet is a significant problem when working from home.
Whereas rural areas create the perfect work from home environment, the inability to access stable and reliable Internet connection becomes a limiting factor. Different studies spearheaded by the Federal Communications Commission report that over a quarter of the 29 million rural U.S. households lack high-speed Internet access.
High-speed Internet is gauged on the basis of the ability to swiftly surf the web, stream videos, and check emails. However, as more members of your family stay indoors to complete pending tasks, the Internet needs for these groups has increased. Upload and download speeds of up to 25 Mbps would be ideal. Unfortunately, close to two-thirds of rural households do not get these kinds of speeds.
Internet Service Providers understand the existing limitations of working from home in a rural area and have stepped up their game. Nomad Internet has taken the lead to create connected homes using devices that broadcast high-speed Wi-Fi signals to your home. Besides, we install routers that connect to nearby cellular towers to bring in LTE data connection. Our partnership with the four major carriers ensures that each person gets the best coverage membership plan.
Planning to work from home with rural Internet
With proper planning, you could adequately set yourself to work from home at the comfort of your cottage. Here are some of the best practices to consider for a seamless experience:
1. Let bandwidth-intensive activities happen overnight.
Schedule large files uploads, software updates, and Google Drive or OneDrive synchronizations to take place while asleep. These tend to consume large bandwidth and can reduce the speed at which you do other things when simultaneously running in the background.
2. Test Zoom, Skype before calling
If you have an upcoming video call, never start it before you know that your bandwidth can handle it. Hold test Zoom, Skype, or Teams video calls prior to the main one. Such trials safeguard you from the letdowns of regular drops.
3. Keep off evenings as working time.
Evenings, from 7 pm to 11 pm, are described as Internet rush hour. These are times when most people want to relax after a busy day of cleaning, farming, feeding the animals, preparing meals, among others. The increased traffic on your home Internet can affect your ability to swiftly connect with colleagues or clients.
4. Utilize emails
Emails are an excellent way to keep a record. Besides, they tend to consume fewer packets unless you have large file uploads, which are best uploaded overnighted. The small and quick messages sent via email can transmit faster when you have slower connections.
5. Installed fixed Wireless Internet Working from Home
4G LTE and mobile hotspot may still give you an Internet connection, but they may not provide desired high-speed connectivity. Fixed wireless installations done by Nomad Internet give some of the fastest Internet connections. Consider this option as you may your plans to work from home.
As the new norm of work from home takes shape, prepare yourself to be a part of it. Install home Internet from a reliable ISP like Nomad Internet with broad partnerships for favorable subscriptions.
Quite useful recommendations on how to squeeze the maximum out of even a weak Internet. Indeed, evening rush hours should be avoided, when all neighbors are actively using the shared bandwidth of the provider. It’s a good idea to test the connection before making a zoom call, but it’s not always possible to reschedule a call. Although, if there is no connection, then it is better to warn about this, and perhaps the call will be transferred and the loyalty of the counterparty will be maintained.
Yes, very sensible things are written here! I checked on myself. Previously, at the most inopportune moment, system updates started to be installed and it was impossible to work for several hours, one torment. And then I realized that I needed to rearrange the installation time for the night and this gave me half a day for productive work!
When I made the decision that I would work from home, I had a huge fear that all my business ideas would fail because of the bad Internet. After all, I am responsible for the financial support of my family. I carefully prepared for everything, but now I’m reading this article and I understand how many useful little things I didn’t take into account. Country Nomad Blog is teaching me something new for the umpteenth time!
This article touches upon a serious and important topic. Indeed, remote workers need reliable internet more than others. They need internet for everything – from making reports to communicating with colleagues. The tips that the author gives can improve these people’s experience and work performance. I think the best advice is to eschew using the internet during rush hours and then go online in more suitable time.
Thank you for such a comprehensive article! Indeed, internet issues can be a serious setback when you are working from home especially in rural areas. Thank you for giving so many tips! It was news to me that software updates consume a lot of bandwidth. However, I doubt that testing video calling apps will help. I mean, even if you did check everything, it can still freeze in the most crucial moment. Overall, that’s a very good article which can definitely come in handy.