Global Network Strategy: Look Beyond Price

Author(s): Darin Stahl

Building or managing a global network has its share of problems and challenges. For most small enterprises, it is impractical to manage international circuits, various carriers, and local, in-country loops. Although some companies are primarily interested in obtaining the required connectivity at the lowest price, there are other important points to consider.

  • Service bundling for more favorable pricing terms.
  • Managed services may offer the best service level guarantees.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees differ among global carriers.
  • Global providers typically offer Service Level Agreement (SLA) choices.

The above points should be considered and addressed as an integral part of a small enterprise's global network strategy.