Fast Internet is a Necessity for Business Growth

Beyond Convenience: Why Fast Internet is a Necessity for Business Growth

Fast internet is now non-negotiable for Australian business owners. Across all industries, a strong online presence and seamless customer connectivity are vital for success, and fast internet is foundational to keeping a business running smoothly.

Thankfully, we’re now getting the speed we deserve by upgrading to fibre-optic technology.

I spoke with several small-business owners about what fast internet means to them.

Efficiency, customer service, and sales

One of the biggest benefits of a fast connection is greater efficiency. With fast fibre, everyday business activities like file uploads, downloads, software updates, and accessing cloud-based applications are easier, improving overall workflow.

Dr. Matthew Alch, a chiropractor at Sydney Spinal Care, talked to me about the importance of a good connection for payments.

“Fast internet is vital for the day-to-day running of our business. We use HICAPS (Health Industry Claims and Payment Service) at our office, which connects to the bank via the internet. The faster the connection, the quicker we can process payments.”

Fast internet also improves customer service; with a reliable connection, businesses can respond to enquiries, manage online orders, and offer easy online booking.

Alch adds, “Slow internet would disrupt our front desk, leading to longer wait times for clients and a backlog that affects our workflow.”

Simon Wegman, clinical psychologist and founder of Deep Well Psychology, also relies on decent internet speed to keep therapy sessions on track.

“Dropped calls or lag can be really disruptive, especially when someone’s opening up about something difficult. Fast internet lets me manage a busy schedule and keep back-to-back appointments running smoothly. This reliability builds trust with clients because they know I’m fully present without interruptions.”

We all know that slow or unreliable internet can negatively impact customer service.

“There was a specific instance when slow internet speeds delayed our ability to file documents electronically,” recalls Oliver Morrisey, director of Empower Wills and Estate Lawyers.

“We were in a time-sensitive situation, and the slow internet meant we couldn’t submit the necessary paperwork on time. This impacted our firm’s reputation and added stress for the client, who was relying on us for timely service.”

Cloud collaboration, e-commerce, and secure data management would be near on impossible with old dial-up connections

Many small businesses, including my own, now rely on cloud services for data storage, project management, and remote work.

Fast internet ensures quick cloud access, enabling seamless collaboration, especially for remote employees. It also helps maintain secure backups, reducing the risk of data loss.

“Reliable internet speeds are crucial for uploading and downloading documents and case files without delay,” says Morrisey. “In our line of work, every minute counts.”

For e-commerce platforms, internet speed can directly affect page load times – and thus, sales.

Slow-loading pages may drive potential customers away, particularly as consumers expect faster online service.

Consider these facts, from Think with Google:

• Customers are likely to abandon websites that take longer than 3 seconds to load.
• A delay of just one second in page load time can reduce conversions by up to 7%, leading to significant revenue loss for e-commerce sites.
• Slow internet and page speeds negatively impact customer satisfaction, with nearly 80% of users less likely to return to a site after a poor experience, affecting long-term customer retention and brand loyalty.

While businesses can’t control their customers’ internet speeds, they can take steps to ensure their websites load quickly.

This is an area I specialise in. From selecting the right hosting provider to optimising images, compressing files, and choosing lightweight WordPress themes, there are lots of things that can be done to give client websites the best chance of loading quickly.

This helps minimise issues for customers who may still be using older fibre-to-the-node or older copper connections.

The good news is that across Australia, these older internet technologies are being phased out and replaced with fast fibre. Check out what fast fibre is and how you may be eligible for an upgrade here.

“Fast internet is a must,” says Peter Harback of online retailer CoolThings Australia.

“Imagine a customer excited to buy a limited-edition gadget, only for the site to lag at checkout. We’re here to get cool stuff to people fast, so if our internet lags, it’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Fast internet (and fast websites) mean smooth transactions, quicker responses, and a happy team (with less screen-yelling!).”

Marketing, sales and getting that competitive edge

High-speed internet also helps small businesses compete with larger companies by levelling the playing field for digital marketing and online advertising.

A fast connection helps businesses stay active on social media, analyse data trends, and run targeted marketing campaigns effectively.

“We use the internet to reach new clients by optimising our website for specific keyword searches,” says Alch. “These days, people find services through Google and the internet. The easier you are to find, the more business you attract.”

Wegman agrees, adding, “I use social media and my website to help new clients find me. Without decent internet, I’d struggle to offer the same level of accessibility.”

I think we can all agree that fast internet isn’t just convenient for small businesses – it’s essential. It fuels growth, supports customer satisfaction, and provides the flexibility businesses need to innovate and stay competitive.

But we still have a ways to go.

Facts on Australian internet speed:

According to the Speedtest Global Index, here is how we rank for internet speed:

• Fixed Broadband. Australia ranks 73rd globally, with a median download speed of 120.66 Mbps.
• Mobile Internet. Australia holds the 17th position worldwide, achieving a median download speed of 92.36 Mbps.
  These figures mean we are behind Oman and Czechia and just above Uzbekistan.

To me, these figures show we are still behind the 8 ball and lack the serious competitive edge to allow us to compete on a global scale.

Marshall Thurlow

Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing and project management. With over 15 years of experience spanning government, not-for-profit and the private sector, he is well equipped to lead teams to success. He is a big proponent of environmental sustainability, critical thinking and progressive issues.