Work From Home In A Rural Area? What Are Your Best High-Speed Internet Options?

Whether you work for a "brick and mortar" business or as an independent contractor, working from home is on the rise—more than 20 percent of all people in the labor force work from home, and this number is expected to rise significantly over the next few years. Choosing to work from home can bring a number of benefits; however, those who live in more rural parts of the country can find that one essential component of working from home, high-speed internet, can be hard to come by. What are your high-speed options, and is there anything you can do to gain reliable internet access in the sticks? Read on to learn more about getting high-speed internet in a rural area without spending an arm and a leg.

What are the high-speed options generally available in rural areas?

Most residences in cities and suburbs have access to several varieties of internet service, from fiber-optic cable to "regular" cable to satellite. Having several options can help keep the cost of services down, as you'll be able to get regular quotes from each of the service providers in your area to ensure you're paying the lowest possible price. 

However, those in more rural areas can find that high-speed internet options are limited. Without access to central fiberoptic infrastructure, you won't be able to get the ultra-high-speed internet available in many urban centers, and in some cases, your property may be located even outside the service range of the local cable company. Fortunately, as long as there's an area of your property that isn't heavily wooded and can accommodate a small satellite dish, you should be able to get satellite internet, sometimes even for less than the cost of cable. 

What should you do if your high-speed internet options are priced too high?

In some cases, satellite may not be an option—heavily wooded or very remote properties may not be able to get high-speed internet over a satellite dish. In other situations, you may find that the minimum high-speed plan available is still outside your budget. One alternative to using cable, satellite, or hard-wired internet is to utilize your cell phone as a hotspot. As long as you have cellular service at your home, you should be able to turn your phone on and draw from your data plan while providing your laptop, desktop, or tablet with high-speed internet. 

For more information, start by contacting a service provider, like Solarus, in your area.

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