The ISP industry is full of tough competition. The bigger players assume they'll win. But they're ignorant of challenger brands, like WOW.
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Category: Business Internet, Cable, Deals & Packages, News, Reviews, Service Providers, Streaming, Technology
Updated 02/26/2020
The ISP (internet service provider) industry is full of tough competition. Much like the fabled game of golf, being an ISP requires companies to read the landscape and adjust as necessary. Larger, more established companies are seen as the favorites, easy winners. But they're ignorant of the challengers.
Challengers like WOW (Wide Open West).
Coming up this weekend, the PGA is hosting the Ryder Cup in Paris, France, at Le Golf National Golf Course. It’s one of the many tour championships the PGA hosts throughout the year. And much like internet service providers, there are the well-known names, and then there are the challengers.
Golf is Golf
Golf is a difficult game to play. Some would argue it’s a difficult game to watch too.
The golf enthusiast would argue differently though.
Golf requires strategy and skill. It’s not an easy game to play.
Anyone can pick up a golf club. But it takes training and commitment to play well. Talent will only get you so far.
Professional golfers practice constantly to ensure they’re ready for the big games. If they don’t perform well, then they’re not going to get sponsored. Then they don’t have a job.
To get an edge in the game, golfers need to know how to read the elements around them. This is why you usually see a golf player staring pensively at the horizon as they get ready to tee off. They’re calculating the slope of the ground, wind speed, and how much force they’ll need to put into their swing. If a professional golfer were writing this, they’d likely add a lot more detail, discuss the nuance, and explain the exact science behind evaluating a shot.
To summarize- it’s a lot!
Luckily for golfers, the only time they need worry about this is doing this during a game.
Companies like WOW, on the other hand, have to worry about this constantly.
ISPs are Not Like a Game of Golf
While golf is a challenging game, it’s only during games that competition is stiff. ISPs are competing constantly.
The larger brands, like AT&T and Verizon, are well-established and have huge budgets behind their marketing. It’s “easier” for them to expand and try out new technologies.
Even though they are the fifth-largest ISP in the nation, WOW is a challenger brand.
They have the skills to compete with the big brands, yet, they’re having to break into markets. WOW! isn’t small by any measure. It’s just that other companies are so huge.
WOW! is using this to their advantage.
As a challenger brand, they’re working harder to compete on price, service, and cutting-edge technology.
Whole-Home Wi-Fi
A common complaint with wi-fi is the loss of signal even when you’re inside your home. The router may be centrally located, but the signal is getting blocked by other materials and elements in the house.
As the concept of mesh wi-fi gains in popularity, WOW! is taking part in the newest trend.
A mesh wi-fi uses extra devices to connect to your wi-fi router. These little devices, dubbed satellites, are plugged in throughout the home and create a miniature wi-fi network within your home.
WOW is partnering with EERO to provide mesh wi-fi to its customers. As part of their Whole Home Wi-Fi package, customers not only get wi-fi, but the mesh satellites are included with the service.
Whole Home will help eliminate dead zones within the home. They also help when friends and family come over as well. All those extra devices on the network can bog down your speed. With a mesh wi-fi network, you’ll be able to handle the extra load.
Mesh Wi-Fi
With a mesh wi-fi, you’ll get to enjoy consistent speeds within your home. This will give you the speed you’re paying for and deliver it most of the time.
Another perk of mesh wi-fi is you can move the satellites from room to room.
These little satellites will work so long as they’re plugged in and within range of the router. If you want to expand your network to your garage so you can play your music while you work on your car…you can. Or say you have friends coming over and they want to hang out outside. You can move one of your satellites to an outdoor plug so you don’t have to sacrifice wi-fi coverage.
WOW! as a Challenger
Beyond mesh wi-fi, WOW! is already a solid ISP.
Just ask Netflix.
Netflix has a speed index rating system. They constantly check the download speeds during peak hours. These hours are generally between 5 and 10 pm at night. It’s during this time that most families are home. And when they’re home, they listening to music, watching TV, or surfing the web.
To do that, they use up the wi-fi.
Then there’s the house next door that’s full of people using their wi-fi too.
ISPs generally see a dip in performance during this time. As everyone gets online and uses their bandwidth, the ISP compensates. This usually means slowing down to handle moving all that data at once.
From August of 2017 to August of 2018, WOW! averaged 4.03 Mbps.
Considering the best ranking on the index is 4.19, that’s not bad at all. WOW! is able to consistently deliver even during peak hours.
So if you’re a golf enthusiast who has WOW! as your ISP, you’re in luck!
Competing 24/7
Unlike golf, WOW! is competing 24 hours a day, seven days a week with companies that are bigger and more established.
This hasn’t seemed to be a problem.
Back in August 2018, WOW! partnered with Breland Companies to provide fiber internet to Town Madison.
Town Madison is a new housing development in Huntsville, AL. As more and more home features are going digital, WOW! getting in on the development of the homes themselves and installing the necessary equipment to make them “digital ready” when they’re finished.
Fiber optic internet, the fastest internet connection available, is going to be installed in Town Madison. Residents will get to enjoy above-average speeds. This will be especially helpful as the community grows and smart home devices become more prevalent.
Check out WOW!
For those who enjoy golf, or any sport for that matter, make sure to check out coverage of the Ryder Cup this weekend.
Better yet, make sure to check out WOW! internet deals and packages. By combining your internet, cable, and voice through WOW! you’ll be able to cut back on bills and save time. All your services will come through one provider.
And for those who are not golf enthusiasts or have never been on a golf course in your life, there are plenty of other sports to watch and enjoy. Or movies, or music!
Make sure you take advantage of the mesh wi-fi. You’ll be able to move freely about your home without worrying about stumbling into a dead spot.
