How multi-location connectivity goes wrong.
When locations are added at different times, their services and contracts can differ. Start by documenting the decisions and requirements at each site before setting a shared connectivity standard.
Compare providers, technologies, capacity, contract terms and renewal dates across the portfolio. Assign responsibility for each notice window and supplier relationship.
Plan technical requirements, procurement and implementation together. A shared inventory helps you compare locations while accounting for the constraints at each site.
Step one — audit what you have at every location.
The starting point is a complete inventory of every active circuit across every location. For each circuit: the address, the provider, the technology type (fiber, cable, fixed wireless, LTE/5G, dedicated), the speed, the monthly cost, the contract end date, and the notice window.
Start with a site inventory.
Use one row per service at each location. Record the notice deadline from the signed agreement, not just the contract end date. Add the internal owner and any backup connection so the team can compare like-for-like requirements.
Download the blank inventory (CSV)What to check in the inventory.
Check when each circuit was last reviewed, whether capacity matches current application needs, which alternatives are available at the address, and whether the site has a tested backup connection. Record gaps to investigate rather than assuming a different service will be cheaper or suitable.
Prioritizing the work.
Sort locations by a combination of business criticality and contract proximity to renewal. High-criticality sites near renewal are the highest-value targets for the first wave of improvements.
Step two — define the right connectivity standard for each location type.
Not all locations have the same connectivity requirements. A realistic framework tiers locations by criticality and sizes connectivity to match.
Tier 1 — mission-critical locations.
Head offices, data centers, or locations where an outage directly stops operations. These locations warrant: fiber primary if available, dedicated circuit if bandwidth and SLA requirements demand it, and an automatic failover on a separate network path. The failover should be on a different carrier and different physical infrastructure than the primary.
Tier 2 — standard business locations.
Offices and retail locations that are important but where a short outage is disruptive rather than catastrophic. Business cable or fiber primary, with LTE or fixed wireless failover. Failover can be configured for manual rather than automatic activation if budget is a constraint, though automatic is preferred.
Tier 3 — light or temporary locations.
Remote sites, job site trailers, or small branch offices where wired connectivity is either unavailable or not cost-effective. LTE/5G primary with satellite as a fallback at very remote locations. Fixed-term service where possible to avoid stranded contracts when the location closes.
Step three — benchmark the market for each address.
Connectivity availability varies at the address level — fiber available in one building on a street but not the next, fixed wireless coverage that varies block by block. Before designing the network, confirm what is actually available and at what pricing for each specific address in the portfolio.
Confirm address-level requirements before committing to a new location. For existing sites, schedule an availability and pricing review ahead of the contractual notice deadline; do not assume earlier options or quotes still apply.
Step four — coordinate contracts and renewal dates.
Review the portfolio together, including contract end dates, notice periods and location plans. Consider aligned terms where they fit the business, while preserving useful flexibility at individual sites.
Before changing contract dates, compare any extension or termination costs with the administrative benefit. A shared renewal calendar does not require every location to have the same contract end date.
Using a procurement partner for the portfolio.
SwitchU helps businesses evaluate supplier options and coordinate selected services. Agree on the locations, inventory, renewal tracking and implementation responsibilities included in your review. Keep supplier support contacts and internal decision owners documented.