While we are all wrapping our heads around this “new normal” that we’ve found ourselves in when the pandemic struck, we’re re-assessing what are actually the essential things we need in life. And one thing that keeps being at the top of the list is reliable internet. In the beginning, with the first stay-at-home orders, we saw many internet services crash under the strain but good providers like Spectrum internet outage turned out to be for a small period, and we saw once again how crucial they were to our daily lives. So, what are the things that make a good internet so essential?
Working From Home
A lot of people have switched to working from home to minimize exposure and eliminate using public transportation. For many, this means working online, whether by always being in contact with their colleagues, or full-on accessing their office computer remotely. Whichever the case, a productive day means stable internet and good speed. This is why at the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of people reconsidered their internet and cable plans to make sure that they can stay connected and do their jobs properly. For some, a lousy internet connection actually meant potentially losing their jobs, especially if they are self-employed and had to put their business online.
Online School
For the younger generations, the start of the pandemic meant schools closing and their lives getting turned upside-down. While some countries introduced a system of TV classes, students still had to submit their assignments online, or join online video-calls with teachers. For kids without a stable connection, it could mean missing out on classes or not being able to fully understand the subject, because of constant interruptions. Additionally, since kids won’t be getting as much attention from the teachers, they might have to do a lot of additional research by themselves, which will also require reliable internet.
Stay Connected With Loved Ones
Social distancing has hit everyone hard. We all have to be responsible and keep our distance, but it’s normal to miss your family and friends. And this is where we use the internet most often – chatting, video-calling, and sending pictures of our lunch to friends and family. Especially when families have to be separated – for example, grandparents not being able to see their grandkids for a long time – video calls are life-savers and will help people stay connected and feel less lonely through these times. People who have been in long-distance relationships or live far away from a family already know this feeling all too well, but now this is a reality for nearly everyone.
Stay Informed
With new measures being introduced seemingly every day, it’s important you stay on top of everything that is happening and get the newest information from reliable sources – which can often only be found online. Without good internet, you might miss and important stay-at-home notice and get in trouble for it, or you might miss the instructions on what to do if you actually feel some symptoms. Not to mention, the world hasn’t stopped: things are happening the same way as they were before the pandemic started, and we need to be aware of current events around the world.
In short, stable internet access has been a necessity for years, but the pandemic has brought to light exactly how big of an issue it can be when we do not have access to it.