Cellular home internet is one of the fastest-growing ways people get online, especially outside cities. It is also one of the most common reasons an applicant fails a work-from-home tech check.
Shared towers. A cellular connection shares capacity with every phone on the same tower. Your speed at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. can differ by a lot, and the employer cannot guarantee call quality during your shift.
Carrier-grade NAT and changing addresses. Cellular providers put customers behind shared IP addresses that can change mid-session. Some employer security systems flag this or drop the connection.
No Ethernet to the computer. Even where the gateway has an Ethernet port, the connection to the internet is still wireless, and many policies are written about the whole path, not just the last three feet.
Fiber, cable, or DSL, with an Ethernet cable to your work computer. Fiber is the best fit for call-center and support work because upload speed equals download speed and latency is consistently low.
It often isn't. Fiber has been built into a lot of small towns and rural roads in the last two years, and the providers don't always notify addresses that were previously unserved. Check your address before assuming — it takes 30 seconds.
Free, 30 seconds, and a straight answer either way.
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