A reliable internet connection has become an indispensable resource for modern businesses, as so many day-to-day operations now occur online. From using cloud-based software to carrying out transactions via websites and mobile apps, it isn’t easy to imagine how any company could function effectively without an internet connection.
Businesses require a reliable, high-performing internet connection that offers minimal downtime, glitches, and go-slows. Maximum speed and efficiency are also necessary, so connected platforms and applications show their best performance, regardless of how many processes are running simultaneously. In the 21st-century workplace, the quality of the internet connection has a direct impact on productivity and customer experience.
To achieve this, many organisations are moving away from standard public internet services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for homes and workplaces. Conventional internet connections such as DSL or cable are provided via a public infrastructure of wired lines, street cabinets, and exchanges, which distribute internet traffic to and from individual properties.
However, these are shared or contended resources, meaning that all service users compete for available bandwidth online. It often results in connection speeds slowing down at certain busy times of the day.
What Is A Dedicated Line?
In contrast to standard internet services provided by ISPs, a dedicated line or leased line offers a completely private connection exclusively for the use of an individual subscriber. This connection provides businesses with uncontended access to the full bandwidth offered by the service, resulting in improved quality and security.
Dedicated lines are established through private cable connections from an exchange to a property. They can also be used to create a Wide Area Network (WAN) that connects different branch offices. With a dedicated line, businesses can enjoy the benefits of a private connection and avoid the contended resources common with standard internet services.
What Are The Benefits Of Dedicated Line?
Switching to a dedicated leased line can offer businesses many advantages over standard public connectivity options. Below are some of the top reasons to consider a dedicated line.
Reliability
Having a dedicated line for your business entails the installation of fibre optic cables that run into your premises. It significantly improves your internet speeds and results in more robust physical wiring compared to the less durable copper wiring. With dedicated fibre optic cabling, your business operations can run more efficiently and swiftly as it is less susceptible to interferences.
Furthermore, a dedicated line ensures that your WiFi connection remains unchallenged by other users. The line is exclusively reserved for you and your employees, allowing it to carry traffic related to your business operations. Consequently, you can expect a more consistent connection that remains stable even during busy peak periods.
Dedicated Support
When you opt for a dedicated line, you can expect to receive a service level agreement (SLA) that outlines the terms of any guarantees and maintenance commitments about your internet connection. This SLA ensures you have access to dedicated support for your connection and a specified estimated fix time in case of any issues.
Given that downtime can pose a considerable and expensive risk to any contemporary business, having a comprehensive SLA and a dedicated support team for your network assures its resilience and strength.
Security
Apart from delivering more reliable performance, a dedicated leased line can substantially reduce the burden on your IT resources concerning your network’s security. In recent times, cloud-based platforms have become increasingly popular for daily operations across various business departments. However, one significant concern associated with this trend is security.
Business leaders and IT managers are naturally anxious about the control and ownership of data and information stored by external parties. Although most cloud-hosting data centres have robust security protocols, using public connections for security is still a significant concern.
A dedicated line assures businesses that data traffic remains entirely private, enabling them to keep sensitive internal information segregated from public networks. Moreover, a private network like a WAN provides better protection for your business against data leaks or cybercrime.
Faster Speed
A dedicated line offers significantly faster internet connections than a standard service for two reasons. Firstly, a private, uncontended service ensures that your company’s applications never compete for bandwidth with other service users, allowing you to utilise all available resources fully.
Secondly, leased lines provide faster speeds since ultrafast fibre optic cables can be run directly to your premises, unlike the fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) infrastructure that still relies on copper lines to connect buildings, which offers a much slower service.
Equal Resources For uploading
Most standard internet connections prioritise downloading over uploading, meaning they are asymmetrical. It makes sense for home internet use, where most online activities involve downloading data to access services such as streaming a film or song or opening a web page. However, this approach poses a challenge for businesses that rely on cloud computing.
Cloud-based business platforms, including CRM, ERP, website management tools, and databases, require a constant stream of data being uploaded into the cloud. Thus, upload speed and bandwidth are as crucial as download speed. Leased line services are symmetrical, meaning they provide equal upload and download speeds, which is why they are ideal for businesses that frequently upload and download data to and from the cloud.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dedicated lines provide businesses with a more reliable, secure, and high-performing internet connection that is essential for their day-to-day operations. With faster speeds, equal resources for uploading, and dedicated support, a dedicated line assures businesses that they can function at their best without interruptions. As businesses rely more on cloud-based platforms and digital operations, the importance of a dedicated line will only continue to grow.
