Leased lines are designed to offer the highest levels of connectivity for businesses that have greater than average network demands. All businesses, these days, require a decent internet connection in order to operate. However, some businesses have greater network requirements than others. For these businesses, we offer bespoke leased lines. In this post, we will explore the benefits of a leased line to help you decide whether this option is right for your business.
What makes a leased line different?
There are several contributing factors which make leased lines differ from alternative business broadband connections, and these will be considered below.
Fibre optic cabling
The use of fibre optic cabling is not unique to leased lines, but it does contribute to the superior performance they offer. Many alternative business broadband connections use copper cables, which use electrical signals to transmit data. Fibre optic cables, on the other hand, transmit data at light signals which results in faster speeds. Fibre cables also differ in design, from copper cables. They are made of thin transparent glass or plastic fibres, which are encased by a glass sheath or cladding and protective coating. Due to their design, fibre optic cables offer a much more reliable network performance because they are unaffected by the electromagnetic interference that causes signal degradation. As one of the most secure mediums for carrying data, they are ideal for businesses operating across multiple sites and those concerned about the security of sensitive data.
Uncontended connection
Leased lines provide an uncontended, or dedicated, internet connection. As opposed to contended connections where the bandwidth is shared with other users on the network, you enjoy the full bandwidth all of the time with a leased line. Consequently, you won’t suffer the reduced performance during busy periods that is associated with shared connections. Although some other business broadband connections offer a dedicated service, such as EFM for example, a leased line differs because the service is guaranteed with a strict Service Level Agreement.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
With a leased line, your service is guaranteed with a strict Service Level Agreement. This includes guaranteed uptime of between 99-100%, guaranteed fix times in the event of a fault, covers you for any issues with the network and circuit and includes a compensation clause. This means that you are protected with compensation if the service falls below the agreed levels or you experience extended downtime. The protection that the Service Level Agreement offers makes leased lines a smart choice for businesses for which high-end connectivity is absolutely mission critical. No other business broadband connection offers such strict service guarantees.
Bespoke internet connection
Leased lines are unique in that they are provided on a bespoke basis, which means that you have the flexibility to choose the bandwidth you need. Leased lines are designed to offer fast bi-directional access so they commonly provide symmetric connections, although this will vary depending on your needs. Being able to choose the bandwidth that your internet connection offers means that you only pay for what you actually need. You can alter the bandwidth to provide higher upload, higher download or symmetric speeds. And, you can always alter the bandwidth at a later date to suit the changing needs of your business. Because leased lines offer such flexibility, they are an attractive option to many businesses.
Cost
Leased lines are more expensive than other business broadband connections because they are a premium service. Because they are offered on a bespoke basis, the cost of your leased line will largely depend on the speed of the connection and the distance of the fibre line. Although a leased line is a more expensive option, the benefits it offers can outweigh the cost. And, it is likely that you will benefit from a rapid return on investment through efficiency and productivity gains as well as reduced losses from downtime.
If you feel that your unreliable broadband connection is hindering your business, then it could be time to invest in a leased line. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of leased lines, contact us today on 0800 849 8585.