Should I Choose EFM or a Leased Line?
All businesses need a fast and reliable internet connection, these days, to function effectively. The question is what kind of connection is fast and reliable enough for the specific needs of your business? In this article, we compare EFM and Leased lines to help you determine which would be the better option for your business.
EFM
EFM stands for Ethernet First Mile and has become a popular choice amongst businesses in recent times, largely due to its widespread availability. EFM uses copper pair cabling to connect to the local exchange, and offers a dedicated connection. A dedicated, or uncontended, connection means that you don’t share your connection with any other users in the area. This means that you enjoy the full bandwidth all of the time, instead of speeds slowing down at certain times of the day due to heavy demand.
EFM offers a fast connection, with higher bandwidth than a standard SDSL connection. You can benefit from speeds of up to 35Mbps over four copper pairs or 10Mbps over two copper pairs. As opposed to the single phone line used by standards SDSL connections, an EFM connection has the capacity to use multiple lines in parallel to boost the maximum speeds.
EFM offers a reliable internet connection because it uses bonded pair cabling which is extremely robust. Even if one pair fails, you can continue operating until full service is restored because the other pairs will remain live. This is a great way to protect against the cost of downtime.
EFM offers you a guaranteed minimum symmetrical connection, meaning that the upload and download speeds will be the same. Domestic connections usually have much lower upload than download speeds but for business purposes a higher upload speed is usually required.
Availability of EFM is increasing all of the time and it is currently available to around 80% of UK premises. This means that availability for EFM is more widespread than standard SDSL connections.
Ultimately, EFM is a cost-effective solution that can deliver faster speeds at a fraction of the cost of a leased line. EFM typically costs even less than SDSL connections. The installation of EFM will also be far cheaper than many alternatives because it less labour intensive. EFM connections use existing copper wires so your business can be connected in very little time.
Leased line
Similarly to EFM, a leased line offers a fast, reliable and dedicated internet connection. However, instead of using copper wires, leased lines use fibre cables making it a more costly option. Leased lines are designed for businesses that have a need for high-end connectivity. If a fast and reliable connection is critical to your business, then it’s worth considering a leased line.
A leased line provides an extremely secure connection that carries voice, data or both. This makes it a great option for businesses utilising the latest IP telephony, for which a robust and secure connection is essential. Because leased lines offer high levels of security, many businesses use them for multi-site networking, connecting private offices in different locations.
With a leased line, the agreed speeds will be guaranteed as part of the contract. Leased lines come with a strict Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees speeds and covers you against any network issues. The SLA will specify guaranteed fix times and include a compensation clause. If you experience downtime that exceeds the maximum time stated in the SLA, then you will be offered compensation. The SLA will also guarantee stringent uptime of between 99-100%. This is why some businesses deem a leased line to be essential, particularly those for which the internet is absolutely mission-critical.
Leased lines are usually provided on a bespoke basis, so the cost will depend on the bandwidth you require and the terms of the SLA. This means that leased lines offer a high level of flexibility, and you can specify the upload and download speeds you require. Although leased lines may be more costly, you will only be paying for the bandwidth that you decide you need. This can be altered as your business grows and changes.
The contract term for a leased line will usually last for 12, 36 or 60 months and the charges for set-up and installation are typically lower for longer contracts. You will pay a fixed monthly fee, which is determined mainly by the distance of the fibre line and the speed of the connection. Some providers allow you the option to pay quarterly, instead, and this may work out cheaper over the course of the contract.
In conclusion, when deciding which connection is best for your business, you should consider how critical the internet is to your business, the budget that you have and the bandwidth that you require. Both EFM and a leased line will provide you with a fast and reliable internet connection, but a leased line can offer you a faster and more reliable connection with service level guarantees. However, you will pay substantially more for this so it’s only worth pursuing if it is a genuine need.