If you’ve been looking for a new broadband package for your business, you’ve probably seen leased lines mentioned a few times, however, if you are not familiar with the world of connectivity and communications, the differences between leased lines and other connection types, such as broadband, may be lost in industry jargon.
One of the most commonly asked questions is – what is the best kind of internet connection for a business, and would broadband connectivity or a leased line be better? While leased lines and broadband both claim to provide high-speed internet connectivity for your business, there’s no right or wrong answer, it all depends on your business needs and preferences.
In this blog, we have outlined some of the key differences between broadband and leased lines to help you choose the best type of internet connection for your unique needs.
The technological difference
The most prominent difference between a broadband connection and a leased line is the technology used to provide internet to the end-user, and many of the fundamental differences between them stem back to this core difference.
Standard broadband is “contested” meaning that you must split your connection with other users with the same provider. This means that the internet connection is likely to slow down and become less reliable during busy hours.
A leased line is a dedicated internet connection, meaning that there is no contention. Your business will be directly linked to the local network so you don’t have to share access with local residents or companies.
The difference in connection speeds and reliability
When compared to your traditional broadband connection, leased lines will provide higher connection speeds. Moreover, leased lines also provide a symmetrical connection meaning your download speed and your upload speed are the same. This is particularly useful for businesses that utilise cloud connectivity or are looking to implement this technology into their operations. In addition, the use of cloud telephony brings with it its own benefits over the traditional phone system, which may struggle to perform over a broadband internet connection.
It would be unusual for the signal to drop out with a leased line, since leased lines are uncongested and use stable, controlled and reliable hardware. In the rare event of failure, most leased line providers offer a high-priority SLA – a 5-hour fixed period in many cases. Furthermore, leased lines are constantly monitored for difficulties so that if any issues happen, the ISP can answer in a more timely manner.
With broadband internet, there is no guarantee of a fixed time, even if you are a business. You could possibly be waiting days or, in the worst case scenario, even weeks.
The price difference
In terms of cost, leased lines are typically more expensive than a broadband internet connection. However, when performing a price comparison, keep in mind the differences in value between broadband and leased line internet. Whilst your costs will increase if you move to a leased line connection, an internet leased line comes with unlimited usage plans which let businesses avail of services like video conferencing and VoIP with the same plan.
On the other hand, broadband internet packages can charge you extra for going beyond certain limits and the costs would keep on increasing with added services.
Have you decided what connection type is right for you?
Your internet speed can hold you back. You could be missing out on opportunities, such as using video conferencing, VoIP or remote working functionality. If your contract is coming to an end, then you may wish to consider an upgrade.
Everyday Communications can provide an ultra-fast leased line service, complete with 5 hours SLA for fault resolution plus a free backup service using either our Mobile Broadband service or Everyday Business broadband service which uses the underlying Openreach network.
If you have any questions, reach out to our team today.
