With so many of us working directly from the cloud, it should come as no surprise that having access to a fast, reliable internet connection is now critical to most business operations. We rely on our connectivity to enable us to work from cloud-based apps. We need the internet to respond to email enquiries. And we even need an internet connection to answer the phone.
Without a fast, reliable internet connection, your business may suffer from reduced productivity. For many businesses, even the smallest amount of downtime can have a significant impact on your bottom line.
If your business requires a premium internet connection to remain fully functional, then you may consider upgrading to a leased line service. This is an enhanced internet connection that offers a guaranteed bandwidth and improved uptime. Leased lines exceed the connectivity capabilities of FTTC and FTTP lines that are commonly used by businesses.
But what exactly are leased lines and what are the advantages to them?
Let’s take a look.
What are leased lines?
A leased line makes the most of fibre optic cables to transmit a high-speed internet connection straight into your business.
Unlike traditional FTTC or FTTP lines which connect your business to the exchange, a leased line is a connection available exclusively to your business. You do not share the connection with others. This means that you can enjoy 100% of the upload and download speeds.
As a private connection, leased lines are popular with businesses looking to maintain control over their data and their security.
What are the advantages of investing in leased lines?
Businesses that rely upon internet connectivity to remain functional are increasingly turning to leased line connections. This is because they have many advantages over other business broadband connections.
Here are a few of the main benefits of investing in leased lines.
You can have a better Service Level Agreement with leased lines
With leased lines connections, you are more likely to benefit from an enhanced service level agreement (SLA).
Any network faults will be fixed quicker as your SLA will typically state that any line rentals are refunded if you experience extended periods of downtime. You are also far less likely to experience any faults when compared to typical broadband servicers – and any faults that do arise are fixed quickly.
In our opinion, Leased Lines are the Rolls Royce of internet connections.
Leased Lines have an excellent SLA (Service Level Agreement) any network faults are fixed in double quick time as the SLA typically state that rentals are refunded for any extended periods of downtime. You will have far less faults than typical broadband services and in the rare occasion they do happen they are fixed quickly. In sort Leases Lines are the Rolls Royce of internet connections.
They offer symmetrical bandwidth
With a leased line connection, you can guarantee that your upload and download speeds are mirrored.
This is important because traditionally, broadband connections have prioritised download speeds which can limit your ability to upload data.
If your business is working from cloud-based IT solutions, then you need to know that you can seamlessly upload data to your cloud based applications, send large emails or documents, answer VoIP phone calls or even make video conferencing calls without any disruption.
You are guaranteed fast speeds thanks to uncontended bandwidth
We’ve previously written about the UK’s ambition to implement gigabit broadband across the UK. We’ve also written about the challenges that many rural businesses face as a result of rural broadband connections.
With a leased line, you are guaranteed fast internet speeds because you are not sharing the bandwidth with anyone else in your local area. You can feel confident that your internet speeds will not be affected by any ‘peak time’ usage issues. What’s more, leased line connections often offer broadband speeds starting from 10bs, rising to 10gbps. If your business relies upon fast data, you will benefit from 100% of the speeds that you pay for.
There are no data restrictions in place
Unlike typical broadband services that may have a cap on data limits as part of their fair usage policies, businesses with leased lines can benefit from unrestricted data caps. This can be essential for large businesses who need to upload large document sizes, or those working with intensive software programmes.
You are in control over your leased line, which allows you to determine any data restrictions.
They are ideal for businesses working across multiple locations
Leased lines are an ideal solution for businesses working across multiple locations – such as different offices. This is because you have greater bandwidth capabilities to cope with increased video calling and other types of communications.
It’s also an effective solution for businesses looking to implement remote working for the foreseeable future. This is because home PCs and laptops can connect to the line, offering greater reliable internet connectivity. This means that you can feel confident that your staff is working as productively as possible even if you are no longer working within an office environment.
Are leased lines right for your business?
As you may expect, leased lines are likely to be considerably more expensive than other business broadband options. However, if your business relies upon fast internet connectivity to function correctly, an investment in leased lines can provide a reliable ROI as it can significantly boost productivity.
But we know that leased lines are not suitable for every business.
Leased lines are costly, and they can also be complicated to set up. Often, an installation relies upon detailed site visits to assess the installation process – especially if the lines need to connect multiple offices.
We specialise in working closely with our clients to establish the right connectivity solutions for their needs. We can identify when a leased line is the most cost-effective solution, and we can work with clients to offer other alternatives where required. Our knowledge of our clients’ IT infrastructures and our understanding of how they work means that we can find the right recommendations that suit your needs and your budget.
