Many business owners are unaware more than one type of internet connection is available - but there are many - and in today’s digital world, it is essential to ensure you have the right type of connection to best fit your business needs.
Researching the possibilities can see you hit a wall of acronyms - FTTC, FTTP, VDSL, GRT, ONT, SLA and more, so we wanted to share the options you have when it comes to broadband connections and what may be right for you and your business.
Leased Lines
A leased line is a dedicated point-to-point connection that is rented or leased from a service provider. It provides a high level of reliability, security and performance and symmetrical speeds, which means that the download and upload speeds are the same.
The private and secure connection between two locations can be used for a variety of purposes, including internet access, voice communication and data transfer. This type of connection is important for businesses that require a high level of data transfer in both directions, such as video conferencing like Zoom, Teams or Google Meet or cloud-based applications.
Advantages of Leased Lines
- Guaranteed bandwidth: Leased lines provide dedicated bandwidth so that users can rely on a consistent and predictable level of performance.
- Symmetrical speeds: Leased lines offer symmetrical upload and download speeds so that data can be transmitted at the same speed in both directions.
- Comes with a Guaranteed Repair Time (GRT) and a Service Level Agreement (SLA)
- High reliability: Leased lines are less susceptible to interference and outages.
- Increased security: Leased lines provide a private and secure connection that is not shared with other users, reducing the risk of data breaches or unauthorised access.
Disadvantages of Leased Lines
- Can be more expensive than traditional internet connections
- Leased lines always run at GB (Gigabit) speed - but they can be tailored to increase the speed
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
This internet connection uses fibre optic cables that link directly to your house or office premises.
Unlike traditional internet connections that use copper wires, FTTP connections offer faster speeds and more reliable performance, so it is a popular choice for businesses and households that have high bandwidth requirements - a high volume of information being sent at any one time. Businesses that deal with a high amount of data or large files, such as videos, often require high bandwidth requirements.
In an FTTP connection, fibre-optic cables are laid directly to the premises, which means that a fibre-optic cable terminates at a small box on the customer’s property, known as the Optimal Network Terminal (ONT). The ONT then connects to the customer's router or modem, which allows them to access the internet.
Advantages of FTTP
- Faster speeds than traditional internet connections
- More reliable performance in terms of interference and outages
- Lower latency: Data can be transmitted more easily between devices
- Scalability: Connections can easily be scaled up to meet bandwidth requirements as businesses grow
Disadvantages
- Can be more expensive than traditional internet connections
- Availability may be limited in some areas
Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC)
This is a type of internet connection that combines fibre-optic cables with traditional copper telephone lines to deliver high-speed internet access.
In an FTTC connection, cables are laid to a street cabinet near the customer’s premises and the connection is completed using existing copper telephone lines.
The street cabinet used in FTTC connections typically houses a Very High Bitrate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) modem, which converts the fire-optic signal to a copper signal that can be transmitted over telephone lines.
Advantages of FTTC
- Faster speeds - FTTC offers faster speeds than traditional broadband connections.
- Reliable performance - FTTC is less susceptible to interference and outages.
- Lower latency - Resulting in a smoother online experience for activities such as online gaming and video conferencing.
- Availability - FTTC connections are available in more areas than FTTP connections, making them a more widely available option for businesses.
Disadvantages of FTTC
- Speed - the speed relates to the distance between the user’s premises and the street cabinet, the further away, the slower the speed.
- Sharing bandwidth: FTTC connections share bandwidth with other users in the same area, which can lead to reduced speeds during peak usage times.
Mobile network to deliver internet (5G)
5G is the fifth generation of wireless mobile technology, and networks use a combination of technologies, including higher frequency bands and advanced antenna technology, to provide improvements in performance.
5G connections are wireless, so they do not require cables or wires, and are particularly well suited to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Advantages of 5G
- Faster speeds: 5G promises significantly faster download and upload speeds.
- Lower latency: 5G networks offer lower latency so that data can be transmitted and received quickly.
- More reliable connectivity: Use advanced antenna systems and other technologies to improve coverage and reduce interference.
- Increased capacity: Support a large number of connected devices, ideal for the growing number of internet-connected devices in homes.
- Enhanced mobile broadband: Support more bandwidth-intensive applications such as streaming 4k video and virtual reality.
- New use cases: 5G networks are expected to enable new use cases such as remote healthcare, autonomous vehicles and smart cities.
Disadvantages of 5G
- Infrastructure: 5G includes the need for significant infrastructure upgrades and the high cost of new technology.
- Health and environmental concerns: Requires more base stations, which can lead to concerns about environmental effects.
- Limited coverage: This connection depends on coverage capabilities.
- Cost: 5G can be a high cost, particularly for mobile devices.
The right broadband option for business
With many options available to businesses, we highly recommend that all options are explored before a decision is made.
Our teams are happy to chat through the options with business owners and managers, to ensure all aspects are taken into consideration. Give us a call today.JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJzbGlkZUJ1dHRvbiUyMiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyc2lkZS1idXR0b24lMjIlM0VHZXQlMjBJbiUyMFRvdWNoJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF
