Imagine a life without the internet. Many people can’t. Younger generations grew up having access to it and don’t know life without it today. Business owners rely on the internet for various systems, as well. If the internet goes down, they may lose customers and money, and the customers may never return.
Business owners can choose from broadband over fibre or internet on a dedicated line. What does this mean? Who can have a dedicated line, and what are the benefits of this line? Consumers must know the options, benefits, and drawbacks to choose the proper connection.
The Basics of Fibre Internet
Fibre internet differs from other broadband offerings in several ways. Traditional broadband options transmitted data over copper wires, and the top download speed with these options was 8 Mbps. Cable internet uses coaxial cable to send and receive data, and the top speed is 300 Mbps.
It transmits data using fibre-optic cables. Peak speed may exceed 1 Gbps, and upload and download speeds are symmetrical. Furthermore, Fibre is less prone to outages.
However, fibre is still broadband, which is nothing more than a shared service. Users share bandwidth, which means they may see their service degrade during peak periods. Uptime, bandwidth, and latency aren’t guaranteed. While this may be acceptable for residential connections, many enterprises need more.
Dedicated Fibre Internet
Dedicated Fibre uses the same fibre-optic cables that benefit residential users. However, the dedicated line user doesn’t share bandwidth with other users.
The connection is explicitly provisioned for the user. Users may choose from different Service Level Agreements. These agreements offer guarantees for uptime, bandwidth, latency, and more.
Furthermore, users have access to enhanced support resolution paths and timelines. However, they will pay more for this dedicated line, and many providers require a contract.
Which to Choose?
Business owners must consider three factors when deciding which option best meets their needs. When a company opts for a dedicated line, it knows what speed it will get, even during peak traffic periods. Performance is consistent.
The company also needs to consider the need for reliable service. Specific applications are critical, and they cannot be used when the internet goes down.
A dedicated line is less prone to outages, and users have access to help when the internet goes down. Enterprise customers might choose a dedicated line and Fibre internet as a backup for those times. However, this backup will rarely be needed.
A dedicated line is more consistent regarding uptime, latency, and other factors. Support paths are better, and business owners have confidence the internet will work when needed. Payment processing applications are an excellent example of applications that benefit from a dedicated line.
Pricing
Business owners should never choose internet service based on price. While broadband over Fibre is less expensive in terms of monthly or annual fees, owners pay more in other areas. Downtime is costly and could lead to the permanent loss of customers. Different factors impact service pricing. Ask each provider for a detailed list of all fees that may be assessed.
Small business owners often choose broadband over fibre to save funds, which they can use to grow their businesses.
Enterprises might choose broadband over fibre as a backup to their dedicated lines. However, their primary connection should be a dedicated line. Ensuring the internet works as needed is essential today, and business owners have peace of mind when they have this dedicated line in place.
Watch this space for updates in the Technology category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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