A leased line is a dedicated, private circuit between two points for which you pay a monthly fee. This allows businesses to transfer data quickly and reliably for a number of business applications.
The best way to test your leased line speed is through your provider as they will have specialist equipment to accurately measure connectivity. This can take longer than doing a quick and easy online speed test.
Uncontended
A leased line is a private network connection that is solely used by your business. This means there is no competition for bandwidth with other users, so you can experience consistent performance and reliability.
Whether you’re a FinTech business processing credit-related data or an e-commerce store transferring large and fluctuating inventories, the chances are you’ll require fast data transfer speeds to ensure your day-to-day operations run smoothly. A leased line can provide these speeds and comes with a service level agreement (SLA) for guaranteed performance.
Leased lines are also symmetrical, meaning your upload and download speeds are equal. This is a big advantage over traditional fibre broadband, which often favours higher download speeds. You can tailor your leased line package to match your speed requirements.
Unmetered
Unlike broadband where you share the connection with many others, leased lines are private and dedicated to your business. This removes the risk of data breaches from other users and gives you peace of mind that your business is secure.
Additionally, leased lines offer symmetrical bandwidth, so you can expect the same download and upload speeds at all times. This is perfect for businesses that rely on large files, cloud services or video conferencing.
It’s worth checking the SLA (service level agreement) when deciding on a provider to avoid any surprises down the line. Be sure to ask about any additional costs that may be incurred, like excusive construction charges or a minimum term. These can add up to a lot of money and need to be taken into consideration.
Dedicated
Many businesses get a leased line because they want to experience lightning-fast internet. And it’s true, a dedicated line is far faster than broadband and offers symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Leased lines are a crucial connectivity solution for businesses that depend on cloud applications, remote collaboration platforms and telephony. This includes e-commerce, financial services and design agencies which regularly transfer high-resolution images and video files.
Dedicated lines can be delivered wirelessly (via radio) or via fibre cables. Fibre leased lines are more commonly used and deliver fast connection speed with minimal downtime caused by construction work on roads and pavements. They are also scalable to match the needs of an expanding business, without the need for costly infrastructure changes. The dedicated nature of a leased line removes the risk of other users sharing your bandwidth, unlike a standard broadband connection.
Reliable
Businesses need reliable connections, whether they’re a financial market offering up to the minute information, e-commerce sites that require fast data transfer, or design agencies regularly transferring high resolution files. Businesses whose internet connectivity impacts their revenue can benefit from a leased line.
A leased line is a dedicated network circuit between your premises and the internet service provider (ISP), providing symmetrical bandwidth – upload and download speeds are equal, making it ideal for data-focused tech businesses. Leased lines also come with a service level agreement, defining how long fixes should take and giving you the right to a refund or compensation.
However, installing a leased line is a complex project that may involve road closures and work outside your business premises. Ask your supplier how they will support you during the installation process.
Scalable
The leased line contract will have an upper limit of bandwidth capacity based on the fibre-optic technology that it is delivered over. This is typically known as the bearer rate, but it can be easily upgraded at short notice depending on your business needs.
This makes them an ideal solution for any businesses that are looking to actualize digital transformation, requiring a fast and reliable internet connection. Unlike traditional broadband connections that experience peak-hour slowdowns, leased lines offer a fixed bandwidth with no fluctuation.
This is because leased lines are symmetrical, meaning download and upload speeds are the same. This is crucial for cloud-based productivity platforms that rely on users being able to upload and download files at the same time. It also helps with video conferencing, or web hosting.
