Understanding Leased Lines
In today’s fast-paced, technology focused, modern world we are largely dependent upon fast and reliable internet speeds to perform both personal and professional tasks. Leased lines offer businesses of all sizes a reliable, high-speed connection for maximum productivity and efficiency.
If you’re looking for a dedicated leased line for your business, then get in touch with our team today who will compare deals from the UK’s leading leased line providers finding the best, suitable, deal for you.
What is a leased line?
Leased lines are a dedicated internet connection providing businesses with fast speeds, reliable service and resilience. They are also dedicated, also referred to as ‘uncontended’, which means the connection is not shared with other businesses.
OK, let’s break it down… Did you get stuck in traffic this morning because the roads were too busy? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dedicated road just for you to drive along at your own leisure, think the M6 toll road. Well, this is basically what a leased line is, a dedicated connection road just for your business, removing the frustration of getting nowhere quickly.
Standard business broadband connections are like a busy motorway where multiple businesses (cars) are flying up and down. A leased line is solely for your business, so you can enjoy the freedom and benefits of an empty road, even at peak times!
How do they work?
Without getting too technical, leased lines work by sending light through a fibre optic cable, sharing data back and forth via codes of light. It works the same way as a standard fibre optic broadband connection, but because a leased line connection is specifically just for your business you benefit from the lightning speeds – pardon the pun!
Types of leased lines explained
There are three main types of leased lines, however the most common is full fibre. Things get a little confusing because of the synonyms, but we’ll try to keep it simple:
Full Fibre
Also known as ‘Fibre Ethernet’ or ‘Ethernet Access Direct’ (EAD). This is the most common as it delivers the fastest, most reliable speeds, however it is a slightly higher investment than the other two options. It utilises fibre optic cables across its entirety, from the internet service provider (ISP) all the way through to your business location.
Ethernet First Mile (EFM)
This is the most common, and cost effective, alternative to full fibre, particularly when a local fibre cabinet isn’t available. Ethernet first mile (EFM) therefore uses a traditional multiple copper pairs instead, so not as speedy as fibre but does still have resilience.
Ethernet over Fibre to The Cabinet (EoFTTC)
EoFTTC is similar to EFM as it also uses both fibre and copper, however it relies on a fibre cabinet and just utilises copper pairs for the connection into your business. It’s worth considering the distance between the fibre cabinet and business premises to ensure it doesn’t affect your speeds.
All types of leased lines offer businesses a guaranteed symmetrical upload and download speed, which basically means that they are the same. This is a main difference between a leased line and business broadband, as its usually asymmetrical, typically prioritising a download speed for accessing the internet. Upload speeds should not be forgotten about, especially for businesses uploading to cloud based storage like OneDrive and Google Drive.
Don’t know what’s right for your business? Don’t worry, we will assess your needs and recommend the leased line solution for you.
The pros & cons of leased lines
Benefits
Besides superfast download and upload speeds, that are reliable and dedicated solely for your businesses use, you then unlock a whole range of benefits across your business operations.
- Increased productivity – Say goodbye to slow speeds and lagging response times when trying to carry out day-to-day tasks. With a leased line your team will enjoy a smooth service that will keep up with their busy schedule.
- Business resilience – If your business experiences an issue with internet connectivity, what happens? Well with a leased line, you don’t even need to think about that scenario. With the right leased line deal you’ll gain an advanced level of service with backup solutions in place to mitigate any downtime.
- It’s for you – You don’t have to share your valuable bandwidth with any other businesses, a leased line is just for you. This opens the opportunity of control over your business needs, allowing you to tailor a connectivity package that suits the specific speed needs of your business. As a private connection, it also supports control over your security and data.
Drawbacks
As to be expected, leased lines are a higher investment than other business broadband options. If your business thrives on fast internet connectivity, investing in leased lines can yield a reliable return on investment and significantly boost productivity.
However, we recognise that leased lines aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. They come with costs and can also be a tad complex to set up.
We take pride in our consultative, partnership approach, tailoring connectivity solutions to your unique needs. We’ll help you determine if a leased line is the most cost-effective choice or explore other alternatives. With our deep understanding of IT infrastructures, we’ll find recommendations that align with your requirements and budget.
FAQ’s
What speeds should I expect with a leased line?
Historically, the most popular leased line speeds were 2Mbps, and this was commonly enough for SME’s. However, with the increase of remote working and leveraging cloud-based applications, speeds of 100Mbps (1GB) are becoming ever more popular. As more fibre is going into the ground every day, across the UK, we are also getting super prices for higher speeds.
We can discuss your needs, check if fibre is available at your business postcode, and run speed tests on your existing connections to assist in finding you the right connectivity solution.
The process of installing a leased line
- Once you have a clearer understanding of the benefits of a leased line, get in touch with our team and we’ll compare quotes from leading providers to get you the right deal for your needs. If you do not own the property, we advise you to liaise with the landlord before signing agreements.
- Following the agreement, one of our engineers will carry out a site survey at your business premise. This enables us to then plan the project, considering the most efficient route, equipment required and timescales.
- We will share our insights and recommendations with you before proceeding with scheduling and managing communications between relevant suppliers and stakeholders.
- We will carry out the installation and ensure everything is running smoothly before we hand it over to you.
- Our support does not end post-installation, in-fact this is just the beginning of our partnership! We are always on-hand to deal with any of your queries.
How long do leased lines take to install?
A leased line does take longer than a typical broadband connection and the install is a slightly more complex process, but you don’t need to worry about that. They can typically take anywhere from a few weeks to three months. If you do require a connection quickly, we could assist with an interim broadband connection, so you don’t experience any downtime.
How much do leased lines cost?
The cost of a leased line can depend on your business location/s, speed requirements, service SLA’s, and the length of your contract.
We will review the market to find you the most suitable, and cheapest deal, comparing quotes from a number of providers so you don’t need to.
What’s the difference between broadband and leased line?
Whilst broadband and leased lines utilise the same fibre optic technology, and work in the same way, the main difference is that a leased line is a dedicated connection solely for your business. So, you don’t have to share the speeds with any other businesses or buildings, which often results in slower internet connections, particularly in peak times.
Can I increase the speed of my leased line mid-contract if needed?
Yes, if you need additional bandwidth on your existing leased line, just get in touch with a member of our team.
Can I switch leased line provider mid-contract?
Works are carried out everyday to provide fibre to more locations. With an increase in demand, this presents opportunity for more businesses to gain a cost-effective leased line solution. Due to this, we have found on many occasions that we’ve been able to buy customers out of their existing contract to enter into a new, more suitable, cheaper deal. Switching to a new provider doesn’t have to cause disruption. We’d be happy to discuss and look into your options for you, just get in touch with a member of our friendly team today.
What happens to my leased line if I move location?
If you move location mid-contract, we can often just switch this over without any worry. This would depend on if the network is also available in the new location, and the infrastructure available. The first step would be to get in touch with us and we can discuss the best solution.
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