IS A LEASED LINE BETTER THAN BROADBAND FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Cloud apps, file sharing, video conferencing, VOIP phone networks, even security systems are reliant on a strong internet connection.

And if you’re like the majority of business owners in a recent Business Broadband Hub survey, speed is one of, if not the, biggest factor when choosing a connection.

But, speed isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to your internet, and this is when knowing the difference between broadband, and leased lines can be useful.

David Hagan, Director at BT Local Business Liverpool, Chester and North Wales explains in more detail.

What is broadband?

Broadband is your high-speed internet connection that most people buy for their home or business.

It uses different types of connections like WiFi and fibre to connect your business so you can send and receive emails, browse online and send or receive files.

So isn’t broadband what I need?

Broadband will help you get fast internet to your business so you can operate day-today. However, there are some downsides to using broadband in a business setting that can have a negative knock-on effect. Who are you sharing your connection with?

One of the main downsides of using broadband for businesses is that you share bandwidth with other users in the local cabinet.

This could be other businesses, but it could also be the family homes down the road streaming films and music while you’re trying to get work done.

During peak periods you can experience drops in performance because the network is under so much pressure.

Do you want to risk your important video conference buffering while giving a sales presentation or a file share failing to go through?

Even the fastest speeds can suffer during these peak times and you could end up with the internet equivalent of having a Ferrari in a traffic jam.

Broadband favours download speeds Most - if not all - broadband favours faster download speeds over upload speeds. Which is great if you’re trying to quickly download a TV series.

It’s not so great if you’re trying to send large files to customers.

So why does anyone use broadband for business?

From a cost perspective, broadband is the more efficient choice because the installation only requires a connection between your business and the local cabinet.

What is a leased line?

A leased line is a private connection that only your business can use. It sends a connection directly to your business, rather than through the local cabinet.

Is that better for my business?

Yes, because a leased line provides a more consistent and reliable connection, and avoids fighting for bandwidth with other users.

This means that even during peak periods, your business has a private connection so you don’t have to worry about falls in speed or performance.

Along with the private connection, leased lines offer equal upload and download speeds, which is ideal for video conferencing, sending large data files or using a VOIP phone system.

Leased lines can also be more secure because only your business has access to the connection.

Plus, because leased lines are a dedicated connection for your business, they come with Service Level Agreements that guarantee speeds, reliability and uptime, with dedicated support to fix any issues quickly.

This is compared to using broadband, when repairs are scheduled as early as possible, but not necessarily as quickly as you need. So which type of connection do I need?

Choosing between a leased line and broadband comes down to the specifics of your business, and it’s worth considering a few questions:

What do we use the internet for?

If you only use it for basic emails and browsing, then broadband could be enough. However if you send files, use video conferencing, have a VOIP system or rely on cloud apps, then a leased line can provide more reliable connections.

Are we heavily dependent on the internet to operate our business?

The majority of business systems now run on the internet. Whether it’s phone systems, security systems, payment systems, many of these require reliable internet to operate effectively.

Leased lines can provide reliable, consistent speeds and performance to ensure peak performance businesswide. Finally, what would the impact be on your business if the internet was to go down. If losing an internet connection would financially impact your business then you need it to be operational, and repaired quickly in the case of faults.

The SLAs attached to leased lines can ensure the speeds and uptimes you need.

You can contact the team at BT Local Business Liverpool, Chester and North Wales for a consultation to see which option would best suit your business. Email: LPoolChesterNWales@btlocalbusiness.co.uk or call: 01704 898 208