A leased line is a private, direct connection between two sites that gives you guaranteed speeds and capacity. It’s perfect for businesses that need a fast, reliable, and dedicated connection.
Leased lines are usually used by businesses who need to transfer large amounts of data quickly, or who need a guaranteed connection for things like VoIP or video conferencing.
They’re also often used by businesses with multiple sites, as they can be used to create a private ‘network’ between those sites. This can be useful for sharing files and resources, or for running applications across multiple sites.
The line is ‘leased’ from the ISP by the business, similar to how one would lease an apartment or car. The term ‘bandwidth’ in regards to internet connections means it’s not shared with other businesses or people.
This can be contrasted with ‘broadband’ which is a shared connection. The main advantage of a leased line over broadband is that the speeds and capacity are guaranteed, and it’s much more difficult for someone to tap into or slow down your connection.
Why should a business get a dedicated leased line? There are several factors.
A more reliable internet connection
A leased line connection is more reliable and high-performing than a standard broadband connection. Additionally, because the former isn’t shared with other businesses, there are fewer external factors that can affect things such as speed and bandwidth availability.
Increased use of cloud-based software
Nowadays, more businesses are using cloud-based software as it offers a number of advantages, such as flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, for companies to make the most out of these tools, they need a dependable and high-speed internet connection – something that a leased line can provide.
The need for VoIP
Another common reason why businesses opt for leased lines is to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This is a phone system that uses the internet instead of traditional phone lines. In order to make sure that calls are clear and of good quality, it’s important to have an internet connection with low latency – something that again, a leased line can offer.
Before signing up for a leased line, it’s important to consider a few things.
How much speed and bandwidth do you need?
One of the first questions you should ask is how much speed and bandwidth your business requires. This will depend on factors such as how many people will be using the connection and what they’ll be using it for. Once you have a good idea of this, you can start shopping around for providers that offer the right package.
What’s your budget?
Leased lines are generally more expensive than broadband, so it’s important to consider your budget before making a decision. Remember, you may also be able to negotiate a better deal by shopping around.
The downside of leased lines is that they’re much more expensive than broadband, and they often require a long-term contract. They also tend to have higher latency than broadband, which can be an issue for things like gaming or real-time applications.