What is a Leased Line?

A leased line is a dedicated, uncontended telecommunications connection to your property provided by a service provider. Unlike standard internet connections, which are shared among multiple users, leased lines offer consistently high performance, speed, and reliability. This type of connection is always active and is often used by businesses that require a stable connection for tasks such as transferring large amounts of data, video conferencing, or maintaining secure internal networks.

Leased Line Options Available

Businesses have various leased line options for reliable and high-speed internet connectivity:

E1/T1 leased line:

1. Provides consistent bandwidth of up to 2 Mbps.
2. Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses.

T3 leased line:

1. Provides a substantial bandwidth of 45 Mbps.
2. Suitable for larger businesses with high bandwidth needs.

Ethernet:

1. Offers scalable bandwidth from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
2. Excellent for businesses of all sizes.
3. Allows seamless bandwidth upgrades.

Ethernet over Fiber:

1. Ensures higher reliability and performance.
2. Preferred by companies with important data transmission needs.

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) leased line:

1. Ideal for companies with global operations.
2. Facilitates the creation of networks with high security.
3. Efficient data routing across multiple locations.
4. Optimises network performance.
5. Improves the quality of service by prioritising important traffic.

SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) leased line:

1. Emerging robust alternative leveraging cloud-based technology.
2. Delivers scalable and flexible network solutions.
3. Routes traffic through the most efficient path.
4. Provides central network management.
5. Ensures optimal performance and reliable connectivity.
6. Suitable for businesses navigating digital transformation.

How Does a Leased Line Connection Work?

A Leased Line works by delivering connections over fibre-optic cables, which allows for faster speeds and more data capacity.

When setting up a leased line connection, a telecom provider will install the necessary hardware and cabling at both ends. This will allow the line to run directly to your business premise without any diversions. This dedicated pathway enables symmetrical upload and download speeds, meaning data can travel at the same rate in both directions.

Advantages of Leased Lines for Small Businesses

1. Dedicated Connection: Unlike traditional broadband where bandwidth is shared, a leased line ensures that the bandwidth is exclusively for your business. This guarantees consistent and reliable speeds, crucial for high-performance tasks like video conferences, VoIP services, and large file transfers.
2. Symmetrical Speeds: Leased lines offer equal upload and download speeds, which is vital for businesses that upload as much data as they download. This means much smoother workflows and more efficient data management.
3. Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Many leased lines come with SLAs that guarantee performance metrics like uptime and latency. This is key for reducing downtime. It also means quick resolutions for any of your leased line issues.
4. Improved Security: Since leased lines provide an uncontended and dedicated connection, the risks of data breaches and cyber threats are significantly reduced. This improved security is particularly beneficial to industries that handle sensitive information, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies.

Disadvantages of Leased Lines for Small Businesses

It's important to note that the superior performance and dedicated features come with a couple of disadvantages. One of the main ones is the higher cost in comparison to standard broadband options. The monthly fees can be significant, especially for small businesses. For larger enterprises, however, the investment is often justified by the operational benefits.

What’s more, is that the installation process for leased lines can be more complex and time-consuming. This is because installing a leased line requires significant physical infrastructure upgrades. Setting up a leased line often involves intricate processes and ongoing maintenance, requiring skilled IT professionals. This is a drawback for many small businesses that may not have the necessary resources or expertise to manage these complexities effectively.

Another concern is the lack of scalability. Small businesses often experience fluctuating demand, and a leased line's fixed capacity can be either insufficient or excessive at times. This lack of flexibility means that companies might end up paying for more bandwidth than they actually use or require.

Choosing the Right Leased Line Solution for Your Business

When choosing the right leased line solution for your business, the first step is to identify your company’s specific needs and requirements. Whether your company predominantly uses cloud-based apps, relies on VoIP services, or requires powerful data transfer capabilities, your leased line should meet these critical standards to maintain smooth operations and maximise productivity.

Another important factor to consider is your future bandwidth requirements. For example, a business that plans to grow drastically in the near future should plan for scalable solutions that can keep up with your expectations. Many internet service providers (ISPs) provide flexible packages, allowing you to simply adjust bandwidth levels as your needs change.

In addition to bandwidth, the Service Level Agreement (SLA) provided by the ISP should be thoroughly reviewed. The SLA outlines the performance and availability guarantees that the service provider promises to deliver. A robust SLA ensures great reliability and performance of your leased line. It is also vital to compare the response and resolution times for problems or outages across providers; selecting an ISP with a solid reputation for rapid service can save valuable time and money during unforeseen disruptions.

Finally, remember to not overlook the costs. They should match your budget while providing performance, reliability, and support. Ask for detailed quotes covering hidden fees like installation, maintenance, and scalability. Compare providers for cost-effectiveness and services to make an informed decision. By balancing service quality and cost, you can ensure efficient and affordable connectivity.

Common Leased Lines FAQs

Q: What’s the Difference Between Leased Lines and Broadband Services?

A leased line is a dedicated connection that directly links to your location. Broadband, on the other hand, shares connections among users, resulting in slower speeds during peak times.

Leased lines are more secure because they're dedicated, unlike broadband, which can be prone to breaches.

Despite being more expensive, leased lines offer higher speeds, better reliability, and increased security. Businesses requiring fast, uninterrupted connectivity often opt for leased lines. Broadband, on the other hand, suits residential or small business use with lower bandwidth demands.

Q: How Does a Leased Line Use Fibre-Optic Technology?

Telecom companies use leased lines to supply businesses with high-speed data transfer using fibre-optic technology. These lines use fibre-optic cables constructed of glass or plastic to carry data via light signals. This helps boost bandwidth capacity. Furthermore, fibre-optic leased lines are less sensitive to electromagnetic interference, delivering a consistent connection.

Q: How can Businesses Benefit From Using VoIP With a Leased Line?

Businesses benefit greatly from integrating VoIP with a leased line. Firstly, a leased line offers a reliable, symmetrical internet connection, ensuring consistent bandwidth for high-quality VoIP calls, free from disruptions.

Secondly, it can lead to significant cost savings compared to traditional phone systems, particularly for international calls. VoIP over a leased line uses the internet for voice data transmission, reducing call expenses.

Additionally, the combination of VoIP and a leased line allows for easy scalability. Businesses can add more VoIP services as they expand without extensive infrastructure changes. They also gain access to advanced features like call forwarding and video conferencing at no extra cost, enhancing your communication capabilities.

Q: Can any Business Premise Install a Leased Line?

Whether your business premise can install a leased line largely depends on its location. Urban areas usually have the necessary infrastructure in place to support leased lines, making installation relatively simple. However, in rural or remote areas, the required infrastructure may be absent, or installation could require substantial time and financial investment.

Choose Edmondson's IT Services as Your Trusted Leased Lines Provider

At Edmondson’s IT Services, our dedicated leased line services ensure symmetric, uncontended connections, guaranteeing consistent and equal download and upload speeds.

We recognise the growing demands of modern businesses, which is why we’re committed to delivering exceptional uptime and reliable internet access. Our team of experts diligently monitors and maintains leased lines, swiftly identifying and resolving any potential issues to minimise disruption to your operations.

When working with us, your business benefits from flexible packages tailored to your business's unique needs. Our dedicated support team collaborates closely with you to customise the leased line solution that suits your specific requirements.