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Connectivity

Leased Line vs Broadband: What’s The Difference?

4th February 2022 by Molly Gill

Leased Line vs Broadband

If you’re wondering about the differences between a leased line and a broadband connection, you’re probably weighing up the pros and cons of the two solutions, trying to find out which is right for your business.

Let’s take a closer look at both.

What’s The Difference Between A Leased Line And Broadband? 

The two connectivity solutions have major differences in speed, reliability, cost and installation times.

A leased-line is a dedicated connection between your location and the local exchange, so, your connection is private and will not be interrupted. Whereas a broadband connection is shared with other users meaning that you might experience issues such as slow Wi-Fi at peak times. 

Each solution also offers different pros and cons that you need to understand and weigh up in relation to your individual business needs.

Keep scrolling to check out the differences in detail.

Speed 

One of the major differences between leased lines and broadband is the speed they offer. 

Fast connectivity is incredibly desirable in the modern work environment, which is what makes leased lines an attractive offering as their bandwidth transmission speeds range between 10 Mbps and 10 Gbps upstream and downstream. 

This means that you can transfer large amounts of data without any loss of speed all day. 

This is achieved through a symmetrical connection, unlike broadband which has an asymmetrical connection. 

The asymmetrical connection results in a much slower upload speed even though download speeds are still quite fast. Overall, the speed offered by a leased line connection is much more stable since it is not affected by peak hours like a broadband connection. 

Contention 

Broadband is contended connection, whereas leased lines are uncontended. 

This means that your leased line connection is only for you, the leaseholder, whereas a broadband connection is shared. 

A shared broadband connection often means slower speeds at peak times which results in buffering, slow upload and download speed and poor connection in video conferencing. In this case, the uncontended connection of leased lines is perfect for companies that use cloud heavy applications daily and are always dependent on connectivity. 

Latency 

Broadband has high latency compared to leased lines that have low latency. 

Latency is the time it takes for data to be transferred from its source to its destination. Actions will respond faster with a leased line connection than a broadband connection. 

Can you see how leased lines have a lot of super-fast benefits? 

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Connections 

Leased lines offer a symmetrical connection meaning that the upload and download speeds match each other. 

Broadband connections are asymmetrical meaning that they have a fast download speed but a poor upload speed. Fast upload and download speeds are especially crucial for video conferencing, so leased lines definitely favour companies that use video conferencing often.

It also maintains performance levels 24/7 so you can be confident in your connection all day long. 

Service Level Agreement 

All leased lines come with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which ensures that if you experience any issues with your leased line, your provider is contracted to resolve the issue quickly. 

This differs from broadband connections where SLA agreements are looser, usually meaning that you are left waiting longer for repairs in the event that an issue arises.  

Cost 

Leased lines are considerably more expensive than broadband connections, primarily because the leased line is reserved solely for the leaseholder. 

Also, the complexity of installation compared to other options like Asymmetric Digital Subscriber (ADSL) or FTTC connections, raises the price higher. 

However, when comparing prices between a leased line and a broadband connection, it is key to weigh up the benefits of speed, guaranteed performance and security against the disadvantage of steep pricing. 

Price can also be affected by your location, requirements, how much bandwidth you require and whether you would need voice capability as well as data transmission to be included. 

For a no-obligation quote, you can head over to our live chat and provide your postcode to get an accurate price from a member of our team. 

Installation Time 

Due to the complexity of the project, leased lines take much longer to install compared to broadband connections.

The process can take months rather than weeks since leased lines are installed point to point between your location and the local exchange. 

The installation process takes a lot of planning to ensure there’s no disruption to daily business operations which is something you need to consider when planning your project. Depending on your requirements Boxx can typically install within 30 to 90 days. 

Which Is Best for You?

After comparing and understanding the differences between leased lines and broadband connections, you should have a better idea of which one you prefer over the other. 

If there’s going to be a lot of business-critical traffic using your internet connection, then a leased line is likely to be a better option.

However, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution, and have fewer people in your office, a broadband connection could be the right way to go.

If you’d prefer to chat with a member of the Boxx team to get more information or an accurate, no-obligation quote then you can open a live chat with a team member and get answers right away, or give us a ring on 01908 350750. We’re happy to help.

Filed Under: Connectivity

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Leased Line

4th February 2022 by Molly Gill

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Leased Line

Leased Lines are a dedicated line from between two premises usually used by businesses to achieve high-speed internet connections and guaranteed upload and download speeds. 

It’s like renting a private lane on the motorway. On this private lane, you can determine the speed limit both ways. With a leased line connection, you will benefit from 100% of the bandwidth since your connection is not shared with anyone else. 

This means no more slow Wi-Fi at peak times or buffering video calls! 

The Advantages of a Leased Line 

Leased lines have several advantages over a standard broadband connection.

Faster Upload And Download Speeds

Leased lines offer a symmetrical internet connection, meaning that your connection will provide you with equal download and upload speed. This symmetrical connection will allow you to upload and download substantial amounts of data without any loss of speed. The connection is much more stable, and you will not have to wait for off-peak times to transfer data which is often the case with other internet connectivity solutions. 

Leased lines offer bandwidth transmission speeds between 10 Mbps and 10 Gbps upstream and downstream. This is called an “asynchronous” connection. This is perfect for services such as VoIP and cloud backup. 

Also, unlike your regular broadband connection, there are no usage caps on the amount of data you can transfer!

Reliability

Leased lines offer a more reliable connection compared to your standard DSL broadband. 

This is because our connection is consistent and ‘uncontended’ since you are the only one using it, it is not affected at peak times. 

It maintains its performance level 24/7 so you can always be connected and confident. You can also use as much data as you need for the monthly price agreed.

Support 

All leased lines come with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which guarantees that you will get a faster repair time in the unlikely event that any connectivity issues arise. 

This often means any failure is rectified within hours, not days or weeks which is standard for broadband connections. 

Security 

Dedicated lines can also protect against data corruption and cyberattacks. 

As more people adapt to hybrid working, hotdesking systems and full remote working this feature gives you greater confidence that your business and employees are protected. 

The Disadvantages of a Leased Line

Now all these excellent features do not come without a few downsides. We’ve listed some disadvantages of leased lines below that you should consider before installing a leased line for your business. 

Cost

Compared to other options like Asymmetric Digital Subscriber (ADSL) or FTTC connections, leased line are much more expensive. 

The inflated cost is due to the fact that the line is reserved exclusively for the leaseholder. However, the dedicated speed, guaranteed performance and security offered by them is what makes them so valuable to many business owners when comparing options.

The price can be influenced by several factors such as the speed of connection you want, how much bandwidth you need, your location, whether you would need voice capability as well as data transmission to be included. 

At Boxx you can get a leased line for as little as £149 per month, depending on your location. 

Longer Installation Process 

Installing a leased line can take months rather than weeks since it is a much more complex installation process than other connectivity options. 

They are installed point to point between your location and your internet service provider’s equipment. You would need to be confident and plan your project accordingly to ensure business communications continue uninterrupted. 

With Boxx, this process can take between 30 to 90 days depending on your requirements. 

Is a Leased Line Right For Me?

There are certainly some great benefits to leased lines that can improve your daily business operations massively once implemented, however, there are a few cons to consider before jumping into a purchase. 

If your company relies heavily on data transfers for its day-to-day operations a leased line is a must-have! 

Superfast internet access, uncontended connection, reliability, support, and security are added benefits next to the huge impact faster upload and download speeds will have on the efficiency of your business with a leased line. 

If you’d like to get an accurate, no-obligation quote now, simply jump onto our live chat and a member of our team will be happy to help you. 

You can also call us directly on 01908 350750 to discuss your options, any concerns, ideas and how Boxx can best support your business. We’re happy to help. 

Filed Under: Connectivity

What Is A Leased Line?

4th February 2022 by Molly Gill

What Is A Leased Line?

These days, a reliable internet connection is crucial for running a business.

But with so many options out there, you might be confused about which is going to be the right choice for your business.

One of those options is a Leased Line.

But what are Leased Lines? And how are they different from a broadband connection?

What Is A Leased Line?

In a quite simple sense, Leased Lines are like renting a private lane on a motorway for you to get to work. 

If motorways were internet lines this would be a private highway with a speed limit you decide to go both ways. 

More accurately, a leased line is a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth data connection. It allows companies to have reliable, high-quality Internet access, and guarantees upload and download speeds, uptime, and control. 

A leased line is ‘dedicated’ meaning that the bandwidth along the route of your leased line is reserved only for your use. 

“Leased” is not to be confused with financial services products, a car lease or a lease for office equipment. Leased in the context of a leased line refers to Internet service providers (ISPs) directly renting availability of their network to companies like Boxx who in turn provide customer services beyond standard broadband. 

What Is The Difference Between A Leased Line And Broadband?

This is a question you may ask yourself a lot when researching a new business connection.

Broadband is different because the connection is shared with other users. Leased lines are uncontended – i.e. Not shared with other users outside of your organisation. I’m sure you’re familiar with that slow, frustrating slow internet usually after school, on school holidays or even in the evenings. We go home, connect our phone, tablet, or TV, and start streaming, browsing, or downloading content and almost all media we consume is online. 

When everyone in your area is doing the same thing, this slows down your connection – just like a busy motorway. The busier the roads, the slower you can drive. 

Leased lines are symmetrical, which means that they have the same upload and download speed. Unlike broadband which is asymmetrical, meaning you have a much faster download. 

Asymmetrical connections work great for streaming and not so well for video calls where information is going both ways at the same time. Ever frozen but you can still hear and see the other side? Well, that could be because your upload speed has probably bottlenecked, so you aren’t sending information to the receiver while your download is working just fine with the incoming data streams. 

With a dedicated line, the bandwidth you need has been given to you, so only you can access it. This means that your connection will not be affected by peak hours throughout the day and it’s more secure.

How Do Leased Lines Work? 

A Leased Line is a dedicated physical line right into your building. The fibre is then terminated to a box on the wall known as an NTE. 

An NTE is a small box that takes the exterior Fibre cable and converts it to a connection (Ethernet) to connect to a managed router.

When the NTE converts Fibre to Ethernet, it is known as a “Copper presentation” 

A leased line can also be configured with a “Fibre presentation” if required for specific reasons. 

A fibre optic leased line works by delivering light pulses down a glass fibre cable, with data travelling at light speed to the NTE

Leased lines can scale up to 10Gbps (Gigabits per second) and can be adapted to your specific company needs, satisfying both capacity and financial constraints.

Confusingly Leased lines are often referred to in different ways. 

  • Full Fibre Ethernet
  • Fibre Ethernet
  • Ethernet Access Direct
  • DIA or Direct Internet Access
  • Ethernet (this one annoys us!

“An Internet leased line is a premium Internet connectivity product, normally delivered over fibre, which provides uncontended, symmetrical bandwidth with full-duplex traffic. It is also known as an Ethernet leased line, dedicated line, data circuit or private line.”

What Are The Advantages Of A Leased Line? 

There are so many advantages to investing in a leased line for your business. Check out our list below to decide if they’re the right fit for your company. 

Reliability

Improve reliability and performance-Internet connection for your use only 

You’ll never have to worry about a drop in your internet connection again with a dedicated line. It maintains its performance level 24/7 so you can always be connected and confident. You can also use as much data as you need for the monthly price agreed.

Symmetrical Upload and Download Speeds

Not only higher available speeds, up to 10Gbps but also the same speeds up as down.

Fast upload is very important for sharing large data files, video conferencing or running your own in-house servers to host websites. 

Support

If an unforeseen situation occurs, you will get a faster repair time since all leased lines come with a Service Level Agreement (SLA), guaranteeing immediate action for connectivity issues. Any failure is usually rectified within hours, not days or weeks which is often the case with broadband connections. 

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Leased Line?

Whilst there is a great range of advantages to having a leased line, there are also a few disadvantages you should consider before installation. 

Longer Installation Time

Installing a leased line takes a bit longer than broadband because each fire connection is unique and dedicated. Also, they are installed point to point between your location and your internet service provider’s equipment. This process can take between 30 to 90 days depending on your requirements. 

Cost

Leased lines are more expensive than broadband this is because they are reserved exclusively for the leaseholder. However, the dedicated speed, guaranteed performance and security offered by them is what makes them so valuable to many business owners when comparing options. 

Who Needs A Leased Line? 

Now after learning a bit more about leased lines and how they can benefit your business, you may be drawn to a leased line purely for the benefit of speed. 

Having superfast internet access in an era of increased cloud service usage makes a lot of sense. However, speed is simply one of the elements that make dedicated connections such an important part of a businesses’ infrastructure. The reliability of a dedicated line as well as the support offered through SLA’s mean that any failure is usually rectified within hours, not days or weeks. 

For companies that rely heavily on data in their day-to-day operations, a leased line is a must-have.

If you think a leased line could be the right option for your business, you can chat with a team member live or give us a ring on 01908 350750 and we’ll be able to help you decide if it would be a good fit. We’re happy to help.

FAQs

How Much Does A Leased Line Cost?

At Boxx you can get a leased line from £149 per month depending on your location. 

Head on over to our website for an accurate, no-obligation quote from one of our friendly team members. 

What Can Affect The Price Of A Leased Line?

Leased line pricing can be affected by location, bandwidth, and contract length. Let your provider know all your requirements and information for an accurate quote. 

How Long Does It Take For A Leased Line To Be Installed? 

Leased lines can take anywhere from 30-90 days to install based on your location and requirements. This is due to the complex installation method where a leased line will require a completely new circuit and labour to successfully connect to your location and your provider’s network. 

What’s The Difference Between A Leased Line And A Dedicated Line?

A “Leased Line” and a “Dedicated L ine” are the same thing – they’re simply different terms that are used interchangeably.

Filed Under: Connectivity

How businesses can embrace the future digital world with flexibility

1st March 2021 by Kelly Green

Last year was all about survival, and some businesses were more prepared than others. Those who had already taken steps towards digital transformation could accommodate the abrupt changes we all made to the way we live and work with greater ease, and this paid dividends.

This year, whilst there is still some uncertainty about what lies ahead, we can be sure of the necessity to embrace the digital world and be flexible if we want our businesses to grow and thrive.

Looking to the future

Organisations who adopt a forward-thinking approach will be looking to implement more efficient ways to work, such as maximising the use of cloud-based applications and switching to IP telephony solutions. Any business using such technologies over copper-based connectivity services such as ADSL or FTTC broadband is likely to experience frustrating productivity limitations.

Full-fibre connectivity is ultra-fast and resilient, which is needed to underpin these advanced digital solutions to ultimately future-proof businesses through 2021 and beyond.

When 'fibre' isn't fibre

Somewhat confusingly, internet connections can often be described as 'fibre' even when the fibre cable connects only part of the network. An FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) connection, for example, utilises fibre from the exchange to the street cabinet but then a slower copper cable from the cabinet to the final destination. Full-fibre, however, is just that; a fibre optic connection the entire route, from the exchange to a business premise.

fibre explained

Driving positive change

Here at Boxx, we're working in partnership with CityFibre, to change the perception that full-fibre internet connectivity is prohibitively expensive and, therefore, out of reach for SME's.

Boxx is proud to be one of a select number of City Champions that CityFibre has chosen to recognise our evident passion and commitment to helping our local business community thrive by unlocking their digital potential.

City Champion

Game-changing internet connectivity

The latest, exclusive CityFibre innovation proves it is possible to deliver a full-fibre connection that balances exceptionally high speed whilst retaining critical reliability without requiring a large financial investment.

With a symmetrical speed guaranteed at 200Mbps, which can also satisfy bandwidth surges up to 1Gbps, CityFibre's Ethernet Flex offering is more than cost-effective. The term 'symmetrical speed' means that collaboration tools such as Zoom or Teams work better, as do cloud-based services like Microsoft 365. The solution works by taking advantage of sensibly defined networking to give businesses the bandwidth they need, as and when they need it, without prior request, providing companies with all the flexibility they need.

Bridging the gap for smaller businesses

No longer will just larger organisations or those with bigger budgets reap the benefits of full-fibre connectivity here in Milton Keynes. Through the revolutionary CityFibre network, Boxx is enabling businesses to improve their productivity and fuel growth.

Dean Burgin, Co-Owner of Boxx quotes:

The last year has been a challenge for everyone, but the potential for businesses to flourish here in Milton Keynes is huge. Thanks to CityFibre's full-fibre offering and the Ethernet Flex solution, organisations of any size can access the connectivity they need to take full advantage of modern digital services. As a CityFibre City Champion, we are ready and eager to support our local community, building strong, sustainable businesses here in MK.

To learn more about the game-changing, full-fibre connectivity available here in Milton Keynes, visit our dedicated Gigabit MK page.

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Filed Under: Connectivity, How We Help, Services

Finalist in ‘Keeping Britain Working’ Award

12th October 2020 by Kelly Green

Of all the awards to be shortlisted for, we’re particularly proud of this one…

Finalists in the Keeping Britain Working category of the Comms National Awards (CNA’s), for our work with Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH).

When we first met with MKUH at the end of 2019, unreliable internet connectivity was hampering the digital transformation plans for the hospital. They had migrated to Microsoft 365 but struggled to use it, and patients were unable to access guest wi-fi due to the lack of available bandwidth.

They clearly had an urgent need for connectivity but were struggling to fulfil the requirement due to timeframes & capacity.

At this point, neither us, nor MKUH, could have predicted just how much things would change in the months ahead, nor just how critical sufficient and reliable connectivity would prove to be…

Milton Keynes University Hospital

(Image credit: All Things Business)

In Dec 2019 (after just 36 days of meeting) we deployed an initial 5/10Gbps CityFibre connection and despite the challenges of working through a global pandemic, a further two diverse carrier 5/10Gbps connections were installed during the early stages of lockdown.

This record-breaking delivery and increased bandwidth meant the hospital were much better equipped to cope during the pandemic. They have been able to...

  • Make use of the collaborative working tools within Microsoft 365, allowing staff to work flexibly, supporting social distancing yet without compromising quality of care.
  • Conduct video consultations with patients at home, which wouldn’t have been able to take place face-to-face.
  • Allow 4000 devices to connect to the public wi-fi service every 24hrs
  • Power wi-fi calling in areas of the hospital where mobile signal doesn't reach. A lifeline for patients who have been unable to have visitors.

Boxx are proud to have supported our local hospital in this project and are thrilled to have now been recognised for this in the Comms National Awards (CNA’s).

The CNA’s are normally a time for the industry to come together and celebrate the successes of the year in a variety of categories, including resellers, vendors and businesses alike.

Obviously, that is not able to happen this year but keen for the show to go on, the awards will be streamed live from London on 22nd October and we’ll be tuning in to watch with anticipation!

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New Products & Pricing for CityFibre services with Boxx

28th September 2020 by Kelly Green

Check if you can access gigabit speed internet at your business premises...

Earlier this year CityFibre announced Boxx as a City Champion for Milton Keynes and since then we have been working in partnership with the infrastructure provider to ensure that all businesses and service organisations in our hometown of Milton Keynes and the other Gigabit Cities across the UK are aware of and have access to, the full fibre network that has been built by CityFibre.

The need for full fibre is greater now than ever before and gigabit speed internet (equal to 1000Mbps) is here to support businesses of all sizes. Whether that’s using VoIP telephony solutions, video conferencing, cloud storage or cloud-based software, the requirement for a reliable lightning speed connection is now considered business critical.

CityFibre have worked hard to continue to build throughout the COVID pandemic and as a result their infrastructure is serving many businesses in Milton Keynes (and in many more Gigabit Cities across the UK), including Milton Keynes University Hospital with gigabit speed internet.

Our new online postcode checker allows you to do just that…

Check whether your business premises is able to access CityFibre’s gigabit speed network.

But that’s not to say that if your business is not close enough to the infrastructure CityFibre have built, you can’t access full fibre. Boxx can access a variety of supplier networks which means that we can provide the very best solutions for each and every customer.

Either way, we’re here to help fellow businesses of Milton Keynes and beyond, capitalise on the benefits that full fibre brings.

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