7 frequently asked questions about leased lines

Looking for answers to your leased line questions? In this comprehensive blog, we cover seven frequently asked questions about leased lines that we receive at T2k. Read on to learn about its benefits, features and how it can transform your business connectivity.

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Introduction

If your business is considering an upgrade to leased lines, it's natural to have various questions about its benefits and features. At T2k, we receive many questions daily about leased lines, so we have gathered the most frequently asked queries from businesses like yours. Our team of experts have carefully crafted comprehensive answers to these inquiries, aiming to provide you with a clear understanding of leased lines, their functionality and the advantages they could offer your business.

Are the answers you are looking for not in this blog? Then please get in touch with T2k today, where our team of experts are here to help you gain a better understanding of leased lines before you upgrade. 

What is a leased line?

Let's start with the basics first: what is a leased line? A leased line (also known as a private circuit) is a fixed-bandwidth, dedicated fibre internet connection between two or more locations. It enables super-fast internet speeds because it operates with a private connection that does not need to be shared with any other business or building. 

The word 'leased' refers to the direct rental connection offered by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to businesses, delivering a level of service that surpasses the capabilities of standard broadband.

Are leased lines cost-effective?

If you've compared the costs of leased lines with broadband, you've likely noticed the price difference associated with having a dedicated line for your business. This might lead you to wonder: are leased lines truly a cost-effective choice for my business? 

If you are a company that relies on fast-speed connectivity and requires lots of bandwidth to carry out tasks, then leased lines will be highly cost-effective for your business, and here's why:

Increased productivity

You will notice a significant boost in productivity as it will take much faster to complete tasks. Say goodbye to slow loading times because, with a dedicated line, everything you do online will process swiftly, enabling you to finish jobs more efficiently.

Support

With leased lines, you will have 27/4 support from your provider, meaning that if an issue arises, you will receive prompt resolution. Faster solutions mean you can quickly get back online and resume your operations.

What are the benefits of a leased line?

Having a leased line can come with many benefits. Here are four plus points you can expect from upgrading to a leased line for your business. 

Cost-effective 

Leased lines offer significant savings if your business relies on high-speed internet, as it will help with workforce productivity. See above in 'Are leased lines cost-effective' for a more detailed overview of how leased lines are great value for money. 

High internet speeds 

When using leased lines, you can bid farewell to the frustrations of jittery streaming, sluggish downloads and unreliable internet connections. Leased lines outpace traditional broadband by a significant margin, offering rapid and stable internet access. Many businesses choose leased lines not only for their superior speed but also for their quick uploads and downloads.

Low latency

If your business relies heavily on cloud-based services like VoIP for communication, you'll enjoy minimal disruptions and much smoother, efficient task processing. Picture an internet connection that enables seamless video conferencing without call drops and lightning-fast file transfers that keep pace with your needs.

Will my business benefit from a leased line?

If you are deciding about upgrading your business internet to a leased line, we suggest considering the following questions:

  • Do I need fast internet to complete daily tasks?
  • Does my business rely on fast speeds to get jobs done?
  • Do I deal with heavy data files?
  • Does my current internet get in the way of completing jobs efficiently?
  • Do I constantly save tasks until later during off-peak hours?
  • How would my business benefit if I had faster internet speeds?
  • Does my current internet reflect poorly on customer service due to slower response times during peak periods?

If many of those questions resonate with you and you find yourself answering yes to many of them, then considering a leased line for your business is a wise choice.

Leased lines are a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes, be it a startup or a large corporation. Ultimately, the decision comes down to how fast you want your internet to be.

What are the speeds of a leased line?

Leased lines offer speeds ranging from 10Mbps (megabits per second) to 1Gbps (gigabits per second). The most popular connection speeds are 2Mbps, 10Mbps, and 100Mbps. These speeds can be customised to align with your business needs, ensuring they match your capacity requirements and budget constraints.

The following are our internet speed recommendations based on different business sizes:

  • Small to medium-sized business: Typically, a small to medium-sized business benefits from speeds ranging between 10Mbps and 30Mbps.
  • Medium to large business: A medium to large business typically requires an initial circuit capacity starting from 100Mbps to 1Gbps.

If you would like further advice on what internet speed your business would benefit from, get in touch with us today

Leased line vs broadband

The main difference between leased lines and broadband is their dedicated nature and service quality. Leased lines provide businesses with a private, dedicated internet connection that is exclusively reserved for their use. This means the bandwidth is not shared with other users, which provides consistent and reliable speeds at all times. 

On the other hand, broadband connections are typically shared among multiple users in a specific area, which can lead to fluctuations in speed, especially during peak usage hours. 

Leased lines offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, making them ideal for businesses requiring stable and fast internet for activities like video conferencing, large data transfers and cloud-based applications. While leased lines are more expensive than broadband, their reliability and guaranteed performance make them indispensable for businesses where uninterrupted internet connectivity is critical for daily operations. 

Broadband, on the other hand, is a cost-effective solution suitable for smaller businesses or residential users with lower demands for consistent high-speed internet.

What are the different leased line options?

Full Fibre Leased Line

A Full Fibre Leased Line is a high-performance internet connection that utilises pure fibre-optic cables from end to end. Businesses experience symmetrical upload and download speeds, making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks like video conferencing, large data transfers and using cloud-based applications. 

This technology guarantees a consistent, high-quality connection, which makes it a top choice for enterprises that require fast internet access. A Full Fibre Leased Line is the fastest and, of course, the most expensive option.

Ethernet in the First Mile 

Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) is a leased line that combines the reliability of Ethernet technology with the accessibility of traditional copper lines in the initial segment of the connection. EFM bridges the gap between standard broadband and dedicated leased lines, offering higher speeds and reliability than typical ADSL connections. 

EFM achieves symmetric speeds using multiple copper pairs, meaning the upload and download rates are the same. EFM is especially beneficial for businesses where full fibre connections might be limited, providing a stable and cost-effective alternative for consistent internet performance.

Ethernet over FTTC

Ethernet over FTTC (EoFTTC) is a leased line variant that leverages Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology. This combines fibre-optic connections to the street cabinet with the existing copper infrastructure for the final stretch to the business premises.

EoFTTC provides faster and more reliable internet compared to standard broadband by minimising the distance data travels over copper cables. While it offers improved performance, EoFTTC is generally more affordable than full fibre options, making it an attractive choice for businesses seeking a balance between speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

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Want to learn more about leased lines? T2k is here to help

Whether you are ready to get started with leased lines or need some further clarification on whether it would benefit you, we are here to help. Our expert team is here to help you find the best options for your business. Get in touch with us today to discuss the choices and find the best solution for you.

Lee Clarke
Sales Director

Having worked for T2k for nearly 25 years, it's fair to say that Lee is an expert when it comes to all things telephony and business communications. Overseeing the commercial side of the business, he has helped the company evolve and grow through the decades. In recent years, and with the advent of VoIP and hosted telephony, Lee has made sure that T2k is at the forefront of technological developments. With a firm interest in helping businesses navigate the world of telecoms, Lee is responsible for the majority of the content on this website.

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