Leased lines are dedicated communication links rented by businesses for reliable and fast connectivity. They offer businesses a premium and dependable connectivity solution with benefits such as dedicated bandwidth, reliability, and the ability to scale according to business growth.

Unlike regular internet, leased lines offer symmetrical speeds, ensuring consistent upload and download performance. They provide high data capacity, reliability with service level agreements, scalability for growing needs, and support for prioritising specific types of traffic. Leased lines enhance security, contribute to business continuity, and offer consistent performance, making them suitable for businesses with demanding connectivity requirements. They are also ideal for connecting to cloud services, ensuring high performance and reliability.

What are the different types of leased line?

1. Point-to-Point Leased Line

Connects two specific locations, providing a dedicated and private communication channel between them. Ideal for organisations with multiple offices that need secure and direct communication between specific locations.

2. Ethernet Leased Line

Uses Ethernet technology to provide a dedicated point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connection. Suited for businesses requiring high-bandwidth connections for data-intensive applications, such as video conferencing or large file transfers.

3. MPLS Leased Line

Leverages Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology to create a private and secure network that connects multiple locations. Suitable for organisations with multiple offices or branches that need a secure and scalable network for data and voice communication.

4. Dark Fibre Leased Line

Involves leasing unused optical fibres in fibre-optic cables. Organisations have control over the equipment and technology used over the leased dark fibre. Commonly chosen by businesses requiring maximum control and scalability, especially for large-scale data-intensive operations.

5. Internet Leased Line

Offers a dedicated and symmetrical internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth. Unlike traditional broadband, the bandwidth is not shared with other users.  Suited for businesses with high internet usage and critical reliance on stable and fast internet connectivity.

6. Dedicated Line Access

Provides a dedicated line for accessing specific services, such as Direct Internet Access (DIA) or connecting to a data centre. Useful for businesses requiring reliable and dedicated access to specific online services or data centre resources.

7. Wireless Leased Line

Uses wireless technology, such as microwave or radio frequency, to establish a dedicated point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connection. Suitable for locations where laying physical cables is challenging or cost-prohibitive, offering a reliable alternative for high-speed connectivity.

What are the benefits of having a leased line?

Dedicated Connection

Leased lines provide a dedicated, exclusive connection between the business premises and the service provider’s network. This ensures that the available bandwidth is not shared with other users, resulting in consistent and reliable performance.

Symmetrical Speeds

Leased lines offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is crucial for businesses that need to upload large files, host services, or engage in video conferencing.

High Bandwidth

Leased lines provide high bandwidth capacity, making them suitable for data-intensive applications, video streaming, and other bandwidth-hungry tasks.

Reliability

With a leased line, businesses experience high reliability and minimal downtime. The dedicated nature of the line reduces the risk of network congestion and slowdowns.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Leased line services often come with SLAs, guaranteeing a certain level of performance, uptime, and support. This ensures a higher quality of service compared to standard broadband.

Scalability

Businesses can easily scale the bandwidth of a leased line to accommodate growing data requirements. This scalability allows flexibility in adapting to changing business needs.

Secure Connection

Leased lines provide a private and secure connection, reducing the risk of data breaches or unauthorised access. This is especially important for businesses handling sensitive information.

Low Latency

Leased lines typically offer low latency, minimizing delays in data transmission. This is crucial for real-time applications, such as VoIP and video conferencing.

Support for Cloud Services

Leased lines are well-suited for connecting to cloud services, ensuring a fast and reliable link to access cloud-based applications and data.

Improved Remote Access

For businesses with remote workers, a leased line facilitates efficient and reliable remote access to the company’s network, supporting activities like virtual private network (VPN) connections.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Many leased line services support QoS features, allowing businesses to prioritise and manage different types of network traffic according to their requirements2