What Is The Difference Between Broadband And Dedicated Internet

The Internet plays a crucial role in many businesses today, as it facilitates access to cloud applications, conferencing, voice over IP, virtual private networks, file sharing, email, and more. Hence, a business needs to have a dependable Internet connection. For businesses starting or expanding, it is crucial to understand the key differences between dedicated and broadband Internet. Understanding these options will help ensure the smooth operation of the business and its future growth.

While the technicalities of Internet access may seem daunting, there are simple differences that can be easily comprehended. It is essential to have a thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each before making a decision.

What Is Dedicated Connection?

A dedicated Internet connection is a service provided by a provider that allocates a designated amount of bandwidth exclusively for that connection. The allocated bandwidth is not shared with any other users or entities, providing consistent performance and high reliability. This type of Internet access is referred to as DIA and is available in several connection options.

• Leased Lines
• Gigabit Internet
• Metro Ethernet
• Ethernet Over Copper
• Dedicated Fixed Wireless

The cost of each circuit type is based on the bandwidth speed and the contract's length, usually for 1, 2, or 3 years. The bandwidth you receive is guaranteed when you opt for a dedicated Internet connection. Key performance metrics such as network latency, packet loss, uptime, and repair timeframes are also ensured through a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This agreement ensures that your Internet connection operates at a consistent level of service and high quality of service (QoS), regardless of the time of day or the number of users online in the area.

What Is A BroadBand?

A broadband Internet connection is a shared network among multiple users in a given area who share a larger connection. Unlike dedicated Internet service, the amount of bandwidth offered is subject to the maximum available speed or the speed included in the package. There are no guarantees regarding the speed or quality of the connection, which can vary depending on the ISP's network traffic and congestion. It is common for users to experience slower Internet speeds during peak hours and better performance late at night.

The speed of the broadband connection is highly variable, leading to fluctuations in performance that can negatively impact applications and user experience. This unpredictability in performance and reliability is the primary difference between dedicated Internet and broadband service. The following are the typical types of broadband Internet connections:

• DSL
• Cable
• Wireless
• Satellite

The bandwidth speeds of broadband connections are asymmetrical, meaning that download speeds are good, but upload speeds are poor. It is a concern for businesses that require high upload speeds to send data to applications and users.

Dedicated Internet Vs. Broadband

Given the contrasts in performance and reliability between dedicated Internet and broadband connections, it's important to consider your business's daily tasks and activities when making a decision. Careful consideration of the Internet usage needs of your employees is essential in choosing the right option for your company. The following are the key differences between dedicated Internet and broadband connectivity.

Symmetric Upload & Download Speeds

One of the key advantages of dedicated Internet over shared Internet is the guaranteed bandwidth. With dedicated Internet, downloads and uploads have consistent and symmetrical speeds, which ensures the smooth operation of applications and eliminates slowdowns that can impact business operations. Businesses that frequently deal with large file uploads will benefit from the dedicated Internet's high upload speed and low latency. VOIP and video conferencing applications also require consistent upload performance to maintain quality service (QoS).

For businesses with tight deadlines, dedicated Internet provides the necessary consistency and reliability to meet these time constraints. As time is often money for certain industries, dedicated Internet is the preferred choice for businesses that require a reliable and predictable Internet connection.

Better Throughput

When experiencing a sudden decrease in Internet speed, many people turn to run a speed test to check their bandwidth speed in Mbps. However, bandwidth speed is not the only metric determining true Internet performance. Network latency, which refers to the speed in milliseconds that data travels, also plays a critical role. A lower latency equates to better performance. Another important factor is packet loss, which occurs when one or more packets of data fail to reach their destination during transmission across a network. Lower packet loss results in fewer dropped connections and application timeouts, leading to better overall performance.

All of these metrics come into play when considering the overall throughput and bandwidth performance. A good analogy for an Internet connection would be a highway on-ramp. If the service provider's backbone network is viewed as the highway itself, it is easy to see how having a large on-ramp (high bandwidth speed) can still result in poor performance if the highway is congested with traffic. On the other hand, dedicated Internet connections offer consistent performance for all these factors and ensure smooth operations.

Higher Quality of Service – QoS

Performance metrics such as packet loss, latency, network uptime, and jitter play a crucial role in determining the speed and quality of an Internet connection. Businesses need assurance that their applications will run smoothly and consistently. To address these concerns, dedicated Internet providers offer a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees performance metrics for the connection. If these guarantees are not met, the business will receive SLA credits as compensation for the provider's failure to deliver the promised service level. In contrast, there are no performance guarantees with broadband connectivity.

Quicker Troubleshooting

Regarding addressing issues and outages, response time is an important factor to consider. Dedicated Internet connections have a defined mean time to repair (MTTR) in the Service Level Agreement (SLA), which outlines the time frame for resolving problems. On average, the MTTR for dedicated Internet connections is usually within 4 hours or less. In comparison, shared Internet connections may take several hours to several days to resolve an issue without any guaranteed time frame. This lack of guaranteed response time can devastate businesses that rely on Internet connectivity, even with backup solutions.

Higher Monthly Cost

The cost advantage of broadband Internet is a major selling point, as it tends to be cheaper with a lower monthly fee over the contract period. However, these cost savings come with trade-offs in terms of performance, reliability, and support. While a shared Internet connection may be suitable for small households or offices, it can pose significant challenges for larger businesses that heavily depend on the performance of their Internet connection.

Conclusion

Dedicated Internet and broadband Internet are two types of Internet access for businesses. Dedicated Internet provides dedicated bandwidth with consistent performance, reliability, and a Service Level Agreement (SLA) guarantee. Broadband Internet is a shared network with varying speeds and quality, depending on network traffic.