Shared versus Dedicated Internet Access – Choosing the right Connectivity for your Business

In this post, we’ll explain the difference between the two options and consider the reasons why you might pick one over the other.

Shared Internet Access (SIA)

For businesses that rely on bandwidth and latency sensitive services such as VoIP calling or video conferencing, the type of connection they choose is crucial to ensure uninterrupted communication. While many providers market their services based on bandwidth speeds, it’s important to understand the limitations of shared internet access (SIA) in meeting the specific needs of business users.

Shared internet access providers often advertise maximum possible speeds, using phrases like ‘up to 100 Mbps’. However, it’s important to note that access is shared among concurrent users, meaning that available bandwidth is divided between them. This reliance on shared access assumes that not everyone will be engaging in data-intensive activities simultaneously. However, in reality, the speed experienced by individual users depends on the overall usage of the network. If a large number of customers are simultaneously uploading or downloading large files, streaming video, or participating in web conferencing, the speed and performance of the connection can be significantly impacted.

While shared internet access may be suitable for residential users, who are typically engaged in non-critical online activities, it may prove to be a false economy for businesses. The unpredictable performance levels and network issues that arise when there are ‘too many’ simultaneous users could lead to frustrating experiences for employees and a decline in productivity. Jittery VoIP calls, video content breaking up, and difficulty accessing essential websites can hinder business operations.

Although it is cheap, this type of connection could turn out to be false economy for business customers. You’ll need to examine whether or not your operations could cope with a service that varies in performance from minute to minute, or with network issues that occur when there are ‘too many’ simultaneous users. Some companies get around this by over-purchasing bandwidth (i.e. buying more than they need) in order to account for slow-downs during peak usage periods, but the unpredictable performance levels that go hand-in-hand with SIA could end up frustrating your staff and impacting on productivity.

Moreover, the level of technical support provided for shared internet access is often inadequate for business users. Contracts are typically delivered and managed on a ‘best effort’ basis, meaning that while the internet service provider (ISP) will strive to provide a smooth service, they do not offer guarantees on performance or response time during outages. This lack of reliability and consistency can be detrimental to businesses that rely on a stable internet connection for critical operations. Fibre services such as SOGEA, FTTC and FTTP are examples of services where problem resolution times are longer than with dedicated internet services, and where the service level agreements (SLA) are on a best endeavours basis only.

Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)

To ensure a reliable and consistent internet connection for VoIP services, businesses may find dedicated internet access (DIA) to be a safer bet. DIA offers the stability, speed, and symmetrical connection that is essential for businesses handling multiple concurrent calls at high quality. With DIA, businesses can ensure fast response times and reliable call quality, enhancing overall communication effectiveness and productivity. Ethernet leased line connections are the preferred connectivity choice for business customers seeking dedicated internet access.

Dedicated internet access services tend to be symmetrical, meaning that they provide the same upload and download speeds. This is an important consideration if you transfer files in both directions, use remote office connections, make phone calls, access cloud services or use video conferencing. In contract most shared internet access services offer asymmetrical speeds, with inferior upload speeds; these can have a detrimental effect on productivity. With dedicated internet access there are rarely any such limitations, so your network can perform continuous file transfers (e.g. remote data backup), stream audio and video more smoothly, and deliver reliable cloud connectivity.

As you’d expect, dedicated internet access is more expensive than shared internet access, because a single customer bears the entire cost of their connection. Whilst smaller businesses may have budgetary constraints (hence pushing them towards SIA-based fibre connections), for many organisations the improved user experience means a dedicated connection is a no-brainer. The assurance of reliable and consistent bandwidth speeds, guaranteed uptime, increased productivity and prioritised technical support, delivered by a business-focussed account management team and backed up with a robust service level agreement far outweighs a lower cost SIA connection, making DIA a worthwhile investment if funds allow.

In conclusion, while shared internet access may seem attractive due to its low cost, it may not be suitable for businesses that heavily rely on services such as Internet telephony or video conferencing. The limitations in performance, unpredictable speeds, and lack of service level based technical support make dedicated internet access a more appropriate choice for businesses seeking a stable and consistent internet connection for their critical operations.

What internet is best for your businesses?

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