Internet Leased Line Vs. Broadband Explained: Why MSMEs Are Switching to Dedicated Connectivity

Choosing the right internet connectivity provider in today’s digital-first era goes beyond cost; it is about having a competitive edge, ensuring business continuity and always staying connected.

While both broadband and internet leased line (ILL) provide internet access, broadband is ideal for residential use, and internet leased line connectivity is known to be the ultimate business connectivity solution. Understanding the key differences between them is critical to ensuring that you pick one that best aligns with your business requirements.

Read to learn more about the key differences between broadband and internet leased lines, their benefits, common misconceptions about them, and how Vi Internet Leased Lines offers superior connectivity with exceptional service.

Understanding Business Broadband

Business broadband utilises shared infrastructure to deliver internet connectivity to enterprises. This means that multiple users in the same vicinity share the same connection. This often leads to network congestion during peak usage periods and asymmetrical download and upload speeds. Typically, the download speed is higher than the upload speed. While that is not an issue if you are simply browsing the web or streaming, it can be a problem for cloud backup and video calls.

Broadbands also don’t have strict SLAs, which means that you might be assured a certain speed, but the actual internet performance may vary. Business broadband connections are ideal for households and small businesses. However, they aren’t ideal for medium-sized businesses or MSMEs evolving at a rapid pace.

What is Internet Leased Line Connectivity?

‘Internet Leased line connectivity’ refers to a dedicated, point-to-point connection between your enterprise premises and the internet service provider. It offers secure, guaranteed, and scalable bandwidth exclusively for your business, meaning you don’t have to share the bandwidth with any other party, unlike in the case of a broadband network.

Hence, you can enjoy uninterrupted data with Internet leased line connectivity even during peak usage times.

Common Misconceptions About Internet Leased Lines and Broadband

There are misconceptions associated with both broadband and internet leased lines. We have decided to debunk some of the common myths about them so that you can make an informed decision for your enterprise connectivity.

• Myth #1: Internet Leased Lines Are Only for Large Businesses

  This belief is outdated. MSMEs can largely benefit from internet leased lines, as they help to streamline their business operations and be on par with large companies in terms of operational efficiency. Today, with increasing competition and newer technologies like Ethernet over MPLS, internet leased lines have become much more affordable. MSMEs with modest bandwidth can also justify the cost of internet leased lines, as it will help boost their productivity like never before.

• Myth #2: Broadband Is More Cost-Effective

  There is no denying that broadband has a lower upfront cost. However, the total cost of ownership is higher, considering factors such as productivity losses due to downtime, reduced speeds during peak hours, and potential security risks. Though they have a slightly higher initial cost, internet leased lines offer better value for money and are more cost-effective in the long run.

• Myth #3: Broadband Speed Claims Are Guaranteed

  Broadband speeds are not guaranteed, unlike in the case of internet leased lines. Typically, broadband companies market their services with an ‘up to’ speed claim, which is not the guaranteed speed. The actual performance may vary depending on network congestion, infrastructure quality, and distance from service points. The peak-hour slowdowns and lag during upload times can negatively impact your business.

Internet Leased Line vs. Broadband: A Detailed Comparison

The Internet leased line vs. broadband debate is not new. Internet leased lines and broadband differ significantly in terms of reliability, performance, security and other key features. Here are the key differences between Internet leased line and broadband that MSME leaders must know:

• Consistency and Reliability

  Internet leased lines are known to provide a fast and steady network with lower latency and symmetrical upload and download speeds. On the other hand, broadband networks might be cheaper, but they often witness speed fluctuations during peak usage hours.

  This inconsistency in speed can impact critical business operations for companies that heavily rely on cloud-based applications or real-time communications.

• Bandwidth and Speed

  Internet leased lines offer enterprises guaranteed bandwidth no matter what time of the day. This consistency in speed is valuable for businesses that perform time-critical operations or handle large data transfers.

  Business broadband generally offers ‘up to’ speeds, which most of the time is not the actual broadband speed. The contended nature and inconsistent speed of broadband networks make them less desirable for businesses seeking network connectivity that offers low latency and minimum downtime.

• Scalability and Flexibility

  Internet leased lines offer scalable and flexible bandwidth. They allow businesses to upgrade or lower their connection speeds depending on business demands. This scalability and flexibility make them ideal for MSMEs that are constantly evolving at a rapid pace.

  Business broadband offers some scalability options; however, they are limited by the underlying infrastructure in your area. Changing the internet speed in the case of broadband may require costly infrastructure changes or may not be possible beyond certain thresholds.

• Dedicated Support

  Internet leased lines offer a dedicated account manager for your network connectivity and 24/7 monitoring of your network. This allows you peace of mind knowing that if anything goes wrong with your network, there is a team of experts that will fix it as soon as possible. On the other hand, broadband provides standard business support that may not be as comprehensive and proactive as the ones offered by internet leased lines.

• Strict Service Level Agreements

  An internet leased line provides its customers with SLA or Service Level Agreements, that mention the minimum level of performance that the enterprise can expect and the guaranteed response and resolution time. These SLAs also tell enterprises the kind of compensation they will receive in the event of a failure to live up to those promises. On the other hand, broadband internet connections typically don’t offer such strict SLAs to their customers.

Benefits of Internet Leased Line Connectivity for MSMEs

There are numerous advantages of choosing an internet leased line over broadband for MSMEs. Here’s why you must switch to internet leased lines:

• Improves Business Continuity

  MSMEs require an internet connection that offers consistent connectivity with minimum downtime. Internet leased lines allow enterprises to host multiple apps, email servers, and websites seamlessly with reliable and symmetrical internet speed.

  This uninterrupted and reliable speed translates to an increase in productivity, reduced downtime and enhanced customer support.

• Optimises Performance for Cloud-Based Services

  Today, contemporary businesses rely heavily on cloud-based services. A reliable internet leased line, like the one by Vi Business, will ensure that you can access cloud-based services from across the globe without any internet issue. The dedicated bandwidth and low latency of leased lines offer smooth operation of cloud applications, enhanced user experience and operational efficiency.

• Improves Business Credibility & Builds Customer Trust

  Internet leased lines provide businesses with uninterrupted high-speed internet that translates to consistent email access, reliable website hosting and seamless video conferences. With an internet leased line connection, enterprises can focus on improving their business without having to worry about network issues. It enables enterprises to provide their customers with 24/7 customer support and gain their trust and confidence.

The Bottomline

MSMEs must keep in mind factors like their specific business needs, growth trajectory, and operational priorities before they decide on a connectivity solution. While broadband offers lower upfront costs, internet leased lines provide superior reliability and optimal performance that can remarkably boost productivity and business continuity.

For MSMEs looking to scale their business, investing in Vi Internet Leased Line (ILL) can turn out to be a strategic decision that pays dividends in enhanced operational efficiency and customer trust.

Why Choose Vi Internet Leased Line (ILL)?

Looking for an Internet leased line provider that offers high-speed, secure and scalable bandwidth? Vi Internet Leased Line (ILL) enables MSMEs to revolutionise their business connectivity like never before. Our internet leased lines support website hosting, email servers, and e-commerce portals. Our Service Level Agreement (SLAs) guarantees network uptime of 99.9% on dual last mile and 99.5% on single last mile connections.

Now break free from geographical boundaries and seamlessly access a wide range of cloud-based applications from anywhere across the globe. Stay in complete control with useful insights on network performance and usage visibility available to you at your fingertips through an online reporting dashboard. Whether you need Managed WAN, Managed DDoS protection, Burstable bandwidth, or our flexible Bandwidth on Demand services, we've engineered solutions that can match your evolving business needs.

Get in touch with our experts today to learn more about how Vi Internet Leased Line (ILL) can drive your business into its next growth phase.