If your business relies on heavy bandwidth applications like web hosting, VoIP phone service, and video conferencing, having a dedicated Internet access connection is a must. Vendors can offer an always-on broadband connection providing seamless communication and data exchange for all size businesses. And the high-speed connection can be up to 30 times faster than dial-up ensuring clearer signals, faster connections, and quicker downloads.
A dedicated Internet service means having access to the full amount of bandwidth you pay for. Unlike other Internet solutions where you have to share a server with other users, you get an entire server exclusive to your business. The server can support hundreds of users at once and quality varies based on the number of people online at the same time. A dedicated Internet service can also handle expected and unexpected increases in traffic.
You can select the amount of dedicated Internet access bandwidth you want and can adjust that amount based on need and budget. A vendor can even permit you to use more bandwidth than you’re allotted using a burstable T1 line. This means you have access to additional bandwidth but only pay for what you use.
Reliability is an important factor in choosing a dedicated Internet access connection. With service level agreements (SLA), vendors guarantee your connection will be available 99.99% of time over the course of a year. An SLA protects your business from excessive downtime that could negatively impact your business. Vendors also provide 24x7x365 monitoring of your connection to locate potential problems before they happen.
Pricing considerations
When shopping for a dedicated Internet service, you must consider the various fees. In addition to the regularly monthly costs, you also have to pay one-time setup fees, local loop equipment and usage charges, and optional firewalls. Also, vendors require a service contract of one to three years.