ADSL vs leased lines – which one is best for your business?

Discover the difference between ADSL and Leased Line so you can choose the right option.

What is the difference between ADSL and Leased Line?

It’s increasingly rare to find a business that isn’t committed to using the internet for day-to-day communication via email or VoIP, accessing the web and more. As businesses become more and more reliant on cloud services and data storage, they’re going to need the internet more than ever before. This spotlights the need for a reliable connection to the web that is geared to meeting needs of the business.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a common option to get online, but there are a number of other alternatives technologies available such as leased lines in various forms. But what’s the difference between leased line and ADSL and which will work best for your business? Factors including the size of your organisation, how you intend to use the internet, and how much you rely on it for your day-to-day operations will apply.

Is ADSL the same as broadband?

ADSL is a form of shared broadband connection that uses copper wires. The main ADSL vs leased lines distinction is how data from your business gets to the data centre of your service provider. A leased line connects your premises solely, whereas broadband routes the data over a shared connection.

There are a number of differences in the way the circuits work which we’ll look at in more detail. The best choice for your business will depend on how you use the internet, how many people work for your business, and where they’re located.

What is ADSL?

ADSL broadband is essentially the same internet service that you have at home. It’s a shared connection once it leaves your home or business and speeds will vary depending on the type of connection. It’s an asynchronous connection – ADSL = Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line – which means download speeds are faster than uploads. It is a contended connection so at peak times performance may suffer as more people are using the connection. On the plus side, it’s readily available almost anywhere in the UK and it comes at a lower price than a leased line.

What is a Leased line?

So, how do ADSL vs leased lines differ? A leased line is a connection that you rent for your exclusive use. It offers a direct link from your premises to the data centre of your service provider. It is usually via a fibre optic connection, either direct or via Ethernet over Fibre To The Cabinet (EoFTTC), but can also use technology such as Ethernet First Mile (EFM) partially carried over copper cables.

One advantage of leased line over broadband is that it’s synchronous, the same speed in both directions. Its an exclusive circuit there is also no contention from other businesses or individuals using the connection. Performance levels remain the same at all times. There are also no limits on the amount of data you can transfer.

Leased line connections cost more than broadband, but for most, the extra cost will be outweighed by the fact that leased lines come with robust SLAs. Leased lines have longer lead times for installation than ADSL, so if you are moving offices plan your needs in advance.

Key service considerations

The key consideration when comparing ADSL vs leased lines is how your business uses the web. If your internet usage is mainly sending email, accessing the web and the odd bit of cloud storage for backups, then an ADSL connection may well be all you need.

Where the advantage of leased lines really comes in is the more intensive use of the internet for business. If you’re heavily reliant on cloud services for business systems – services such as Google Docs or Office 360 – then the guaranteed speed you get from a leased line connection can help.

Services needing high bandwidth like video conferencing or VoIP calling will also benefit from a leased line. Also, think about how you use data. If you regularly need to upload large files – archive documents, designs, contracts, etc – then there’s benefit to having a synchronous connection with equal upload and download speeds.

If you share information regularly with customers and suppliers, then again a leased line scores over ADSL. The reliability and speed of a leased line will deliver a better quality of experience and improve productivity.

How important is connectivity to your business?

If you were to lose internet access for a day or just for a few hours, what effect would it have? As leased lines are business-focused products they have service level agreements that reflect their importance.

Unlike ADSL, leased line providers should offer guaranteed uptime levels and better target fix times in the event of problems. For companies that rely heavily on reliable internet access, this is a major consideration. When choosing service providers, therefore, make sure that the service level agreement reflects the needs of the business.

Look too at what skills and experience the service provider has to offer. Membership of professional bodies and accreditations from equipment and software suppliers, for example, will offer evidence that they have the skills needed to maintain a high-quality service.

At Leasedline.co.uk we have wholesale agreements with all the UK’s top leased line providers. Our volume purchasing power enables us to offer you the best price. Here’s just a selection of the leading providers our expert team work with to offer you the best packages;

• BT Leased Lines
• Virgin Leased Lines
• Vodafone Dedicated Internet Access

Decision time

We’ve looked at the difference between ADSL and Leased Line, and seen that each have advantages and drawbacks. Which one is going to be the correct solution for you and your business?

ADSL broadband is a fast connection that will be adequate for many smaller or start-up businesses, and is relatively cheap. A leased line delivers greater reliability with appropriate SLAs and high speeds in both directions. A good choice as a business grows larger, or where online access is increasingly critical.

Compare broadband leased line packages for your business!

At Leasedline.co.uk, we are proud to offer leased line solutions to businesses of all sizes. You can guarantee that our team will help you find the perfect leased line deal, get in touch online today.