Doug Romi at Bluebird discusses the hidden costs of shared broadband vs. the value of dedicated internet.
When evaluating the best network solution that meets the needs of a business or organization, IT leaders are inundated by a plethora of claims that tout the merits of one technology solution over another. Broadband is pitched as the least expensive alternative, but its limited performance capabilities as a shared service are often insufficient.
MPLS offers a high-speed IP connectivity option for a wide area network with the performance characteristics of traditional private line services, but an MPLS solution can result in under-utilized bandwidth at considerable expense. SD-WAN can offer a more flexible solution, but the promised cost savings do not always measure up and the software-driven, overlay network platform can be over-engineered for what the business requires, adding unnecessary cost and complexity to managing the network.
With so much of the spotlight on either the latest generation networking technology or “cheap and cheerful” approach, the advantages of dedicated internet solutions are sometimes overlooked when seeking to cost-effectively maximize the reliability, security, and ultimately, scalability of a company’s network.
Dedicated Internet vs. Shared Broadband
While shared broadband is the less-expensive network connectivity option, the adage “you get what you pay for” holds true. With shared broadband, the service tiers are based on maximum bandwidth. Yet the actual speeds available to customers are often inconsistent, varying hour to hour depending on network usage shared among multiple customers. The shared nature of the infrastructure means that during peak usage times, performance can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating lags and disruptions.
Imagine shared broadband as a busy highway during rush hour. Each user represents a vehicle trying to navigate the traffic, and the available bandwidth is akin to the number of lanes on the road. During peak hours, the highway becomes congested with too many users vying for space, leading to slow-moving traffic, delays, and a frustrating experience for everyone involved. In the same way, too many users on shared broadband can create a digital traffic jam, resulting in sluggish internet speeds and a less-than-optimal online experience for each user.
With the presence of bandwidth contention in shared broadband solutions, the impact can be increased latency and compromised network performance, leading to reduced work productivity and operational efficiency as well as lower customer satisfaction. Additionally, the limitations of a shared bandwidth service can impede the achievement of business expansion goals given its inability to efficiently scale with the growth of the business. Scalability is the cornerstone of business growth. Shared broadband solutions may struggle to accommodate the increasing demands of a growing enterprise, leading to bottlenecks and constraints.
Dedicated internet, though more expensive, can often be a more cost-effective networking solution. It provides faster speeds, greater reliability, and scalability, and as a dedicated connection it is inherently more secure. With symmetrical upload and download speeds coupled with guaranteed bandwidth, customers are not confronted with network performance challenges of shared broadband due to contention issues.
Businesses that prioritize these performance characteristics find that the upfront investment in a dedicated internet solution pays dividends in the form of consistent performance, better network reliability and improved scalability. In the realm of connectivity, reliability is non-negotiable. Dedicated internet solutions provide businesses with a stable and consistent connection, ensuring that operations run smoothly without the disruptions inherent in shared broadband environments. The ability of dedicated Internet solutions to scale seamlessly also provides businesses with the flexibility to expand their operations without sacrificing performance.
Security is another crucial consideration, especially as cyber threats become more sophisticated. Multiple users on the same network may expose sensitive data to potential threats. The actions of one user can impact the security of others, even inadvertently. In contrast, dedicated internet service providers are able to offer private, dedicated connections that isolate each business's data traffic, minimizing the likelihood of unauthorized access or data breaches. This heightened security ensures that businesses can transmit and store sensitive information with confidence, free from the vulnerabilities associated with shared broadband environments.
Another differentiating aspect of a dedicated internet solution is the service level guarantees (SLAs) and level of support provided with the service. Typically, it is underpinned by a comprehensive set of service level guarantees such as 99.99%+ network availability and mean time to repair commitments.
Additionally, the account team support accompanying the service is grounded in a partner-based approach between the provider and customer. This ensures reliable service performance on a consistent basis and allows for a greater ability to adapt services to meet the evolving demands of the business with a view towards the customer’s long-term success.
Companies may find themselves suddenly needing a service that was not in the original playbook and will face a steep hill to have these services added on, if at all. Having a dedicated internet service provider not only allows for adaptations to their service as time goes on but may even be able to anticipate and counsel growing businesses on their journey. This more strategic approach to account support is particularly valuable to enterprises that are seeking to expand geographically or into new lines of business. By aligning with business goals, providers of dedicated internet solutions assess current and future needs to design scalable infrastructure, ensuring that as the business expands, the internet connectivity can effortlessly accommodate increased demand without sacrificing performance.
While shared broadband may lure businesses with its apparent cost savings, the hidden expenses in terms of compromised support and performance make it a less-than-ideal choice for those prioritizing growth and stability. The key is to find a reasonably priced dedicated internet provider with a local presence. This ensures that businesses not only receive the support and performance they need but also have a partner committed to growing with them.
When Dedicated Internet Trumps Shared Broadband
There are many use cases when dedicated internet is a more cost-effective solution supporting the mission-critical applications of the business compared to shared broadband. Here are just a few examples:
- Healthcare systems that depend on reliable and secure access to patient data.
- Retailers and franchises that require reliable, high speed internet connections to process orders and payment transactions as well as manage suppliers and inventories.
- Professional service companies that rely on the efficient storage and transport of information to best serve their clientele.
- Online gaming companies that rely on internet performance to provide the best possible interactive gaming experience.
- And more generally, organizations with a high number of employees simultaneously accessing the internet or large dispersion of branch locations as well as business operations that engage in a high volume of file uploads and downloads, plus organizations widely utilizing video conferencing applications.
While there is a temptation to go with the shiny new object in the realm of network technology or opt for the less expensive service to save scarce IT budget resources, the smarter approach is to adopt the solution that best meets the needs and goals of the business in a cost-effective manner. This is where dedicated internet often has the superior business case outcome, providing the requisite reliability, performance, scalability, and security in a robust way without all the complexity and management hassle. Therefore, we at Bluebird Network are urging businesses to consider these often-overlooked drawbacks of shared broadband or unmet promises of SD-WAN and, conversely, the less-hyped advantages of dedicated internet, particularly for use cases where the other network solutions are less cost effective or do not measure up to the speed, reliability, performance and security requirements that the mission-critical applications require.
