Featured article by Michael Collins, Director of Sphere IT
There’s no question about it: every UK business needs an internet connection to survive the future.
As you explore your options, you’ll come across the two main choices of wireless and fibre leased lines. While they both provide high-speed internet connections, some distinct differences set them apart — but what differences?
In this article, we’ll cover the basics, along with the crucial aspects that can help you make your final decision.
Fibre Leased Lines
IT support providers might also call these reflective, human-hair sized cables fibre to the premises (FTTP) lines. These cables work by connecting your office to an internet service provider’s access point — usually underground. Because of their rigorous setup process, any future changes may require construction work.
Wireless Leased Lines
In comparison to their underground counterparts, a wireless leased line works through a rooftop antenna. If you have an IT Support Desk provider supplying your Internet, they’ll equip your roof with an antenna that points to others nearby. Any future changes are accomplished with a simple antenna replacement.
What’s the Same?
Regardless of which option you lean towards, you can expect to receive the following benefits.
Rapid Speeds
From 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps, fibre and wireless lead leased lines are powerhouses of internet speeds.
Reduced Latency
Wireless and fibre guarantee near-instant load times for webpages across the entire Internet.
Premier Bandwidth
Wireless and fibre leased lines aren’t shared, meaning you won’t experience slower speeds at different times of the day.
Flexibility
Your business won’t stay the same forever, which is why wireless and fibre leased lines are scalable enough to grow with your requirements.
What’s the Difference?
Despite the features they both provide, there are differences between the two. At this point, you’ll want to discuss with your IT helpdesk support partner to find the best decision.
Installation Requirements
Due to such a rigorous process involving dug-up roads and laid cables, a quick fibre wireless lead installation can take 30 days to complete, with longer installations ranging around 90 days. Additionally, local authorities may need to approve it beforehand.
In comparison, wireless leased lines can be installed in as soon as seven days. Essentially, all your IT support provider needs to do is attach an antenna to your business’s roof. Easy, right?
Overall Cost
There’s no getting around the fact that fibre installations are significantly more expensive. Once all is said and done, you’ll be looking to pay fees for a variety of reasons, be it sign-offs to construction. Any future changes you wish to make also mean additional charges.
While wireless installations are far cheaper, with the only significant expenses you’ll pay being the installation fee and monthly internet bill, it isn’t free of its caveats. For instance, if there are no other antennas nearby to point yours at, you’ll need to pay the cost of having them installed. Additionally, moving offices can be a pain if you choose to drop your current IT help desk in exchange for another in your city.
Gigabyte Capacity
Depending on your business’s needs, this is where the differences become most prevalent. For example, fibre is capable of providing hundreds of gigabytes per cable. In comparison, a wireless antenna may only provide around 20gps; you can acquire more capacity with additional antennas, but these will also incur installation costs.
Conclusion
Much like any other crucial business investment, choosing between a wireless and fibre leased line is incredibly dependent on a business’s individual needs.
The director of Sphere IT, an IT support enterprise in London, had this message for businesses:
“Budget, timing and availability are the most significant factors to consider. A cheaper option may look tempting, but it should depend entirely on your capabilities. If you have the resources, combining both fibre and wireless lines is a powerful resource.”
Author Bio:
Michael Collins is the Director of Sphere IT – An IT Support provider in London. He has worked within the IT sector for more than 20 years and enjoys writing articles to share his knowledge he has learnt from real world experience in the industry.
