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Internet & Network
Network connectivity, secure data transport and business enablement solutions for your organization.
ARTICLE
The Pros and Cons of Dedicated Internet Access for Businesses
Zia Shahid
Zia is Acronym's product manager for connectivity services. He steers the network connectivity initiatives taken at Acronym, helping provide connectivity solutions to enterprises and wholesale segments.
Understanding Shared and Dedicated Internet Access
If an unreliable business internet connection has ever interrupted you during an important video conference, you know all too well how frustrating (and potentially damaging) poor connectivity can be. The internet is the lifeblood of modern businesses – it’s how we communicate, create, and connect with the world around us, fueling daily operations and business productivity—day in and day out.
Reliance on internet-connected technologies for use in everyday business operations continues to grow. According to the Digital Technology and Internet Use Report from Statistics Canada, 85% of businesses use information communications technologies (ICT), including company-wide computer networks, internet-connected smart devices and cloud computing.
This adoption of new business technologies is leading to an increase in network demand—and as that continues to grow, securing reliable connectivity is top of mind for businesses and individuals alike. That’s where one critical decision comes in: should your organization opt for a shared or dedicated internet connection?
What is shared internet access (SIA)?
Shared internet is a service model where multiple businesses or individuals share the same network connection. This means that the available bandwidth is divided among all users on the network, and during peak usage times, the connection may slow down due to network congestion.
Shared internet is usually less expensive than dedicated internet access because the internet service provider (ISP) can spread the connection cost across multiple users. Because users of shared internet may experience poor connectivity that leads to what ISPs call jitter (the deviation in the strength of a signal), this model is best suited for residential broadband—mainly because at-home consumers are less likely to require critical access to the internet.
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Contact our team today to bring dedicated internet to your business in Ontario.
Contact our team today to bring dedicated internet to your business in Ontario.
Are You Ready To Get Dedicated Internet?
What is dedicated internet access (DIA)?
Dedicated internet, on the other hand, is a service that provides an exclusive, non-shared network connection to a single organization. This means that the full bandwidth is reserved for the use of that organization only, and there is no external network congestion to slow down the connection.
Because dedicated internet access provides reliable upload and download speeds, it’s ideal for accessing video conferencing, audio and video streaming, file transfers, and cloud connectivity to services, including VoIP phone systems. For the modern business, disruption to these services can result in a host of issues ranging from downtime to lost productivity, customer service challenges and more.
Key differences between shared and dedicated internet access
The main difference between shared and dedicated internet is the level of performance and reliability they provide. With shared internet, the available bandwidth is shared among multiple users, which can lead to slower speeds during peak usage times. In contrast, the alternative provides a dedicated, non-shared network connection, which means there is no external network congestion to slow it down.
Another key difference is the level of service guarantees provided by the ISP. With shared internet, the ISP may only provide best-effort service guarantees, meaning minimum bandwidth or uptime is not guaranteed. If you’ve ever seen an advertisement from a shared internet provider, they’ll typically say something like “up to 75 Mbps,” which really means there’s no guarantee that speed is what you’ll get. With dedicated internet, the ISP typically provides service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee a certain level of bandwidth and uptime.
| Feature | Dedicated Internet | Shared Internet |
| Network connection shared with multiple users or households |  |
|
| Exclusive, non-shared network connection | | |
| Faster speeds during peak usage | | |
| Guaranteed bandwidth and uptime | | |
| No guarantee of minimum bandwidth or uptime | |
|
| Ideal for video conferencing, audio and video streaming, cloud connectivity, VoIP | | |
| Most reliable solution for business internet | | |
| Ideal for every day, residential internet | |
Our Senior Manager of Product Development, Jeff Farley, shared his thoughts on the core distinction between the two service models.
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“The primary performance benefit of dedicated internet is that 100% of your internet bandwidth is reserved for your organization and is not shared with others,” he says.
“This means that at all hours of the day, there should be no external network congestion on your internet service. In addition to full access to bandwidth, other performance benefits include lower latency and much better jitter than what is experienced on shared connections.”
Shared vs. dedicated internet access: which is better for your business?
Here are a few critical factors your organization should consider:
- Bandwidth requirements: Dedicated internet may be the better choice if your business requires a high amount of bandwidth for activities such as video conferencing or large file transfers. With shared internet, the available bandwidth is divided among multiple users, which can lead to slower speeds during peak usage times.
- Reliability requirements: Dedicated internet is your ideal solution if your business requires a reliable internet connection with minimal downtime. There is no external network congestion to slow down the connection, and the ISP typically provides SLAs that guarantee a certain level of uptime.
- Budget: Dedicated internet is usually a more significant investment than shared internet because the ISP is not sharing the cost of the connection with any other users. Shared internet may be the better choice if your budget is a significant concern. But buyer beware—the potential for downtime could cost your business more in the long run.
If your business is undergoing a digital transformation or is already a digital-first organization, dedicated access is the key to improving connectivity and streamlining employee productivity.
Maximize your business efficiency with reliable internet.
If you’re frustrated and fed up with slow and unreliable connectivity, it may be time to consider a switch to a dedicated internet provider. With a non-shared service, you’re guaranteed always-on reliability and connectivity that promise crystal-clear video calls and lightning-fast download speeds—helping your team achieve peak performance every day.
Does it sound like dedicated business internet access could relieve your connectivity woes? Reach out through the link below, and we’ll help you determine whether it’s a fit for your business.
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About Acronym
Acronym Solutions Inc. is a full-service information and communications technology (ICT) company that provides a range of scalable and secure Network, Voice & Collaboration, Security, Cloud and Managed IT Solutions. We support Canadian businesses, large enterprises, service providers, healthcare providers, public-sector organizations and utilities. We leverage our extensive network expertise to design and build customized, fully scalable solutions to help our customers grow their businesses and realize their full potential. With more than 20 years’ experience managing the communications system that enables Ontario’s electrical grid, Acronym is uniquely positioned to understand the mission-critical needs of any business to deliver the innovative and reliable services that respond to the changing demands of businesses, and support rapid growth and digital transformation initiatives.