We’re sure you’ve heard of ‘fibre’ and ‘superfast broadband’ many times already. But what does it actually mean? We’re here to explain the different types of broadband so that you can decide what’s the best for your business.
Broadband Background
ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) used to be the most popular way to connect to the internet. This works in conjunction with the telephone system to transmit data.
However, the ever-increasing demand for internet means that this old technology is no longer sufficient for most. Poor connectivity leads to slow speeds which creates frustration for users and hampers productivity.
That’s where fibre comes in; a new solution providing higher speeds and increased reliability.
Fibre is the newest generation of broadband technology. There are multiple ways of implementing it into the existing infrastructure around the UK. It is currently being rolled out to millions of homes and businesses across the UK, using a range of these technologies.
You can see the different types of broadband outlined below.
Diagram of some of the different types of broadband: ADSL, FTTC, Gfast, FTTP & Leased Lines.
ADSL (traditional broadband)
ADSL lines use copper from the telephone exchange to the cabinet, and again from the cabinet to the premises. However, copper is not the most reliable material. The speed of the connection reduces over the distance travelled. So the further you are from the cabinet, the slower the speed of your connection. It is also subject to wear and tear, and damaged lines can further impact the connection.
Traditional broadband has maximum speeds of around 17Mbps. This is often considered slow, especially for businesses, as most modern technology relies on data.
FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet)
This is where fibre cables run from the exchange into the local cabinet. The traditional copper lines then share this connection out to the surrounding premises. Though this technology is not the most advanced, it is definitely an improvement on standard ADSL.
FTTC can reach speeds of around 80Mbps. While this is sufficient for many, in terms of supporting streaming, gaming, cloud systems and smart homes, it doesn’t always cut the mustard.
Gfast
Gfast is a technology that works in addition to FTTC. Openreach uses a pod on the side of the cabinet that ‘supercharges’ the speed over the copper wire running to your premises. You can therefore see faster speeds than what you see with FTTC.
Reaching speeds of around 330Mbps, this supports more devices at once so that everyone can go about their business, with less connectivity issues.
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)
This technology removes the old ADSL copper technology from the equation altogether. In addition to fibre lines running from the exchange to the cabinet, they are also used to carry the connection from the cabinet straight to the premises.
You might opt for a full fibre connection at home so that everyone in the house can stream Netflix to their heart’s content. Plus, with more items becoming ‘smart’ in the home, a faster, more reliable connection can help to support that.
For businesses, the availability of FTTP is even more crucial. With speeds of up to 330Mbps, and increased reliability, it provides an option for connectivity that is significantly better than ADSL, while the cost remains a fraction of what you’d pay for a leased line.
Leased Lines
A leased line is a good connectivity option for those businesses looking for more.
Leased lines can provide a completely dedicated connection with high levels of uptime, fast repairs and backup options. While this can be a costly solution, they are very well suited to larger businesses, or those who need to support a range of technologies.
The biggest difference between the broadband options above and leased lines is that this connection is dedicated. While other connections can support multiple premises, a leased line is solely yours. You can check out our leased line guide to find out more about them.
There are multiple leased line options available, using a range of technologies. Some leased lines can provide incredible speeds of up to 10Gbps.
There’s a wide range of options if you’re looking to improve your business connectivity. This post simply covers some of the most popular ones. Hopefully, you have gained a better understanding of what these terms mean and you feel better prepared to start making decisions for your business.
If in doubt, please just get in touch; our team will be happy to help.