Let’s face it, a pipe isn’t just a pipe; internet access varies in speed, reliability, security, and cost. And you, as an IT professional, need to know the difference in today’s landscape, especially as providers introduce new and creative solutions with differing price points, benefits, and limitations.
The Traditional & Familiar Options
Everyone is familiar with the 3 main traditional Internet access solutions that have been around for more than a decade:
Cableco Broadband
Cableco broadband is ubiquitous, affordable, and offers excellent, though asymmetrical, speeds. It is mainly a product in urban areas, is oversubscribed, and does not offer a service level agreement (SLA) of performance and availability – an outage can last 72 hours. Coupled with other solutions and SD-WAN, it can provide a great part of the puzzle and offer a viable solution for small/home offices or for backup.
Fiber Broadband
Fiber Broadband is the Local Exchange Carriers’ (AT&T, Verizon, Ziply, etc.) response to Cableco broadband. Like its counterpart, although it offers an inexpensive and high bandwidth option for connectivity, it has similar limitations. It too can be oversubscribed and does not offer an SLA of performance and availability. Large ISPs have been actively “lighting” buildings and expanding their fiber footprint, they are mainly doing so in urban areas. FBB can offer a viable solution for small/home offices. Coupled with Cable broadband and SD-WAN and offering a different modality across a different provider’s network, FBB can offer a viable solution for small to medium branch offices.
Dedicated Internet Access
Standard Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) is a premium option for internet access. Nowadays, DIA is fiber-based, has no oversubscription, and has an SLA that guarantees a certain level of performance and availability. It is a great option for internet access but it comes with a price, though the cost of bandwidth has been dropping over the years. DIA is a great option for internet access, more reliable than broadband, and when paired with broadband and SD-WAN, is a great option for a large-sized office.
The New & Creative Options
New technology and creative packaging have introduced new options for Internet access solutions available to businesses:
Basic DIA
Basic DIA is a cheaper alternative available from several ISPs. Some may implement a 2:1 or 3:1 oversubscription. Basic DIA may come with a lower or no SLA of performance and availability. Some providers may leverage multiple connections (Network to Network Interfaces or NNIs) to reach a specific location (inadvertently introducing more “cooks in the kitchen”). Basic DIA is a decent option for internet access and more reliable than broadband because it offers guaranteed bandwidth. A business can create their own “SLA” by pairing it with broadband (from Cablecos or another provider in the building) and SD-WAN, which provides a great option for a medium-sized office.
DIA w/Security
Some large ISPs raise the bar by offering an added layer of security with their Standard DIA. In addition to no oversubscription and an SLA, DIA w/Security offers an integrated network security function that blocks known malicious IPs at a very modest or zero additional cost. Customers can also upgrade to a more robust security offering that includes anything from a Next Gen firewall to application-based policy creation and control, for a reasonable monthly fee. This is one of the best options for internet access but it is also the most expensive of the bunch.
Mobile FWA
Mobile Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a service that provides a wireless connection to the Internet. It is based on 5G technology that supports higher speeds and lower latency than previous generations. FWA is ideal for hard-to-reach locations where fiber or cable are inaccessible or require hefty implementation costs, and 5G is available. Mobile FWA is a flexible and convenient option for internet access but it has some challenges. It does not offer an SLA. Mobile FWA depends on the coverage and capacity of the 5G network, which can vary depending on the location, weather, and interference. And though the three largest providers are investing heavily in growing their footprint and coverage, 5G coverage is still mainly in urban environments. Mobile FWA has the quickest installation process as it only requires a wireless router and a SIM card. FWA offers customers untethered access to bandwidth, providing an alternative to Cable or Fiber-based broadband, as an affordable primary solution for small/home offices or as a backup with alternate modality for larger offices.
Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are emerging as a promising option for Internet access, particularly in remote and underserved areas. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites, which orbit at an altitude of approximately 35,000 kilometers, LEO satellites operate much closer to Earth, typically between 500 and 2,000 kilometers. This proximity allows for significantly lower latency, making LEO satellite Internet more suitable for real-time applications such as voice or video. Additionally, the deployment of large constellations of LEO satellites can provide global coverage, ensuring that even the most isolated regions have access to high-speed Internet. Companies like SpaceX and OneWeb are leading the charge in this technology, aiming to bridge the digital divide and bring reliable Internet access to every corner of the globe. LEO satellites are affordable compared to fiber-based products like Standard DIA. LEO Satellite offers customers untethered access to bandwidth, providing an alternative to Cable or Fiber-based broadband, as an affordable primary solution for small/home offices or as a backup with alternate modality for larger offices.
Conclusion
With a multitude of options available for Internet access, and every IT organization needing to understand the varied solutions offered by providers, working with a trusted partner with the expertise and tools to assess, evaluate and manage those providers becomes imperative to find the solutions that best meet the business needs. Often, a combination of technologies and service providers is the best solution, offering the flexibility, redundancy and reliability needed in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Selecting the right partner who can offer aggregation and consolidation of management, support, and billing is essential to achieve optimal results.
Contributed by the QuantumShift Team
