Connectivity types explained

Connectivity Types Explained

This guide explains the different types of internet connectivity service that are available in the UK.

For an explanation of terminology used to describe connectivity services, we’ve produced a guide here

Internet Access Services

Fibre Ethernet

A true business-class high speed Internet connectivity solution, with premium service level guarantees including uptime and performance, honoured with service credits.

Carried over fibre optic cables all the way from your local telephone exchange.
Available in over 90% of locations
The same download and upload speeds
Guaranteed bandwidths from 10Mb/s – 1Gb/s
Service is not contended, so bandwidth figures are guaranteed.
No variation in speed based on line length
Up to 75 working day setup time
Full 99.9% uptime guarantee with service credits for downtime, and guarantees of data throughput & latency.

Fixed Wireless Ethernet

A robust and reliable wireless alternative to Fibre Ethernet, with shorter lead times with the same premium service level guarantees including uptime and performance.

Carried over fibre optic cables, often over a dedicated network entirely independent of BT Openreach or other fixed-line providers to a local “point of presence” often on top of a high building or tower, then by microwave or other “line of sight” radio technology to your premises.
The same download and upload speeds
Guaranteed bandwith from 1Mb/s – 2Gb/s
Service is not contended, so bandwidth figures are guaranteed.
Full 99.9% uptime guarantee with service credits for downtime, and guarantees of performance.

EFM (Ethernet in the First Mile)

A cost effective alternative to Fibre Ethernet, for businesses who need the same upload and download speeds, or higher bandwidth than they can receive using ADSL. Available with or without service level guarantees to suit various budgets.

Carried over several sets of dedicated copper cables all the way from your local telephone exchange, providing better resilience if one set of cable fails.
Available in about 50% of locations
The same download and upload speeds
Guaranteed or contended bandwidths from 2Mb/s – 20Mb/s
Bandwidth may be contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods in some areas, but guaranteed-bandwidth services are available.
Up to 75 working day setup time
Range of service level guarantees available from “best endeavours” through to full 99.9% uptime guarantee with service credits.

Leased Line

A term often used interchangeably to describe any business grade data communications services.

The term originated some years ago when businesses could rent dedicated copper pairs which directly and privately connected their premises in different parts of the country. BT Kilostream, BT Megastream are examples of these older product names.

Today, the individual terms Fibre Ethernet, Fixed Wireless Ethernet, Ethernet in the First Mile, Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line etc are more accurate references to the actual product or service being provided.

FTTPoD (Fibre to the Premises on Demand)

Suitable for larger businesses in eligible areas who want high bandwidth at a low cost and don’t require service level guarantees.

Carried over fibre optic cables to your premises
Available only in trial areas.
Different download and upload speeds
Contended bandwidths up to 330Mb/s download and up to 30Mb/s upload.
Bandwidth is contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods
Up to 40 working days setup time.
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet)

Often referred to as “Fibre Optic Broadband”. Suitable for smaller businesses or heavy usage home based workers who are working with large files or who rely on a faster connection for Voice Over IP or Video.

Carried over fibre optic cables to your local BT street cabinet then over the same copper cables used for your telephone or fax line to your premises.
Available in about 40% of locations. Coverage is higher in residential areas, and very limited in predominantly business areas.
Different download and upload speeds
Guaranteed or contended bandwidths up to 80Mb/s download and up to 40Mb/s upload.
Bandwidth is contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods
Quick setup: 7-10 working days
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

Bonded FTTC

Uses more than one FTTC line to provide better performance and reliability. Suitable for larger businesses or heavy usage home based workers who are working with large files or who rely on a faster connection for Voice Over IP or Video.

Carried over the same infrastructure as FTTC, using two or more FTTC lines bonded together
Available in locations which have FTTC already, and only from a small number of providers who have suitable equipment in your local Exchange or street cabinet.
Requires suitably configured specialist equipment at your premises.
Different download and upload speeds
Bandwidths up to 320Mb/s download and up to 160Mb/s upload.
Bandwidth can be contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods
Quick setup: 7-10 working days
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

Ethernet over FTTC

Can be abbreviated to “EoFTTC”. Suitable for businesses who need access to the uncontended performance of Ethernet but wish to take advantage of lower cost FTTC infrastructure in their area to provide a lower cost service than Fibre Ethernet, Fixed Wireless Ethernet or EFM.

Carried over the same infrastructure as FTTC or bonded FTTC to provide multiples of standard FTTC speeds.
Available in locations which have FTTC already.
The same download and upload speeds
Guaranteed bandwidths up to 80Mb/s download and up to 40Mb/s upload.
Service is not contended, so bandwidth figures are guaranteed.
Quick setup: 7-10 working days
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

Cable / DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification)

Internet service provided over the same infrastructure as cable television. Suitable for smaller businesses or heavy usage home based workers who are working with large files or who rely on a faster connection for Voice Over IP or Video.

Carried over fibre optic cable to the local street cabinet, and from there by Coaxial cable to your premises.
Available only in locations cabled by a cable TV provider – currently around 50% of domestic locations, with limited coverage in predominantly business areas.
Different download and upload speeds
Contended bandwidths up to 150Mb/s download and up to 40Mb/s upload.
Bandwidth is contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods, and cable providers often aggressively restrict usage for heavy downloaders / uploaders.
Quick setup: 7-10 working days
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

Often referred to as “business broadband”, “standard broadband” or “copper broadband”. Suitable for small branch offices or home based workers who need a low cost solution. Not suitable for business critical situations including large offices, or bandwidth-intensive services such as Voice Over IP or Video.

Carried over the same copper cables used for your telephone or fax line all the way from your local telephone exchange
Available in most of the UK
Different download and upload speeds (“asymmetric”)
Contended bandwidths of up to 20Mb download and up to 1Mb upload.
Bandwidth is contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods
Quick setup: 7-10 working days
Faults are fixed on a “best endeavours” basis, but not contractually binding

Bonded ADSL

Uses more than one ADSL line to provide better performance and reliability. Suitable for small branch offices or home based workers who need better performance than standard broadband can provide but where their location or other costs prevent them from accessing FTTC, FTTP, EFM or Ethernet services. Can be suitable for business critical situations by delivering service over ADSL lines from different providers, but maximum performance is limited by the same factors as for ADSL, and costs can still be high.

Carried over the same infrastructure as ADSL, using two or more ADSL lines bonded together
Available in most parts of the UK, but only from a small number of providers who have suitable equipment in your local Exchange or street cabinet.
Requires suitably configured specialist equipment at your premises.
Different download and upload speeds
Bandwidths up to 60Mb/s download and up to 3Mb/s upload.
Bandwidth can be contended so actual speed can vary at busy periods
Quick setup: approx 21 working days
A range of SLAs available, but all are dependent on BT Openreach or the phone line provider’s fix times for copper lines (for BT the best service is 1 working day).

Site to Site connections

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)

A private fully managed Site-to-Site network which guarantees the performance of your voice, multimedia and application traffic. Delivered over any of our broadband, Ethernet or wireless Ethernet services, to anywhere in the UK or internationally, each MPLS network is designed as a bespoke solution.

Carried over any of our Internet Access technology types to reach virtually any premises in the UK.
Available in most of the UK
Guaranteed bandwidths from 1Mb – 1Gbs.
Bandwidth never contended, even on ADSL connections.
Robust service level, data transfer and uptime guarantees.
Comprehensive specification and setup service.

Point to Point (Layer 2) connectivity

Dedicated, private connections to connect offices or datacentres anywhere in the world.

Presented as ethernet
Delivered over fibre.
Guaranteed bandwidths from 50Mb – 1Gbs.
Bandwidth never contended
Robust service level, data transfer and uptime guarantees.
Comprehensive specification and setup service.