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The internet is an integral part of our lives today. We use it for work, entertainment, and communication with friends and family. Because of this, many people have internet connections that they rely on every day. The most common internet connections are dedicated internet access (DIA) and best-effort connections.
The kind of internet you have determines your connection quality in terms of speed and reliability. And in today’s digital world, where communication is vital, having an unreliable connection can be detrimental to running a small business.
This article unpacks dedicated internet access (DIA) vs. best-effort internet connections.
Dedicated Internet Access
As the name suggests, dedicated internet access is a direct internet connection that provides you with a high-speed connection to the internet using a direct line that is not shared with other users. It ensures you have a consistent, reliable, and fast internet connection. Businesses usually use these plans because it allows them to run applications like VoIP, high-definition video conferencing, streaming services, and more.
The advantage of a dedicated connection is that it guarantees a fixed amount of bandwidth in your purchase agreement. Thus, there can be no interference from other users on the same network segment or other networks that may use the same infrastructure.
A dedicated connection can provide a reliable way to digitize your business and communicate with your customers, clients, suppliers, and partners. It also ensures that employees can access the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. And because of the impeccable connection quality, dedicated internet pricing is usually on the higher end.
Best Effort Connections
Best effort connections are shared broadband networks where many customers share internet access. Unlike DIA, best-effort connections don’t guarantee fixed broadband or internet speeds. Internet service providers offering these connections apply the “best effort” to supply the internet, and the speed they quote is the maximum you can get. And in reality, you might rarely achieve the maximum speeds.
These are the most common types of internet connections and are generally cheaper than Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) connections. The downside of shared broadband is that you have to put up with slow connections as customers use the internet.
Moreover, the upload speeds are usually lower than the download speeds. These challenges can be frustrating to enhance a business setting and can be a turnoff for your customers.
The Differences Between Dedicated Internet Access and Best-Effort Connections
So, what are the differences between dedicated and best-effort internet access? Below are some factors that distinguish DIA vs. best-effort connections:
Cost
Dedicated Internet Access is more expensive because it provides guaranteed broadband for a single customer. On the other hand, best-effort access is cheaper since a group of customers shares the connection cost.
Quality of Connection
Dedicated Internet Access is a dedicated connection that provides a high-speed, uninterrupted connection to the internet. On the contrary, shared connections will often slow down when more people in your area use them at once.
Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical
A DIA solution provides symmetrical bandwidth, meaning the upload and download speeds are the same. However, shared broadbands offer asymmetrical connections where the download speeds are significantly faster than upload speeds. Consequently, slow upload speeds can harm business communication, such as video conferencing, which needs a symmetrical connection.
Use Cases
Dedicated internet access is your best bet if you need to run business-critical applications, like real-time stock trading or other automated processes, dependent on low latency. On the other hand, best-effort connections are suitable for home use where internet speed and reliability don’t matter much. Shared broadband can work if you want to save some bucks and tolerate slow connections.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the reliability of internet connection is paramount in today’s digital world. As such, choosing the exemplary internet service that meets your needs is vital. Dedicated internet access is the better option if you need a faster and more reliable connection for your business. On the other hand, best-effort connections are cheaper but have slow and asymmetrical connectivity.
