Tag: Leased Lines

How Does The UK Rank On Global Internet Speeds?

September 18, 2017 Broadband, Leased Lines No Comments

When it comes to internet speeds it isn’t a case of one speed for all. Internet speeds can vary hugely from country to country, even city to city, and this is due to the different technologies and service providers that are available. Not to mention that some countries place a larger emphasis on broadband and the internet than others. It’s possible to test your own internet speed using a website called Speedtest and this is something many businesses and personal users do; not only does it highlight any internet speed problems, but it shows the changes in your internet speed over a period of time. However, Speedtest have now broadened this with the Speedtest Global Index.

What Is The Speedtest Global Index?

The Speedtest Global Index shows which countries offer the best in terms of internet speeds. It has been designed to rank countries around the world by their internet and mobile speed, highlighting the differences between them. Speedtest have said that the index’s role is to create a database of how internet speeds change over time, with data being updated each and every month. If a country’s internet speed improves over time – or worsens in some cases – this will be reflected in their ranking on the Speedtest Global Index.

Where Does The UK Rank In Terms of Internet Speed?

Currently, the UK isn’t doing too well in terms of internet speed and this may surprise some people. It only ranks as 24th in the world for fixed broadband internet speed and 40th in the world for mobile internet speed. As a country that prides itself on staying ahead of the game in terms of technology, this is unusual.

Luckily, the Speedtest Global Index doesn’t rule out quick internet speed in the UK completely. In fact, Exascale business broadband and leased lines both offer a great internet speed and unmatched reliability for businesses large and small.

Which Country Has the Best Internet Speed?

The country that boasts the best fixed broadband internet speed at the moment is Singapore and with a 4th place ranking for mobile internet speed, this puts it as one of the best in the world overall. Norway currently offers the top mobile internet speed, closely followed by Hungary and the Netherlands. By looking at the Speedtest Global Index, it’s easy to see that many smaller countries are able to provide a better internet speed than their much larger counterparts. For example, Malta, Iceland, Hong Kong and Luxembourg rank much higher than the UK, US and China.

With a large reliance on the internet and being able to use it quickly and efficiently there is a global focus on improving the quality of broadband and mobile internet, meaning that internet speed is constantly changing and evolving. This will be reflected on the Speedtest Global Index.

4 Reasons To Choose A Leased Line

September 13, 2017 Leased Lines No Comments

If you’re a new business or you’re simply looking to improve your business internet, you may have come across the option of a leased line. A leased line is an internet connection between two locations – usually a service provider and a business – on a lease basis. Simply, you’re leasing a private line rather than sharing an internet connection with a number of other users.

The Benefits of Leased Lines

Leased lines are becoming more and more popular among businesses as they offer a number of benefits that aren’t available through other methods of connecting to the internet. At Exascale we specialise in leased lines, so we know a thing or two about why they are often the best choice. Some of the most impressive benefits include:

Leased Lines Offer Higher Speed Internet Connections

As a business it is important that you’re able to use the internet quickly and efficiently, without needing to worry about how long it’s going to take a page to load or how long it will take to download an important document. Leased lines are able to provide internet speeds much quicker than other alternatives. For example, at Exascale we offer download and upload speeds from 10Mbit/s through to 10Gbit/s.

Leased Lines Don’t Slow Down at Peak Times

Often you’ll find that the internet speed drops when a lot of other people are using their connections at the same time, this isn’t the case with a leased line. As a leased line is a completely private internet connection, it’s only your business that’s using it at any time. So, peak time or non-peak time you’re guaranteed the same great speed.

Leased Lines Are Extremely Reliable

Everyone has struggled with a failing internet connection or broadband that just isn’t up to scratch; this type of downtime can be costly for a business, not to mention extremely annoying and inconvenient. Leased lines are resilient and always on, meaning there’s never a time where your business cannot use the internet in the way it needs to.

Leased Lines Come With Professional Support and Management

As leased lines are managed by a leased line provider, any issue or problem is taken care of quickly by professionals; there’s no need for you to do anything. At Exascale we offer backup options and customer support to ensure you’re able to connect whenever you need to.

To find out more about leased lines and the services we provide, get in touch. Contact Exascale today on 0330 010 0140 or online.

Open for Business in Manchester

August 18, 2017 Business, Cloud Computing, IT Sector, Leased Lines, Network No Comments

This evening (Friday 18th August 2018) Exascale introduced IXManchester (Manchester Internet Exchange) into it’s network. Joining three other Internet Exchanges (in London) to our growing network known as AS61049. To learn more about our rapidly expanding 10 Gigabit UK network visit http://as61049.net

Further to Exascale’s network expansion into Manchester, it’s offering Leased Lines, Managed Hosting, Dedicated Servers and Cloud Services from its network point of presence located near Trafford Park.

BT Openreach PIA

Ofcom announces plans to open up BT’s infrastructure

April 21, 2017 Broadband, Leased Lines, Ofcom No Comments

In a definite proposition Ofcom has set out arrangements to enhance access to Openreach’s framework. The arrangements mean to “level the playing field” by making it less expensive and less demanding for contending suppliers to convey higher quality administrations to clients at a lower cost.

The proposals include:

  • Mixed-use networks and fairer terms of access to lay fibre.
  • The requirement that Openreach must repair faulty infrastructure and clear blocked tunnels where necessary for providers to access them.
  • Final connections into homes meaning BT should ensure capacity is available on its telegraph poles for additional fibre cables.
  • Better availability of information (such as ‘digital maps’) so that competitors can plan new networks.

The plans (available here) are a piece of Ofcom’s Wholesale Local Access Market Review. Counsel on the recommendations closes on fifteenth of June, with a ultimate decision expected in mid 2018.

Ethernet Leased Line

How Can A Leased Line Help My Business?

April 10, 2017 Leased Lines No Comments

There’s nothing more exasperating than slow internet or internet outages – especially for businesses. Although many think this is a thing of the past, if research is anything to go by, businesses all over the world are facing these issues on a daily basis. But luckily for these companies, there is a solution – leased lines.

What are leased lines?

Leased lines have become the go-to for businesses all over the country looking for a reliable internet connection. A dedicated, symmetric data connection with a fixed bandwidth, it provides unique access for a business at consistent speeds for both upload and download. Leased lines are private circuits that run between two points; one end is the business, and the other is the network provider’s nearest point-of-presence (PoP). Usually used by companies who want to get a business-grade internet connection, they can also be used to connect their head office to branch offices.

What are the benefits of a leased line for my business?

Faster speeds

Unlike consumer broadband internet, leased lines have a contention ration of 1:1. Essentially meaning that the line is yours and yours alone, you don’t need to worry about it slowing down at peak times. Add this to the fact that leased line speeds are also much higher than traditional broadband, business can choose how fast they want their service to be. Covering both upload and download, fast internet is vital for a business to undertake internet browsing, conducting video conferences, file sharing, networks, and VoIP systems.

Remote working

The rise in technology has resulted in many employees working from home, whether it be as an occasional treat or a permanent fixture, business and employees alike have benefitted. Leased lines make this infinitely simpler by allowing employees to connect to office computers from home. Enabling them to access files wherever they are in the world, this very modern way of working has helped business establish themselves as forward thinking, and actually improve staff morale.

More reliable

With so many businesses complaining about a lack of reliability when it comes to their internet, there’s no wonder companies are looking into leased lines. Much more reliable than traditional broadband, these lines use fibre-optic cables. Not prone to electrical interference, they come with higher-grade hardware, which is inherently more reliable than traditional broadband hardware.

As a business, internet uptime is fatefully important. Losing a connection – even for just a few minutes – can result in significant issues. Whether it be revenue loss or disgruntled customers, it’s important to think of your internet as an extension of your workforce.

Increased security

Leased lines are universally known to offer increased security over broadband alternatives, as the information shared isn’t on a public network. Completely controlled by your company, leased lines mean your data is much safer.

We don’t need to tell you how important security is to a business. And although you won’t be completely immune to hacks, you’ll certainly have more security in place.

If you’re thinking of investing in leased lines, request a leased line quote today!