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Dedicated Internet vs. Shared Internet
Dedicated internet and shared internet are two types of internet connections available to businesses. One is a more complex solution intended for large-scale business, while one is more fitting for smaller operations.
Table of Contents
- What Is Shared Internet?
- What Is Dedicated Internet?
- Differences Between Dedicated and Shared Internet
- Benefits of Dedicated Internet for Businesses
- FAQ
Summary
When searching for an internet plan for your business, you may encounter terms such as shared internet and dedicated internet. Both of these types of internet connections can provide reliable, speedy connectivity, but dedicated internet is much more useful for businesses that need fast, uninterrupted connections, albeit at a steep price, while shared internet is still reliable enough for the majority of businesses.
What Is Shared Internet?
Shared internet – the most common internet connection type – refers to an internet connection that is “shared” by multiple homes or businesses within proximity of each other. For example, most cable internet and fiber internet customers, especially for residential connections, use a shared internet connection because it requires a lesser amount of infrastructure and equipment. That is why most residential neighborhoods or areas will have just one or two wireline providers available, because all of the homes or businesses in the footprint are relying on the same wires and equipment. Popular shared internet providers include AT&T, Spectrum, Cox, Optimum, and many others.
For most businesses, a shared internet connection (especially if your local provider is fiber) will most likely suffice if your business isn’t doing anything too bandwidth-intensive. For example, if you are running a small business with just a few employees and a simple point-of-sale system, you likely won’t see the value of an expensive dedicated internet circuit. A popular and reliable example of a shared business internet provider would be AT&T Business Fiber, which provides symmetrical speeds and pricing that starts at just $70.00 per month.
However, if your business is in an industry that requires heavy security measures, static IP addresses, complex network infrastructure, or very fast internet speed requirements, it might be worth looking into dedicated internet.
Symmetrical speed refers to upload and download speeds that are the same, which is highly valuable, especially for businesses that do a lot of videoconferencing or file sharing.
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What Is Dedicated Internet?
Dedicated internet, such as AT&T Dedicated Internet, is a complex business solution that provides a dedicated internet connection directly from your provider to your business. No other businesses will be sharing the connection with yours.
This means that your business will have unparalleled access to the internet, which means extremely low latency, jitter, and usually a service guarantee of 100% uptime.
Here are some standard inclusions you can expect when signing up for dedicated internet service, though keep in mind that different providers offer different features:
- Dedicated internet access
- 100% service uptime guarantee (service-level guarantees)
- Static IP addresses included
- Full-service or self-service modem and router maintenance
- Speeds up to 1 Tbps
- Extremely low latency and jitter
- Embedded network protection and security tools
- Personalized portal for easy management
- Traffic prioritization
- Ability to bundle with other business services like voice or backup
As you can see, dedicated internet connections offer an entire suite of features, which is reflected in the cost of the service.
Shared and Dedicated Internet Benefits and Drawbacks
After summarizing both shared and dedicated internet service separately, let’s compare each service side by side to better help you pick the right one for your business:
Dedicated Internet Pros
- Unparalleled internet access for businesses that depend on fast, safe connections
- Many speed options are available
- Includes suite of useful features
- Service-level agreements reimburse you for downtime
- Cost can usually be lowered through promotions or bundles
Dedicated Internet Cons
- Might be considered unnecessary for some businesses
- Can be quite expensive even after promotions
- Lengthy contracts can be involved
Shared Internet Pros
- Widely available across the country
- Can provide fast download speeds that are suitable for most businesses (symmetrical speeds if the service is fiber)
- Can easily bundle with other services like voice
- Usually many promotions are available to lower cost
Shared Internet Cons
- Speeds can fluctuate due to network congestion
- Not as secure as dedicated internet
- Promotional pricing usually expires
No matter which type of internet service you choose for your business, rest assured that it will likely get the job done. Most internet providers offer high speeds at an affordable price, and many providers also offer contract-less service or even contract buyouts from your previous provider if you are unsatisfied.
To learn more about all things business internet, consider calling National Broadband today. A real human being can help you figure out every provider and promotion available at your address to pick the best business service for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is dedicated internet?
Dedicated internet is an internet service for businesses that provides dedicated access to the internet, meaning you do not share your connection with any other nearby businesses. This means you can expect inclusions like a service-level guarantee, incredibly high, uninterrupted speeds, a highly secure connection, and more.
What are some dedicated internet providers?
Popular dedicated internet providers include AT&T Dedicated Internet, Spectrum Enterprise, Lumen, Comcast Business, and others.
What is shared internet?
Shared internet is an internet service available to both businesses and residences that requires you to share network infrastructure with nearby customers. This means that service quality can fluctuate depending on usage levels, but for the most part the connection should still be strong, fast, and manageable for most businesses.
What are some shared internet providers?
Popular shared internet providers include AT&T Business Fiber, Spectrum Business, Lumen, Comcast Business, Cox, Optimum, and many others.
Should I choose dedicated internet or shared internet for my business?
There are a couple ways to decide if you need dedicated or shared internet for your business. If you are operating a large-scale business with many employees that partakes in heavy file sharing, cloud applications, e-commerce, or other secure activities, it might be worth looking into dedicated internet. If you operate a small business with not many employees, shared internet should be more than capable of getting the job done.
