A fast and reliable internet connection is essential for efficient communication between distributed teams, global partners and remote workers.
Modern workplaces running on cloud-based applications and real-time collaboration platforms cannot function without consistent, high-performance connectivity.
That’s why businesses that rely on connectivity for vital business systems or critical operations choose Dedicated Internet Access (DIA).
In this article, we review the differences between dedicated and shared internet connections and why a reliable DIA provider like GTT is essential for enterprises in a digitally interconnected business landscape.
What is Dedicated Internet Access?
Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) refers to a one-to-one connection to the Internet, delivered via ethernet or private-line circuits, that isn’t shared with other customers. This connection is dedicated to your organization and not shared by other businesses or private users via the public access connectivity.
DIA guarantees high availability, consistent performance and low latency, backed by a service-level agreement (SLA) that ensures the internet service provider meets stringent metrics.
With DIA, the bandwidth is dedicated solely to the subscriber, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted internet connectivity. It can be delivered through various technologies, including dedicated fiber optics, Ethernet, T1 lines or other high-capacity connections.
A dedicated connection delivers fast upload and download speeds. It provides quality-of-service (QoS) options that give businesses the flexibility they need to prioritize a dedicated bandwidth for specific applications or users or throttle the bandwidth for others.
GTT’s Dedicated Internet Access service is delivered via a global Tier 1 IP network, spanning hundreds of points of presence (PoPs) worldwide.
With bandwidth from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, GTT provides enterprise-grade internet services with flexible capacity to meet your requirements, and, for further flexibility, GTT offers various billing options.
Dedicated vs. Shared Internet Access
Do you need a dedicated internet connection for your organization? Or will a shared connection do?
To answer this question, we must first differentiate between dedicated and shared internet access.
- Exclusive vs. shared bandwidth: Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) offers exclusive, symmetrical and reliable connectivity for an organization (the subscriber).
- Unlike DIA, shared internet connections distribute bandwidth among multiple users, resulting in potential performance fluctuations.
- Symmetrical vs. asymmetrical speed: DIA offers symmetrical bandwidth, meaning the upload and download speeds are equal. Symmetrical bandwidth is essential for video conferencing, cloud computing and large data transfers.
- Shared connections typically have slower upload speeds compared to download speeds, as they are targeted to non-businesses users who need faster download speeds for activities like web browsing, VoIP and media streaming.
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs) vs. best effort: DIA services are supported by Service Level Agreements between the internet provider and the organization or subscriber. The SLA outlines specific performance guarantees, including uptime, latency and packet loss.
- For shared connections, the internet speed can vary throughout the day, depending on the traffic load on the ISP’s network—if there is high traffic and activity, download speeds will significantly decrease. So, shared internet providers cannot provide stringent SLAs—only a best-effort commitment to connectivity.
- In-built security options vs. additional or third-party security: DIA services often include advanced security features, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virtual private networks (VPNs), to ensure a secure and protected connection.
- Shared connections generally lack these built-in security measures and may require additional configurations or third-party security solutions to achieve a similar level of protection.
GTT’s Dedicated Internet Service guarantees high-quality, resilient connectivity backed by robust and globally consistent SLAs.
We continuously upgrade and assess performance to eliminate bottlenecks, ensuring there is sufficient capacity to handle sudden, unpredictable demand.
Why Dedicated Internet Is Right for You
Your organization’s specific needs and requirements dictate the choice between dedicated or shared internet options.
For example, an eCommerce company relies heavily on connectivity. Slow loading times can lead to payment transaction delays and result in lost sales—or worse still—it can inflict long-term damage if it drives away potential customers.
And for companies that use SaaS products and cloud applications for critical operations, slow internet speeds and frequent connectivity issues can significantly hamper employee productivity and efficiency.
The global Dedicated Internet Access market size is projected to reach USD 112,800 million by 2028, from USD 49,930 million in 2022, at a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period (2023-2030).
It’s essential to evaluate your organization’s connectivity needs before you decide whether you want dedicated or shared internet access. Of course, there’s also pricing to be considered—dedicated internet is more expensive than a shared connection, but for most enterprises, the advantages of DIA far outweigh the cost factor.
Let’s look at some of the factors that will indicate if Direct Internet Access is right for you:
Discover Flexible Bandwidth Options
Most dedicated internet providers offer a variety of bandwidth options to meet your business needs. That means you can tailor your business internet connectivity to match your specific needs.
And DIA services offer easy scalability, which means you can easily adjust the bandwidth capacity as your requirements evolve. You can accommodate increased data usage, support bandwidth-intensive applications, handle peak traffic periods and adapt to changing business demands.
Experience Faster Internet Speed
DIA provides high-speed connectivity. This is essential to access heavy web-based applications, transfer large files and collaborate using real-time communication and video conferencing.
High-speed internet helps you deliver exceptional customer experience, respond swiftly to customer enquiries and adapt to market demands. In businesses where speed is critical, such as eCommerce websites, data centers, media streaming services or financial institutions which rely on real-time transactions, DIA is the only feasible option.
Avoid Downtime Stress
Network failures or disruptions cause unnecessary stress for employees and customers.
Network downtime or internet outages can be incredibly detrimental to business operations, leading to lost productivity, revenue and customer dissatisfaction.
DIA providers provide uninterrupted access to the internet using redundant network infrastructure, backup connections and proactive monitoring, backed by service-level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee specified uptime parameters.
Enhanced Network Security
Since you won’t share your internet with anyone, your sensitive business information is highly secure with dedicated internet access.
DIA service providers include options for seamless integration with advanced cybersecurity features, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, virtual private networks (VPNs), and other security measures. This safeguards your valuable, sensitive data and critical applications from unauthorized access, data breaches, malware attacks, and other cyber threats. It minimizes the risk of data loss and reputational damage, builds customer confidence, and allows your teams to focus on their core functions without concerns over security.
Receive Performance Reporting
GTT delivers comprehensive performance reports, including metrics like bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss and other relevant performance indicators.
These reports allow businesses to assess their network performance, identify potential bottlenecks or issues and make informed decisions to optimize their network infrastructure.
They can proactively address network issues, optimize resource allocation and maintain the optimal level of performance that is critical for efficiency and productivity.
When you opt for DIA services from GTT, you receive real-time performance reporting with our online portal EtherVision. You can monitor network performance, track real-time statistics and view order status and billing.
Invest in Unbeatable Dedicated Internet Access With GTT
Modern enterprises rely on connectivity. Faster internet speed and high network performance is critical for staying competitive in the digital landscape.
Reliable connectivity is essential for businesses to operate efficiently, communicate effectively, leverage cloud-based services, and support bandwidth-intensive applications. It directly impacts productivity, customer satisfaction, operational agility and overall business success.
Rely on a professional and reputed Dedicated Internet Access service provider like GTT to power your business and fuel growth.
GTT offers global coverage to service all your locations across the world with dynamic routing support. Backed by SLAs, we guarantee 99.99% availability, fully supported by 24/7 NOC.
Talk to a GTT expert today and get a professional evaluation of your organization’s need for a dedicated internet connection.
