In today’s digital landscape, connectivity is the backbone of every business. From startups to multinational enterprises, reliable and efficient connectivity drives collaboration, growth, and customer satisfaction. Below, we categorize the most popular connectivity options into Dedicated Technologies and Shared Technologies.

1. Dedicated Technologies 

For businesses that demand consistent, reliable, and high-performance connectivity, with the following main characteristics:

• Billed at a fixed monthly rate.
• Dedicated bandwidth is guaranteed 24/7, regardless of actual usage.
• No user authentication or access authorization is required.
• A static IP address is provided to the client.

1.1 Leased Lines

Leased lines provide a direct, point-to-point connection between two locations, ensuring guaranteed bandwidth with high availability and quality of service SLA. It could be delivered through different technologies such as Fiber & Wireless.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Exclusive Connection: solely for your organization enjoying consistent bandwidth, ideal for critical operations.
• Guaranteed Quality: SLA is applied for QoS parameters (availability, delay, Packet loss, jitter). 
• High Security: Reduced exposure to cyber threats.

Best Suited For:
Banks, data centers, or any organization requiring high availability.

1.2 MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching)

MPLS creates a private network that efficiently routes traffic between multiple locations, prioritizing data types like voice or video for optimal performance. It connects offices to the closest ISP exchange, which provides more efficiency since the bandwidth will be shared over the core network.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Traffic Prioritization: Ensures smooth voice and video communication.
• Bandwidth optimization: unlike LL, MPLS backbone is shared with bandwidth guarantee.
• Security: Operates on a private network, minimizing risks.
• Consistency: Reliable for geographically distributed offices.
• More cost-effective than LL.

Best Suited For:
Enterprises with multiple branches or operations requiring predictable performance.

1.3 Dark Fiber

Dark fiber refers to unused optical fiber infrastructure that businesses can lease to create their own private networks.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Unlimited Capacity: Extremely high speeds and scalability.
• Full Privacy: Fully dedicated fiber cable for the client.
• Full Control: Businesses manage their own network equipment and traffic.
• Future-Proof: Supports growing data demands with minimal additional costs.

Best Suited For:
Organizations with high bandwidth requirements, such as technology companies or media firms.

2. Shared Technologies 

For organizations seeking flexible, cost-effective, and quick-to-deploy connectivity solutions. It has the following main aspects:

• Authentication, Authorization and Accounting is required for establishing the link.
• By default, the client will get dynamic IP address.
• Bandwidth is not guaranteed.

2.1 FTTx (Fiber to the X)

FTTx is a family of fiber-based solutions that bring high-speed internet closer to end-users. It includes:

• FTTP/FTTH (Fiber to the Premises/Home): Direct fiber connections to homes or businesses.
• FTTC (Fiber to the Curb/Cabinet): Fiber delivered to a street cabinet, then connected to premises via copper.
• FTTB (Fiber to the Building): Fiber to a building’s main point, with internal cabling connecting individual offices.

Key Features for Businesses:

• High Speeds: Comparable to dedicated lines for many applications.
• Cost-Effective: Shared infrastructure reduces costs while offering excellent performance.
• Wide Availability: Increasingly accessible in urban and suburban areas.

Best Suited For:
SMEs, retail outlets, and branch offices with moderate to high internet usage.

2.2 Mobile Connectivity (4G/5G)

Mobile networks are a versatile option for primary or backup connectivity, offering speed and mobility for businesses.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Rapid Setup: Minimal installation time compared to fixed lines.
• Flexibility: Ideal for businesses with temporary or mobile operations.
• 5G Advantage: Faster speeds and lower latency compared to 4G.

Best Suited For:
Retail outlets, pop-up shops, POSs, ATM machines or field teams needing quick deployment.

2.3 DSL-Based Broadband (xDSL)

DSL family (such as ADSL, VDSL) use copper telephone lines to provide internet access. While not the fastest, they are still widely used in areas lacking fiber.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Budget-Friendly: Suitable for basic connectivity needs

• Available Infrastructure: Leverages existing telephone lines

• Moderate Speeds: Generally limited in bandwidth and performance

Best Suited For:
Small offices, rural businesses, or cost-conscious users with low to moderate data needs

2.4 Fixed Wireless Broadband

Fixed wireless broadband uses point-to-multipoint radio links to deliver connectivity, usually from a nearby tower to a rooftop antenna.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Quick Installation: Especially where wired infrastructure is lacking

• High Throughput: Good performance for SMBs

• Scalable: Often used as fiber backup or in growing areas

Best Suited For:
Retail locations, construction sites, or SMEs in semi-urban/rural areas without fibe

2.5 SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network)

SD-WAN intelligently combines multiple shared technologies like broadband, 4G/5G, or fiber, ensuring cost-effective and high-performance connectivity.

Key Features for Businesses:

• Merging edge Technologies: SD-WAN connectivity is able to combine different WAN technologies. 
• Traffic Optimization: Routes traffic for the best performance by setting per-link SLA.
• Cost Efficiency: Utilizes lower-cost connections like broadband and cellular technologies.
• Cloud Ready: Designed to optimize SaaS and cloud applications.

Best Suited For:
Enterprises seeking flexible, scalable and secured connectivity over the cloud.

Choosing the Right Solution for Your Business

When deciding between dedicated or shared connectivity, consider the following:

• Do you prioritize security and reliability (dedicated)?
• Is flexibility and cost-effectiveness your goal (shared)?
• What is the size and location of your business?
• How critical are uptime and bandwidth consistency for your operations?

Why Connectivity Matters

The right connectivity is more than just an IT decision; it’s a strategic choice that should be aligned with the business type and your service’s need. Whether you need the robust security of dedicated technologies or the flexibility of shared solutions like FTTx, there’s a perfect fit for every business.

At Broad Vision Technologies, we specialize in helping businesses select, implement, and optimize connectivity solutions tailored to their unique needs. Contact us today to explore how we can enable your business to success.