According to BT Business, more than 71% of the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses rely on mobile or web-based applications. And this is bound to increase in the coming years.
Internet has become the lifeblood of businesses and dedicated leased lines have, over the years, continuously evolved to sustain and enhance its pulse. What does that mean? They have taken internet connectivity for businesses to the next level by limiting internet outages and increasing transfer speeds. This has resulted in better productivity of the teams and efficiency of the business processes.
Ethernet First Mile is one type of leased line and this article will explain the most important concepts about it. Let’s start.
What is Ethernet First Mile?
Ethernet First Mile (EFM) is a cost-effective and medium-speed internet connection that utilises bonded copper pairs (2 to 8) to provide connectivity from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the business site. Some of the main characteristics of EFM are the following:
- Provides symmetrical bandwidth which means the upload and download speeds are the same.
- Provides uncontended internet connectivity which means it is not shared with other users.
- Provides resilience because it is constructed with multiple copper pairs. If one fails, the other continues to work.
This technology is ideal for businesses requiring a consistent and cost-effective internet connection. EFM is also known for quick installation and high resilience.
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How does EFM work?
Ethernet First Mile operates by connecting the business site to the ISP using bonded copper pairs. The process starts at the ISP’s exchange, where the data signal is transmitted through copper pairs. The signals travel from the exchange to the business premises, where an EFM modem converts into a standard Ethernet format that can be used by the business’s network equipment.
Benefits of Ethernet First Mile
Let’s now look at the advantages of EFM.
- Consistent speed: EFM offers a range of speeds from 2Mbps to 35Mbps, ensuring consistent and reliable performance. Unlike traditional broadband connections, which can experience fluctuating speeds due to network congestion, EFM delivers stable speeds.
- Affordable: It is more affordable than full fibre leased lines due to 2 factors. Firstly, it involves less structural work; EFM uses the existing copper wires, which are widespread in the UK, making it easier and less costly to route them to your business site. Secondly, it relies on copper rather than fibre optic cables, due to which the monthly rates are also lower.
- Comes with a guarantee: Ethernet First Mile comes with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that ensure a high level of service and support. This includes guaranteed uptime, consistent speed and quick response times. Most service providers give at least an uptime of 99.9% which means your line can experience a maximum downtime of 1.4 minutes/day.
- More reliable & secure: EFM provides a dedicated line to your business. This means you benefit from reliable and consistent speeds without the impact of network congestion or interference from other users (ADSL, e.g. has a general contention ratio of 30:1). Additionally, it’s not directly connected to the public internet, which enhances security by keeping your data traffic isolated from potential external threats.
- Symmetrical speed: The symmetrical speed is particularly beneficial for businesses that rely on activities needing data transfer in both directions like video conferencing and cloud-based applications.
- Unlimited data: EFM plans come with unlimited data usage, allowing businesses to transfer as much data as needed without worrying about additional charges or data caps.
- Quick installation: Where a fibre leased line takes around 65-180 days to be installed, it only takes 20-45 days since it utilises some of the existing copper infrastructure in the UK. There is less groundwork that makes the installation affordable as well. Bear in mind that you have to pay around £2000 – £20,000 for installing fibre leased lines.
Ethernet First Mile comparison
Since EFM is an internet connectivity method, hence it’s justified to compare it with other alternatives. Let’s have an honest look together.
1. EFM vs EoFTTC
With an Ethernet over fibre to the cabinet (EoFTTC) you get greater speeds, usually up to 80-100Mbps but it comes with higher cost as well. Both provide almost the same level of reliability and consistency but if you’re a small business owner who can live with low bandwidths of EFM, it’s the better pick for you.
2. EFM vs Full fibre leased line
EFM provides cost-effective and symmetrical speeds up to 35Mbps and is ideal for SMEs seeking affordable and reliable connectivity without extensive installation costs.
A full fibre leased line will surely offer higher speeds (even up to 10 GB) but it comes with a higher price and hefty installation cost.
3. EFM vs broadband
EFM beats a similar-bandwidth broadband connection in 3 departments. Firstly, it is an exclusive connection so all of the bandwidth is dedicated entirely to you. Secondly, it offers symmetrical speeds so even if your operations require high upload speeds, you can get that with EFM.
Thirdly, it provides reliable and consistent internet because neither is it affected by congestion in the peak hours nor is it prone to security issues because of being isolated from the public internet.
Is EFM Suitable For Your Business?
To determine if EFM is a good fit for your business, consider the following factors:
- Connectivity needs: Assess whether your business requires reliable connectivity with symmetrical speeds for tasks like large data transfers and cloud services. EFM’s consistent performance is ideal for such needs. Also, see if speeds up to 35Mbps are enough for you because this is the maximum EFM plans offer (at the time of writing in 2024).
- Budget: Evaluate your budget for internet services. EFM is generally more cost-effective than fibre leased lines, but if you need high bandwidth, a fibre solution will be more suitable for you.
- Security and reliability: Consider if having a dedicated and unshared connection with enhanced security is crucial for your operations. EFM provides a more secure connection compared to shared broadband.
- Installation time: If you need quick setup, EFM often has a faster installation process compared to full fibre leased line.
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