The key features and advantages
of Dedicated Internet
Modern DIA represents the evolution of core business internet technologies such as T1 and T3 lines that first emerged in the 1960s. In fact, both T1 and T3 are still options in some DIA plans, but they are now joined by other circuit options including dedicated fiber, Ethernet-over-copper (EoC) and fixed wireless that collectively meet a wider range of requirements.
A DIA plan may be based on:
- Dedicated fiber: Fiber-optic cabling, made from glass, provides low-friction data transmission free from electromagnetic interference. As such, it's the perfect mode of transport for high-speed and dependable DIA service. There are thousands of miles of installed fiber in the U.S. and they perform reliably over both short and long distances.
- EoC: Harnessing the power of twisted copper pairs, EoC offers high electrical conductivity, built-in redundancy (thanks to the pairing) and a large operational footprint. The copper lines underpinning EoC are easy to terminate and available in most commercial buildings with conventional phone lines.
- Fixed wireless: This option uses radio waves instead of wires, which allows for much faster deployment and immunity to issues such as underground cable damage. Plus, service is still high-speed and low-latency thanks to point-to-point connections between installations.
- T1 and T3: T1 lines can be installed in almost any location, even far from the dense urban cores in which fiber and EoC are the most built-up. It may be installed on fiber or copper, either way it provides a dedicated, symmetrical connection that's perfect for any organization needing uninterrupted internet access for anything from HD voice to cloud computing services. A T3 line is an aggregation of 28 T1 lines.
The main differences between these transport types are their respective bandwidth and geographic availability. All DIA circuits share the following features:
Private connection, guaranteed bandwidth & high throughput
Instead of sharing a connection with many other organizations, DIA customers enjoy reserved bandwidth – like having a smooth private lane that lets you avoid a jammed highway. High utilization elsewhere on the network won't degrade conditions for your team. DIA lines also have superior throughput, meaning you don't get theoretically fast access to the network, but high speeds in actual usage.
Symmetrical speeds
Upload and download speeds are the same in DIA plans, unlike consumer internet packages that feature much slower uploads than downloads. This symmetry supports the characteristics of demanding real-time applications for voice and video, not just TCP apps, and allows for faster data transfers from remote sites and to cloud infrastructure.
A service-level agreement (SLA)
The reliability of the DIA line's service is guaranteed by the service provider in a binding SLA, which spells out the allowable downtime and minimum performance. More specifically, the SLA usually defines levels of uptime, latency, packet loss and jitter to prove the connection's suitability for business-class traffic with low tolerance for adverse conditions across the network.
Highly responsive customer service
If you've ever had technical hiccups with your home internet, you know that resolving these problems can take what seems like a long time as you navigate a phone tree to find a representative. In contrast, you can expect a rapid response from a DIA service provider at any time of the day. The connection is monitored 24/7/365 and any requests related to real DIA issues receive high priority for swift resolution.
