Internet & Cloud

We partner with a number of leading carriers and ISPs to offer a range of Internet connectivity and services.

ADSL and FTTC Broadband

These offer lowest cost options for Internet connectivity. Both are dependent on the length and quality of the telephone line entering your premises. In the case of ADSL, it is the length of the line from the telephone exchange, so for rural properties than can be several kilometres and thus the overall speeds are reduced. Remote properties can offer see speeds of under 1Mbps.

For FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet), the key distance is the one between the property and the green street cabinet (often seen on street corners). For buildings in built-up areas, this distance is typically 10 to 500m. FTTC is based on a technology called VDSL. The VDSL signal “degrades” quicker than ADSL, so it is possible to have FTTC available (in that the telephone exchange and green cabinet have been upgraded) but the property be too far from the cabinet for VDSL to work.

Both ADSL and FTTC still use a copper cable entering the property. Whilst many ISPs will advertise FTTC as fibre optic, this is not technically correct. In this instance, the fibre optic is run to the green cabinet where the copper cable takes over.

The typical maximum speeds of ADSL are 24Mbps down and 1Mbps up (though these speeds would only be achieved by a property very close to the telephone exchange). Current maximum FTTC speeds are 80Mbps down and 20Mbps up.

A business FTTC connection with unlimited bandwidth use will cost around £50+VAT per month.

EFM (Ethernet in the First Mile)

EFM also relies on copper cabling. It uses 2 or 4 pairs of cable which are “bonded” together to provide. EFM is a symmetric service, so unlike ADSL and FTTC, the download and upload speeds are the same. As the service uses copper cabling, the distance from the telephone exchange again influences the potential speed of the service. Typically speeds of 10Mbps to 20Mbps are obtained.

One other key difference is that EFM has a higher Service Level Agreement (SLA) than ADSL or FTTC. This means faults are fixed quicker than standard broadband.

EFM circuits are usually sold with a multi-year contract. A longer contract can reduce the price and also installation charges.

A 10Mbps EFM circuit would cost around £160+VAT per month.

Ethernet

Also referred to as a leased line, an Ethernet connection is delivered directly over fibre optic cabling. The distance from the telephone exchange or is irrelevant in terms of performance, but can dramatically influence the installation cost. Speeds of 100Mbps or 1Gpbs are available.

If a suitable fibre optic cable is also entering the building, installation can be free on a multi-year contract. However, should a new fibre optic cable need installing, the installation costs will be “subject to survey”. An engineer will visit site to assess the work required to install the cable. That work may include digging trenches, drilling holes etc. A price will then be provided for that work. The more work required, the higher the installation cost.

Again, a SLA provides contracted fix times with service credits should repairs take longer than expected.