A broadband Internet connection is now widely regarded as a prerequisite for doing business effectively, no matter what the size of your organisation or its industry sector. However, the type of connection, tariff and features that your business needs will depend on the exact nature of your current and planned operations.
The term ‘broadband’ covers a whole range of connection technologies, working upwards from everyday consumer ADSL services. While the largest businesses may require dedicated wide area network (WAN) infrastructure, the vast majority of organisations can now use cost-effective connections over the traditional telephone network. Different approaches may be required for your various sites, home workers and so on, and the level of service provided over a given type of connection can also vary to balance speed, reliability and capability against cost.
The choice of options can seem complex, but is easily broken down into decisions based on your situation and business aims. The two main variables are the speed of the connection and the level of service, and the primary factors to consider are the number of users involved and the types of applications you want to run over the network.
Broadband products
The Demon Broadband portfolio covers a typical range of products to suit all users. For example, Home Broadband offers speeds up to 8Mbps (megabits per second), taking advantage of the latest technology built into UK telephone exchanges. For general access, file transfer and Internet browsing, this fast, no-frills option will be more than sufficient for many single users, and the cost-effective monthly fee includes initial setup and supply of a suitable modem. An additional benefit is that email security features help protect against viruses, spam (junk mail) and phishing emails, which attempt to entice users into revealing confidential personal or business data. Users also have the option of collecting their email from any computer via a web browser.
However, some aspects can be limiting. As with any ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) service, upstream – where the user is transferring data to a server, rather than receiving it – is much slower than downstream. The user’s IP (Internet Protocol) address, which identifies each system to the outside world, is allocated dynamically, meaning that it will change unpredictably from time to time. Many business networks require a fixed IP address for secure login via VPN (virtual private networking).
A better solution for most home workers is HomeOffice Broadband. This offers a fixed IP address, so each user’s system is uniquely identified. There are also other benefits aimed at business use. Electronic Fax allows users to receive faxes on their screen or printer without requiring a dedicated fax line or equipment, and Demon Dial Companion software enables mobile workers to collect their email via a dial-up connection at remote locations when necessary. Finally, you can choose the connection hardware that best suits your needs. As with Home Broadband, the same telephone line, which can be an existing line, carries both voice calls and data simultaneously.
Consumer broadband generally operates on a contention basis, meaning that several users within a local area are effectively sharing a finite bandwidth. When more users are online during busy periods, each may experience a slowdown. Business-grade broadband minimises or overcomes this limitation by offering reduced contention, typically between 5:1 and 20:1 (no more than five to twenty customers competing for bandwidth). Additionally, various methods can be used by the provider to prioritise network traffic so that the effect of busy periods on business customers is minimised. Because business users generally value quality of service over speed, various bandwidth options are available below the maximum 8Mbps to make the benefits available at a range of price points.
The ultimate broadband upgrade is to Demon Premier Broadband SDSL (symmetric digital subscriber line). This uses similar technology to ADSL, and is more cost-effective than traditional leased line solutions, but has the option of working over a dedicated line. Not only is contention eliminated, but upstream speed is matched to downstream, enabling full no-compromise two-way communication, for example between the corporate network and a remote worker or small satellite office.
The table below shows some of the Demon Broadband options available. The number of users suggested is only a general guide; how much bandwidth you require per user will depend very much on the types of applications you have in mind. Our staff will be pleased to advise based on your business needs.
| Product | Features | Users |
|---|---|---|
Demon Home 8000 |
Fast - Lowest cost - Email protection |
1 |
| Demon HomeOffice 8000 | Fast - Static IP - Electronic Fax and Dial Companion | Up to 5 |
| Demon Business 2000 | Higher upload speed - Choice of IP configuration including multiple static IPs - Electronic Fax and Dial Companion - Prioritised traffic - No download limits - Compatible with company mail servers - Free domain and web space | Up to 10 |
| Demon Business 8000 | Fast - Low contention - Higher upload speed - Choice of IP configuration including multiple static IPs - Electronic Fax and Dial Companion - Prioritised traffic - No download limits - Compatible with company mail servers - Free domain and web space | Up to 20 |
| Demon Premier Business Broadband | Range of speeds - Very low contention or dedicated use - SDSL option: same speed up- and downstream, separate line - Full choice of configuration options - No traffic limits - Compatible with company mail servers - Free domain name | Various |
Your requirements
The grade of broadband appropriate to a particular site will depend on how many users need to be connected and what tasks they are undertaking via the connection. For a single user requiring personal email, web browsing, and access to documents on a remote server, a fast, no-frills package such as Demon Home Broadband may be fine. To cater for more advanced requirements, you may need to weigh speed against features.
Home workers who need to interact directly with corporate systems will often need a fixed IP address to enable secure login. This is provided by the HomeOffice service, which also includes business essentials such as fax, making it the default choice for single users. Since this option also allows the connection to be shared between users, and the maximum download speed of up to 8Mbps is enough to cater for several users simultaneously, HomeOffice can also be an appropriate solution for very small businesses or satellite offices.
One of the trickiest choices can be between HomeOffice and Business Broadband, especially since HomeOffice 8000 offers such a fast connection at a relatively low price. However, there are issues other than speed to take into account. Most company sites will require multiple IP addresses. While any number of dummy IP addresses can be created via NAT (Network Address Translation), this brings technical limitations and won’t be suitable for Internet-facing systems such as mail and web servers. Business and Premier Broadband packages provide the option of a range of fixed IP addresses to suit your requirements.
Running a company website will require a domain name and commercial web space to enable you to create and deliver a professional online presence. All Business and Premier Broadband packages include these services, so you’re ready to go without needing to add options or use a separate web hosting provider.
Business and Premier connections also have the advantages of prioritisation and, with some packages, reduced contention. This means that whatever the nominal speed of your connection (generally from up to 2Mbps to up to 8Mbps), performance is more consistent through peak periods. If workers need constant access to information, or need to access data in real time – for example, while talking to customers on the phone – then this may be as important to you as the maximum speeds achieved. If your users will regularly need to download large files, such as video presentations, you’ll need both speed and consistency, pointing you towards one of the higher Business or Premier services.
Voice over Broadband is an increasingly popular way for organisations to maximise the benefits of high-speed connections. Routing telephone calls over the data network avoids the line rental and call charges associated with telephone lines, as well as offering potential savings on switchboard equipment and increased flexibility and integration. However, ensuring good call quality places technical demands on the connection. While a single user could certainly make occasional voice calls over a Home or HomeOffice Broadband connection, a low contention service will offer better quality when implementing Voice over Broadband for an office. Premier Broadband should be considered, with SDSL packages offering the best performance because outgoing (upstream) data isn’t slowed compared to incoming (downstream).
SDSL should also be considered for any application where the bulk of data transfer is from the user to a remote central system rather than vice versa: for example, where content is produced by home workers, satellite offices or partners and uploaded to the corporate network.
In summary
There’s a broadband package to suit every customer and every site. By looking at speed, quality of service issues such as contention, features such as fixed IP addresses, and bundled services such as Electronic Fax and web space, and where necessary balancing these to fit your budget, you can identify the right choice. For further advice, call us on 0808 202 1046 or visit http://www.demon.net/ for more information about all our Demon Broadband products.