Networks & Communication - ADSL (Broadband)

What it ADSL ?
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a form of DSL, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice telephone call. A splitter - or microfilter - allows a single telephone connection to be used for both ADSL service and voice calls at the same time. Because phone lines vary in quality and were not originally engineered with DSL in mind, speeds may vary.

Why do I need broadband?
Although you've no doubt heard of broadband, the benefits for business have yet to be well communicated in the UK. With recent pushes from BT, other broadband providers and the Government, the message is starting to filter through.

The most obvious benefits are:
(1) You should use broadband because it's always on.
(2) There's no waiting for connections or costly investments in multiple modems.
(3) It has a fixed price per month, so you can budget accordingly.
(4) It's relatively easy to install (depending on how many PCs require broadband access).
(5) It won't tie-up your phone line, so you can talk and surf.
(6) It's exceptionally fast - up to 40 times faster than dial-up - and you can choose the broadband option best suited to your business.

But there's more to broadband than just time and money savings and simple technology. There are many broadband factors that have been proven to deliver benefits to small and medium-sized companies. Let's start with your staff, employees and workmates.

Your staff are happy (1). At home. Telecommuting as an idea has been with us for some time. With broadband solutions for office and home it's only now becoming a reality. US surveys estimate that telecommuting has risen 17% (Entrepreneur mag) in just one year to 2002, and the major reason for this is broadband. Telecommuting offers employees greater flexibility, a better work/life balance and the ability to work as effectively from home as they do at work. For the employer the benefits include lower fixed costs in the workplace, improved efficiency and a more loyal workforce.

Your staff are happier (2). Wherever they are. Just because your staff are on the road doesn't mean they're invisible. Broadband offers the ability for remote working as users can connect to the internal network via a web interface from their laptop using a wireless connection. And due to the large-scale investment in broadband terminals, business centres and access points in Government buildings, it's easy for staff to work remotely from fixed locations using freely available terminals and PCs.

Your staff are happier (3) because they are communicating more effectively with you, your providers, suppliers, customers and each other. In a recent survey Entrepreneur mag , over 80% of broadband-enabled businesses claimed that it had improved their internal processes.

Investment in broadband for small businesses makes financial sense. Firstly, it doesn't require extensive investment in infrastructure so long as existing telephone lines are in place, and that the local exchange is broadband-enabled. The maintenance costs are negligible and the price is fixed per month so there are no nasty hidden costs.

Although all businesses may have different drivers for moving to broadband, it's clear that once they have done so, productivity rises. In a survey of 500 small businesses with broadband DSL, research firm The Yankee Group reports that 68% of respondents believe they have already seen a positive return on investment thanks to the use of broadband connections, while 56% say that DSL access is indispensable to their business Reuters.

You become a big company. No, really. Once you have a broadband connection you are treated like a big company by many service companies. For many years software and services companies offering electronic solutions focused their sales efforts and products on larger companies with higher revenues than smaller firms. Now with broadband, small companies can use expensive and complex software and services for a fraction of their purchase price by effectively renting them over broadband connections. This market for third party applications and hosted software solutions is giving small businesses a level playing field with larger competitors and it's broadband that's helped make the difference.

There are a host of less obvious benefits including reduced training costs and increased training and learning opportunities for your staff online. But if you still require any convincing, the fact that the Government wants you to convert to broadband and is providing resources to encourage the process should do it.

What we can offer.
Business ADSL Connections in the form of:-
ADSL Max
ADSL Max Premium

For the MAX Allowance products, you can decide at the point of order whether the underlying line is a non-rate adaptive
product (i.e. upto 2Mb) or a rate adaptive MAX product (i.e. upto 8Mb) and then apply the various product banding that suits your needs.
We can migrate connections from other ISPs free of charge, with the exception of those that migrate from an LLU provider.
Migrations from LLU providers are £40 +VAT.

ADSL Speeds
MAX products have a downstream range between 288Kb – 8Mb, the upstream range is between 64Kb – 448Kb.
MAX Premium products have a downstream range between 288Kb – 8Mb, the upstream range is between 64Kb – 832Kb.

Managed Bonded ADSL(click for link)

Enhanced Care
Enhanced Care is available on all ADSL products at an additional cost of £12.50 per line per month.

All our ADSL connections include either 1 or 8 IP addresses.
Minimum contract of one month applies to the above products (excluding Managed Bonded ADSL)

Contention Ratios
Office products have a contention ratio of 20:1
SDSL products have a contention ratio of 10:1

For further information or to discuss your requirements, please call 01942 209525.

Speedy Business Systems Limited E & OE Statement
E & OE All Trademarks acknowledged. All prices are correct at time of going to press. All prices are subject to change without notice. All prices exclude VAT. E&OE.. All prices are quoted in Sterling. All offers are subject to availability.