Whats the Difference Between Shared and Dedicated Bandwidth?

Shared bandwidth

Whats the difference between shared and dedicated bandwidth? Typically internet plans with “speeds up to” are shared bandwidth plans as you are sharing the same uplink to your ISP that others are. During peak hours you may experience latency as bandwidth is being distributed to many at once. Non-peak hours will give you the best bandwidth as less traffic means faster speed.

Dedicated bandwidth

This provides bandwidth reserved for use by your business only. Your internet speeds won’t fluctuate or be affected by others. You will consistently get the speeds you have chosen. So, whats the difference between shared and dedicated bandwidth? Shared bandwidth is ideal for light users with occasional video calls and email use, while dedicated bandwidth is necessary for heavy users who require more reliability and speed.

To determine which type of bandwidth is best for your business, consider these questions:

• Would you consider your business’s internet use light or heavy?  Shared bandwidth may work for light users (a few internet-connected devices, basic email use, occasional video calls, and limited file downloads or transfers), but dedicated bandwidth is better suited for heavy users (numerous internet-connected devices, frequent video usage or large file uploads, and support for multiple cloud-based systems and locations). So, whats the difference between shared and dedicated bandwidth when your usage is high? Dedicated bandwidth ensures consistently high performance for businesses with heavier internet demands, providing more stability and reliability for connected devices, video uploads, and cloud-based operations.
• Do you offer Wi-Fi to customers or visitors? If so, a combination of shared and dedicated might be best. The dedicated bandwidth can be reserved for employees and customers can use a shared bandwidth plan.
• What level of network security do you need? Both shared and dedicated bandwidth provide a level of network security, but dedicated bandwidth’s private connection, provides greater security.
• Is productivity a concern? Not having enough bandwidth can cause frustration for both employees and customers. It can lower productivity and lead to lost revenue. Having a dedicated connection provides greater stability and reliability.
• Are you using a Hosted VoIP solution? Shared networks have steady voice and video traffic that can latency and jitters. A dedicated connection will ensure voice and video are crystal clear.

In summary, whats the difference between shared and dedicated bandwidth? It ultimately comes down to your business’s usage needs, with shared bandwidth being a budget-friendly option for lighter use, while dedicated bandwidth offers superior performance for more demanding tasks.

Whatever you decide, All West can provide the service you need. Contact Phil Marchant or Bryce Gardner today at 877.584.1714 to talk about your internet needs. They’re happy to help!