IP WAN over MPLS Advantages

When we think of IP wide area networks, the first thing that comes to mind is the Internet. While the Internet does have almost universal connectivity and modest cost to access, there are some serious issues when it comes to business applications. Bandwidth, latency, jitter and packet loss have no guarantees and few expectations. Security is a joke. But aren’t other methods to interconnect business locations costly and hard to manage?

It is possible to set up a private IP network that lets you use your familiar IP addressing schemes and avoid encryption, firewalls, tunnels, and additional hardware. You’ll gain a performance advantage compared to using VPN techniques over the Internet and save yourself the administrative headaches of trying to manage a WAN with inherently indeterminate characteristics. Who offers something like this? It’s TelePacific, one of the nation’s largest competitive carriers.

TelePacific’s 1Net is an IP VPN running on a private MPLS network, not the Internet. Since MPLS or Multi-Protocol Label Switching can transport almost any protocol, it can be set up to mimic the Internet while keeping your data private. Only the locations that you set up can exchange traffic. No one outside of your user group can capture or view your data. You’ll have any to any connectivity within the group with security sufficient to address HIPPA or similar government regulations.

In fact, TelePacific set up just such a private IP Network for a medical imaging organization with 6 locations. They use it to transport patients’ private medical records among their location. Referring physicians can access patient imaging results within hours at their own computers. The system is also used for claims processing, patient scheduling and registration. Interestingly, this system also allows dedicated Internet access through a single firewall at corporate headquarters.

The TelePacific 1Net IP VPN has both cost and performance advantages over other secure networking solutions, including private line, ATM and Frame Relay. You can specify up to six different Classes of Service (CoS) to support sensitive real-time services such as VoIP telephone and teleconferencing. On Net, latency for all CoS is specified at 50 msec. That rises to just 100 msec for extended reach locations off the TelePacific network but still within the US. Network availability is 99.999% (5 nines) both on and off network locations.

The Classes of Service are CoS 1 for VoIP real time traffic, CoS2 for video conferencing and real time data traffic, CoS3 for high priority, delay sensitive business data like Ecommerce and Citrix, CoS4 for medium priority delay-sensisitive business data such as CRM and WebEx, CoS5 for general less delay sensitive business data like ERP, and CoS6 for best effort traffic with no prioritization. That’s typically Email and FTP.

Are you cringing at the cost and effort involved in linking your business locations by private lines or frustrated by the highly variable performance and difficulty in securing the Internet? Perhaps the best solution for your business needs is a private IP VPN based on MPLS networking. Check prices and features to compare with your other choices.



Note: MPLS network diagram courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ethernet over Fixed Wireless Broadband

Many companies have discovered the cost and performance benefits of Metro Ethernet services over copper and fiber optic cable. But did you know that there was a third option? It’s Ethernet over Fixed Wireless and it can get you the bandwidth you need both quickly and affordably.

Ethernet over Fixed Wireless (EoFW) differs from the portable or mobile wireless services we are most familiar with. While most WiFi, WiMAX or LTE services offer broadband Internet access within a given service footprint, they are intended for general use. There is generally no encryption and no directionality. You use a smartphone or laptop computer, sometimes with a USB adaptor, to get connected to the network. The bandwidth is limited and shared. You’re never quite sure how fast the connection is going to run.

Fixed wireless is a completely different service. The only thing it has in common with 3G and 4G cellular broadband is that it doesn’t use wires. It doesn’t use their microwave channels nor their towers. This is a private service sold to businesses, not consumers.

What does Ethernet over Fixed Wireless have to offer? You’ll get speeds similar to wireline services, secure data transmission, fast installation and a service level agreement. In other words, a dedicated wireline connection without the wireline.

TelePacific is now a major player in this relatively new field, after acquiring the assets of Covad Wireless. They offer two levels of service, one to compete with T1 lines and Ethernet over Copper, plus a higher speed service that competes with DS3 bandwidth.

Wireless Super-T T1-class Business Internet provides scalable bandwidth from 1 Mbps to 6 Mbps. That’s what you’d get from bonding up to 4 T1 lines or an EoC service. But what if you are outside the limited EoC footprint for your area and you don’t want to wait for T1 service to be installed? TelePacific can install service and have it working within days of an order. You’re talking weeks for a T1 line and who knows how long if you want to bring in fiber.

Speaking of fiber, are you in need of higher bandwidth but beyond the capability of bonded T1 or EoC and blanching at the cost of fiber construction? TelePacific can have you up and running in typically 30 to 45 days using their professionally engineered and installed licensed microwave equipment. Bandwidth levels of 10, 15, 20, 30 or 45 Mbps are available in California and Nevada. Higher bandwidths from 50 to 100 Mbps are available in California. No need for expensive DS3 cards and routers. You connection is a Fast Ethernet interface.

Even if you already have high capacity lines to support your business, are you sure that you’re ready if disaster strikes. What if those cables get cut? How long will you be out of business before they get spliced back together? This is where TelePacific’s HiCap wireless service can save the day. The path to your ISP is wireless and they offer a network-diverse route to the internet.

A specialized service you may find valuable is TelePacific Wireless Event Service. They can provide you with standard service from 2 to 6 Mbps or higher bandwidth from 10 to 40 Mbps to support your trade show, sporting event, company or customer event, film festival, concert on on-location film shoot. They even provided Internet access on the beach for a surfing competition. It’s all engineered and handled by TelePacific. You just show up, plug in and access the Internet.

Does this whet your appetite for the benefits of getting your business bandwidth without the usual wired connections? If so, get pricing and availability for Fixed Wireless Broadband Service to support your business needs.