leased line or file transfer by third party vendor, low bandwidth, very expensive
frame relay, ATM, most systems become IP aware
high speed leased line for mission critical services, whereas Internet VPN or closed IP VPN by carriers
Data communications between branches in a corporate, or to third parties for e-commerce, requires high confidentiality throughout the end to end process. In the last decade, the corporate wide area network infrastructure has seen a dramatic change.
The leased line provided a simple peer to peer communication link with the carrier guaranteeing data confidentiality. This was a quite an expensive option and, depending on bandwidth and distance, resulted in a very expensive method for international data communications.
In the early 1990’s, carriers began offering a new topology called “Frame Relay”, this was where a carrier’s bandwidth was shared by more than one customer, resulting in a reduced cost particularly for international communications. Even at this time, the Internet was preparing for it’s explosion on the commercial markets in the immediate future.
Today, the Internet is the most cost effective data network anywhere in the world, and has become the most dangerous network, too.
VPN (virtual private network) technology utilises the Internet for corporations to make secure, peer to peer data communications by encrypting the data using firewall devices. Internet VPN is gaining in popularity as the cost of the firewall devices reduce in their costs and as DLS or Fibre technology has dramatically reduced the costs of Internet connections.
On the other hand, the IT bubble seen in early 2000 created over investments on international fibre networks and the very competitive market has introduced dramatic cost reductions on the international leased line market. Mission critical applications require solid and stable data communications where the lease line would be the best solution, whilst Internet VPN would be the best for corporate email or intranet access.
Exlayer has been observing the trend on the international network market and working closely with a number of carriers. We can provide customers with bespoke options by considering their applications, utilisation and budget.