Coastal Connections

Coastal Connections offers businesses a host of options for dedicated broadband access.

What is Broadband?

Broadband refers most commonly to a new generation of high-speed transmission services, which allows users to access the Internet and Internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than with traditional (“dial-up”) modems. It has the technical capability to meet consumers’ broad communication, information, and commercial needs and desires.

You can access the Internet without the nuisance of dialing up your Internet service provider over a telephone line. Broadband services have advanced telecommunication capabilities. The speeds at which information is downloaded into your computer can be 50 times faster than a dial-up modem's. And broadband service doesn’t tie up telephone lines. Businesses can use broadband networks for videoconferencing, for example, and to let employees telecommute. Links can often be established in even the remotest parts of the country.

What is Cable Broadband?

Cable Broadband is a broadband internet service that is delivered to your home or office through the same cable that provides your television service. To use cable broadband, you will need a modem which sends data over a different frequency spectrum on the cable line to that used by the television spectrum. Your cable company often provides the modem as part of their package or for an added monthly charge and, in some cases, you may be able to buy your own modem. It is typically available in speeds from 7Mpbs to 15Mbps (download) and 768Kbps to 3Mbps (upload), but even faster speeds are available from some providers. Cable broadband is not available in all areas and you will need to check with your local cable television provider.

What is DSL?

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a broadband internet service that is delivered right through your regular phone line. Although it uses your phone lines, it does not interfere in anyway with your telephone, caller ID, answering machines, or other telephone equipment. It is typically available in speeds from 3Mbps to 45Mbps (download) and 768Kbps to 45Mbps (upload), but even faster speeds are available from some providers. There is more than one type of DSL line available.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is most commonly used for small businesses and residential customers. It is asymmetrical in the sense that it can download (receive) data much faster than it can upload (send) data. Typical internet surfing mainly involves downloading data from web servers, so this asymmetry works out fine for small office or home use. Plus this asymmetry often allows for large cost savings.

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) is most commonly used by larger business organizations. With SDSL you get the same bandwidth (speed) in each direction. Although it is typically slightly more expensive than ADSL, it is better if you are running a web server or conducting other activities which would require a lot of data to be sent. It also comes with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in writing, which guarantees more reliability than ADSL, Cable or Satellite.

To use any type of DSL, you will need a modem which sends data over a different frequency spectrum on the telephone line to that used by voice traffic. You must be within a specified distance (usually around 18,000’) of a specially equipped telephone exchange to use DSL. Locations outside this range may be able to get DSL, but it’s more difficult to determine. We will carefully pre-qualify the distance/availability for you.

Don’t be misled by on-line services that claim to be able to determine if you can use DSL based on your telephone number. It just isn’t that simple. Coastal Connections can do the necessary investigation to determine if DSL is available at your location. This is very important because DSL service is NOT guaranteed. Be absolutely certain before you buy!

T-1 Lines

Coastal Connections business partners offer a variety of scaleable T1 connection options including fractional T1 as well as full T1 lines. Carrying data at a rate of 1.544 megabits per second in either direction at the same time, a T1 connection is just what today's growing business needs in a fast-paced environment. The T1 service data transfer speed is approximately 60 times more data than a normal residential modem. It also comes with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in writing, which guarantees more reliability than ADSL, Cable or Satellite.
Large companies may consider a dedicated T-3 line, which transmits at the rate of 43.232 megabits per second – or the equivalent of 28 T1 lines. Coastal Connections helps you find the most cost-effective plan for your particular needs.