Until recently, data prioritization and tagging with CoS (classes of service) was only available on pricey T1 lines with MPLS. New Edge Networks MPLS over DSL service permits the prioritizing and tagging of traffic over DSL with as many as 5 MPLS CoS – a first for any US telecommunications operator.

New Edge Networks VP of marketing, Greg Griffiths, has high hopes for MPLS over DSL, calling the service a breakthrough that “helps small and midsize businesses avoid network congestion problems due to the convergence of communications applications, such as VoIP phone calls and other latency-sensitive services, over DSL access.”

In addition, a recent press statement noted that New Edge Networks also provides an option for businesses that do not yet have the funds justify the expense of a T1 line (which typically starts at around $500 and goes up from there depending upon the location) and therefore chose to defer implementation of productivity applications as well.

New Edge Networks MPLS over DSL service closes the vast pricing difference between conventional enterprise-class DSL and a T1 line. According to Griffiths, it also permits companies with DSL-based networks to add supplementary applications without the possibility of “compromising performance.” Pricing for the new service consist of a $100 payment on top of the price of a fully managed DSL-based private network (roughly $140 per month depending upon the location). This includes as many as 5 CoS with bandwidth optimization over DSL access, a Cisco router upgrade, and improved service level guarantees.

To put it into perspective, the average cost for a full T1 line starts around $500 – depending upon the location and distance from the carrier. A number of carriers only provide T1 network management and MPLS classes of service as added options.

Why New Edge?
New Edge Networks offers a host of high-speed, business-class solutions with first-class customer care available 24/7 for businesses of all sizes – and a nationwide footprint capable of servicing almost any business address in the US. As a single-source provider of private managed networks, New Edge Networks eliminates the complexity and inconvenience of managing multiple carrier relationships – giving you one provider, one point of contact, and one bill.

Speedy surfing
T1 connections let your entire network access the Internet with a variety of speeds. These speeds depend on the structure and nature of your business. If you’re company depends on regular browsing to get by, a standard T1 connection (1.5Mbps) is the ideal solution. However, if your company requires a faster connection for all of your units, go beyond a T1 with an NxT1 option.

Businesses that demand more than just your standard T1 connection should go with a heavy hitter like DS-3. DS-3 dedicated lines give you throughput speeds of 45Mbps. Those with higher speed requirements will need to get a synchronous optical networking (SONET) line, reaching speeds of up to 2488Mbps.

Another DIA solution that offers similar speeds to a digitally multiplexed system – and can be just as dependable – is an Ethernet system. You can choose from a standard Ethernet connection up to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet system that will let your channel record speeds of 1000Mbps.

Do you need a DIA?
Here are several other things you should consider before looking through the available DIA products:

• Are you running a business that relies heavily on streaming media?
• Do you host your own unique servers?
• Would you like to make the transfer of documents and information from one of your offices to the other easier?
• Do you rely on internal communication applications such as e-mail and web-based programs?
• Are you interested in creating a virtual private network (VPN)?
• Do you run a business that is in anyway dealing in e-commerce services?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you will likely benefit greatly from a DIA setup. Take a look around, you’re sure to find the best service for your business.

Unless your chief and solitary concern is cost, a T-1 will always be the better option – not only is it more reliable, but the QoS (Quality of Service) and SLA (Service Level Agreement) negotiated between you and the provider mandate a quick response to fix any issues or downtime. On the other hand, DSL rarely has mandated response times, so your connection could be down for days at a time.

That being said, a T-1 line is also generally more dedicated than a DSL line. For example, 200 or more customers could be utilizing one provider DSLAM, where the T1 is solely yours, so you would experience less bandwidth and latency problems.

Additionally, T1 is the better choice on a straight internet cost/benefit analysis. The largest waste of T-carrier bandwidth for businesses who are not small ISPs is internet access (as in internet or data only). A smart thing to do is take your total voice investment (hardware, installation, monthly, maintenance, etc.) and add that to your total internet/data investment. Often what you will find is that by fully integrating your voice and data services you will save thousands of dollars or more – even if you need the full 1.544Mbps for internet/data.

There are several ways to do this, one being fiber optics. A very large infrastructure cost offset by a relatively small bandwidth usage cost means fiber pays for itself within a couple of years. It’s a no brainer – unless there’s no fiber to be found.

It must be pointed out that business applications drive business connectivity. Meaning that in the end the only thing that matters is what you’re doing. The means to support the applications will present themselves as viable options along a cost/benefit scale. At that point you will be able to pick and choose according to your budgeting and bandwidth agenda. If you’re not then able to decide on a technology, you probably need to hire a consultant.

To get that level of assistance required to navigate the murky waters of deciding the right bandwidth solution at no cost, shop around and request a free rate quote.

The bottom line: if your Internet connection is “Mission Critical” and your business depends on it, go with a T1. If all you require is basic email and web surfing, DSL is more economical.

New Edge offers more than managed IP network solutions; they offer a flexible, customer-centric approach. Their protocol-based high-speed network solution will benefit your current infrastructure in a variety of ways. MPLS is hands-down the most efficient system you can adopt for your WAN. It helps boost your business productivity by improving end-to-end connection and data transfer without sacrificing the overall health of your network’s bandwidth.

How it works

New Edge’s MPLS service combines a variety of traffic over one network while ensuring your bandwidth is never compromised. How does it do that? Simple: by keeping a close watch on the flow of data and identifying the various classes of traffic. The protocol then prioritizes heavy traffic that requires more attention, and allocates more resources to that data packet.

The system also makes it easier for the user to generate new access points throughout the network if necessary, and the rerouting system of the MPLS protocol makes it easier to reroute traffic should the network be compromised.

New Edge has tailored their service to work with DSL or T-1 connection speeds and using a variety of protocols such as frame relay and ATM. And thanks to the exclusive Class of Service traffic prioritization feature provided by New Edge MPLS networks, your network can be one of the many businesses that have benefited from a purely MPLS network.

Benefits

As you consider adopting MPLS, it is important to understand the benefits of MPLS in comparison to your existing network infrastructure as well as how service and support vary across MPLS providers.

Because MPLS is highly scalable and less complex than its predecessors, businesses gain more flexibility, less overhead and improved control over network costs. MPLS makes it easy to reroute traffic priorities on the fly, or add new locations to the network whenever you need to.

• Prioritize/optimize voice, video and data applications
• Fit MPLS in your budget with T1 and/or DSL
• Reduce transit delays and transaction times
• Divert traffic around link failures and network congestion
• Add new locations quickly
• Enhance security and simplify disaster recovery
• Streamline network implementation and management
• Share a network-based Internet access port without provisioning separate access circuits

Features

• Nationwide coverage
• Secure, private Cisco Powered network
• Five Classes of Service (CoS) over T1 and DSL
• CoS honored edge-to-edge over T1 and DSL
• Managed Cisco CPE option
• Multiple routing protocols supported
• Industry-leading SLAs based on CoS
• Free online network management portal
• Dedicated project management
• Enable and prioritize realtime applications
• Lower total cost of ownership

What to expect

Using a combination of frame relay (Layer 2) and IP-VPN (Layer 3) protocols, New Edge’s system is both a functional and secure network with a flexible bandwidth designed specifically to help you run mission-priority objectives without suffering from external and internal noise from end-to-end. The system is also masked from the rest of the public network, which means that your data is safe from any IP security threats.

You also have the choice of setting up a main network and a backup network should your main system fail. In the event of a system malfunction, you can seamlessly switch from your T-1 system (main) to your DSL network (backup) in order to retain the continuous transfer of data with minimal losses.

An Industry First:

New Edge is the first provider to bring together Class of Service traffic management with high-speed, low-cost DSL access, which puts the performance gain of MPLS networks within reach of more businesses.

MPLS is the most efficient system you can adopt for your wide area network (WAN). It functions in a way that facilitates the flow of data around your network, and it can help you boost your business productivity by improving end-to-end connection and data transfer. This system conducts information throughout your network without sacrificing the overall health of your network’s bandwidth. It helps you connect throughout your network – as well as to your end-users – by optimizing the method of how your data packets are sent throughout the WAN.

How it works

New Edge’s MPLS service sends a variety of traffic over one network without compromising your bandwidth. How does it do that? It keeps a close watch on the traffic through your network, observing the flow of data and identifying the various classes of traffic. It then tags the different data packets, segregating heavy-bandwidth data such as video and audio conferencing from light bandwidth data like e-mail and web browsing. Once it has done all that, the protocol then prioritizes heavy traffic that requires a significantly heavier bandwidth, and allocates more resources to that data packet.

The system also makes it easier for the user to generate new access points throughout the network if necessary, making it easier for you to connect newer components in your business. Arguably the biggest benefit of New Edge’s service is that the rerouting system of the MPLS protocol makes it easier for you keep the network up when one sector undergoes system maintenance.

New Edge has tailored their service to work with DSL or T-1 connection speeds that use a variety of protocols aside from MPLS, such as frame relay and ATM. Thanks to the class of service traffic prioritization – an exclusive feature provided by New Edge MPLS networks – your WAN can be one of the many businesses that can benefit from a purely MPLS-oriented network.

What to expect

Since New Edge uses a combination of frame relay (Layer 2) and IP-VPN (Layer 3) protocols, their system is a functional, secure network with flexible bandwidth designed specifically to help you run mission-priority objectives without suffering from external and internal noise. This is also a system that runs on a completely secure line, masked from the rest of the public network, which means that your data is safe from any IP security threats.

Users also have the choice of setting up a main network and a backup network. The latter is a failsafe should your main system experience some trouble. In the event of a system malfunction, you can seamlessly switch from your T-1 system (main) to your DSL network (backup) in order to retain the continuous transfer of data with minimal losses in fidelity and structural integrity.