You are on a make-or-break call with a customer when the video starts to stall. Cloud applications freeze at just about deadline times. File transfers are interminable, with the IT guys spending more time troubleshooting than driving growth.
These problems are not some type of anomalous glitch. They tend to occur for the simple reason that the wrong type of internet connection was selected. Broadband is cheap, yet it is not enough for a modern business. MPLS was top-notch in the earlier days, yet it doesn't align with today's cloud-centric, always-on work approach.
That is why businesses are increasingly weighing holding on to MPLS against opting for leased line services that provide dedicated, assured connections. This blog presents a detailed overview of both.
What is MPLS?
Multi protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a private networking technology that routes traffic on fixed paths for reliability. Rather than routing data packets over the general public internet, MPLS establishes secure "tunnels" over a service provider's backbone through the use of labels.
MPLS was originally created for companies that had a small number of branch offices that required secure connections to a central data centre. Retailers, logistics firms, and banks commonly require it for its reliability.
Advantages of MPLS:
Business-critical applications with reliable traffic management.
Secure and reliable interconnections between branches.
Predictable latency within the provider's backbone.
Restrictions on MPLS:
Expensive compared to contemporary options.
Difficult to scale when introducing new branches.
Poor cloud application fit, as traffic increasingly re-routes information back to a central hub and incurs delay.
What is an Internet Leased Line?
An Internet Leased Line (ILL) is a dedicated high-speed Internet connection line that may be utilised by a single organisation. As compared to broadband, which is pooled by a massive audience base, leased line service offers symmetric speeds, uptime, and dedicated bandwidth.
A dedicated leased line provides committed, reliable performance that underpins existing requirements like video conferencing, cloud applications, and real-time collaboration.
Advantages of Leased Lines:
Uncompromised bandwidth – not split, never bottlenecked.
Symmetrical upload and download speeds.
SLA-supported uptime for business continuity.
Scales easily with growing business demands.
Restrictions on Leased Lines:
More expensive than shared broadband (less than MPLS).
Needs appropriate infrastructure deployment.
MPLS vs Internet Leased Line: A Contemporary Comparison
1. Cloud and SaaS Utilisation
MPLS was designed for core data centres, not for cloud applications. Routing SaaS traffic across MPLS hubs creates higher latency. Leased line services, on the other hand, connect users directly to the cloud and provide fast, responsive access.
Winner: Internet Leased Line
2. Remote and Hybrid Work
The modern workforce requires secure access. MPLS has a hard time supporting remote users without expensive add-ons. You get secure, flexible access for both office and remote users with a dedicated leased line connection and SD-WAN.
Winner: Internet Leased Line
3. Security
MPLS is naturally private, while a leased line with firewalls, encryption, and monitoring is similarly or more secure. The additional flexibility allows companies to build security layers without being locked into proprietary configurations.
Winner: Tie (by virtue of the leased line providing greater flexibility)
4. Scalability
An MPLS network requires a tremendous amount of time and money to scale. Leased lines, on the other hand, are easily upgradeable. You can increase bandwidth from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps and beyond without having to redesign your network.
Winner: Internet Leased Line
5. Cost Efficiency
MPLS is expensive and invariably overkill for cloud-driven businesses. Leased line services feature business-class uptime and reliability at a small fraction of the cost.
Winner: Internet Leased Line
Why Companies are Shying Away from MPLS
Migrating from MPLS to a leased line is not just cost-cutting. It is relevant as the nature of doing business has evolved:
Cloud-first strategy: Most enterprise apps are now on AWS, Azure, or SaaS products. Direct Internet connection access is a requirement.
Hybrid work: The staff are connecting from office locations, homes, and customer sites, rendering centralised MPLS hubs unnecessary.
Agility needs: They cannot wait for months (or pay a premium) to add locations or boost bandwidth.
Cost optimisation: Executives want fixed prices without paying for infrastructure they are not completely utilising.
For the majority of organisations, the dedicated leased line connection has now become the intelligent, future-proof solution.
Why Choose Spectra's Leased Lines Services
At Spectra, we get that connectivity isn't uptime these days; it's making sure that your business runs, creates, and scales without interruption. Our leased line services are devised with today's realities in mind: cloud workloads, distributed workforces, and zero-tolerance downtime.
What Makes Spectra Unique:
Assured Uptime: SLA-supported 99.5% uptime with embedded redundancy.
Symmetrical Speeds: Consistent upload and download speeds for seamless co-authoring.
Dedicated Bandwidth: 100% of your line is yours for your company, always.
Scalable Solutions: 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps bandwidth, upgradeable as you expand.
Static IPs: Essential for secure remote access, hosting, or security systems.
Always-On Support: They have 24/7 proactive monitoring and a dedicated relationship manager.
With Spectra, internet connectivity becomes more than just dependable – it becomes a business discriminator, empowering everything from utilisation of the cloud and telecommuting to the security needed for payment processing.
Final Words
MPLS versus Internet Leased Line comes down to a single question: are you building for the past, or the future?
MPLS still serves legacy, hub-and-spoke networks, but for modern businesses –driven by cloud, hybrid work, and agility, the clear winner is a dedicated leased line connection.
Spectra's Leased Line service gives you performance, security, and scalability without the hassle and expense of MPLS. It's connectivity for the way business operates today and grows tomorrow. Since your strength is only as great as your bond.
