INTERNET LEASED LINE CONNECTIONS
While taking an Internet Leased Line connection that promises specific bandwidth, upload-download speeds and other features for a seamless network, it is essential to get all of them documented in a formal Service Level Agreement draft. An SLA describes all the rights and obligations of the parties involved in a transaction, and it protects the interest of the business paying for a service.
As a private Internet connectivity medium, an Internet Leased Line (ILL) is preferred by businesses that need dedicated connections with symmetric bandwidths. Unlike a broadband connection, ILL is not shared with other users in the vicinity, and the paying subscriber is always assured high upload-download speeds.
Although most of the wired and wireless Internet connections provided today are marketed with the promise of seamless networks, what makes ILL a better option is the written service level agreement (SLA) that comes with it. This contract safeguards the subscribers against unexpected downtime issues and ensures complete support from the service provider. In case of any failure to deliver the services as per the SLA, compensation is provided to the subscriber.
Understanding an SLA
An SLA is a contract between the ILL service provider and a customer (subscriber), and it defines the level of performance that the service provider is expected to offer. A service provider that does not abide by the SLA may have to deal with disgruntled customers, may lose customers to competitors and may also have to face lawsuits.
According to a market study, one out of three Internet subscribers changed their service provider in search of lower rental plans or better performance. The story is not very different in India where customers are quick to switch their Internet service providers whenever they find a better service package.
To retain their leased line subscribers, companies implement their SLA verifications with the support of a networks engineering team. These engineers have to strategies accurate and effective ways to ensure that subscribers always get the performance that they were promised in the SLA agreement.
Most of the SLA metrics are about the quality of solutions to be delivered by the service provider. As regards an ILL that is more of a product than a service, these metrics include carrier-grade connectivity, access to an extensive last-mile network for offices in any part of the country, unlimited data, high bandwidth that is not shared with anyone and the monitoring of jitter and latency. Any errors in deliverables are recorded, and the service provider must compensate for them as per the terms of SLA.
Why One Must Insist on an SLA
An SLA is a blueprint of the services that the ILL provider offers to its client.
With an SLA, an organisation can ensure that it is on the same page with the ILL service provider regarding standards and support. By documenting the SLA, a business and its network service provider can work through the expectations, and the business can know the value that it will get in return for the subscription fee paid. Under clear, defined and measurable terms, conditions and provisions mentioned in the SLA, the chances of client disappointment are mitigated, and the clients are also aware of the course of action they can take if the service obligations made to them are not honoured.
When you have an SLA with your service provider, they cannot claim ignorance of certain facts if your expectations of the service documented in the draft are not met.
Internet and network service providers usually offer standard SLAs as a part of the agreement. However, while taking a dedicated ILL, you can review all the guidelines and also get them checked by your IT teams to tailor certain points as per your requirements. For instance, if you prefer a higher upload speed and find the offered download speed acceptable, ask the service provider if changes can be made for your business needs.
An ILL SLA may be contained in anything from less than 10 to more than a 100 pages. Its essential components include the service provider’s and client’s goals in providing and receiving the service, a summary of each entity’s responsibilities in providing/using the service and a statement on the agreed duration of the service (subscription period) for the tariff decided upon. It also lists the procedures to monitor actual service levels, a schedule to remediate downtime if any and the measures to resolve any difference of opinions.
With an SLA, you can protect the interests of your organization and also have a more personalized business relationship with your service provider. There is a mutual understanding on performance standards, clarity on what you will get with an ILL and assurance of a positive experience for the years of service.
Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) provides detailed SLAs with its ILL connections to each client. You can also review each of the provisions with our team to customize the Internet connectivity and network solutions that you expect for your offices
FLEET MANAGEMENT TRACKING
It is as difficult to imagine a world today without location-based services as it is without a mobile phone. These applications are serving millions of customers on a regular basis
According to research conducted by Global Information Inc., “The global market size for Location-Based Services (LBS) and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.4% from US$22.18 billion in 2018 to US$68.85 billion by 2023.”
Globally, the factors supporting the growth of LBS and RTLS industry are digital transformation, rising consumer interest in smartphones and new mobile applications being launched every day.
The Indoor segment will witness high growth rate while the software segment is expected to have the largest market share. North America is expected to dominate both LBS and RTLS markets.
What is a Location-based Service?
An LBS is a software application for an IP-capable mobile device that requires knowledge about where the mobile device is located. Location-based services can be query-based and provide the end user with useful information to the customers based in a specific geographical area.
What are the Advantages of LBS?
Although the use of LBS has become quite prominent, the world has not tapped into its full potential. Some of the most common benefits offered by LBS are as follows:
Enables Real-time Communication
LBS play a critical role in facilitating business owners in communicating with customers and potential customers who use location-based mobile networking through real-time communication. Once an individual opts in to location-based programs, such as a coupon service, the businesses they are connected to can send them an instant text or email messages alerting them of in-store savings and specials.
Consumers Can Share Experiences
Location-based networking provides a platform to the customers where they can share their experiences with the service or product with their peers and professional connections and assist them in introducing their network to a new business with which they may not be familiar.
Helps Monitor Customer Comments
Location-based mobile networking enables businesses to monitor their product or service performance and feedback in the market and amend it as per consumer expectations promptly. By leveraging location-based mobile networking, the enterprises can track consumer reviews related to quality, price, customer service, promotion, design and a host of other relevant information.
Helps Track Business Locations
Location-based mobile networking is viable when businesses are active participants. When the user signs up to participate in the location-based mobile networks, the system asks him to list business address with services such as Google Places. This feature facilitates consumers in tracking the location of the business, and they can reach the place without any hassle.
Importance of LBS for Enterprises
Positive Impact on Enterprise Productivity – Organizations can leverage unified experience across platforms, devices and operating systems, using enterprise mobility models such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Corporate Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE). LBS provide advanced data security to prevent any cyber fraud. Installing workforce tracking and management tools on employee devices will provide real-time visibility of their mobile workforce. This will result in increased accountability of employees.
Improving on-Premise Employee Experience – Mapping application services will assist employees in determining their location and searching a point of interest within the company premises. The service will also promote networking opportunities with the firm as employees can easily share their location and connect with the people sharing the same interest. This will result in knowledge sharing and will improve business and revenue prospects for the firm. Consulting firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, BCG, Bain & Company, PwC and McKinsey & Company widely use mapping applications to promote networking and cross-collaboration activities within the firm.
Mobilizing Vast Transit Operations – Fleet Tracking Services are greatly beneficial for enterprises in the business of logistics and freight transport. It assists the supply chain department in accessing real-time information of valuable business assets in transit to improve the overall customer experience. With RFID or GPS technologies, assets can be geo-fenced to help enterprises track the safety and location of cargo or documents. Fleet tracking solutions also enable enterprises in tracking their on-ground fleet anytime in a cost-effective manner, along with getting real-time information on fuel consumption, route monitoring and driver performance.
Aiding Business Intelligence – Recent developments in business intelligence (BI) tools have enabled firms in getting information on precise geo-analysis and intelligence to improve contextual decision-making capabilities. This will aid firms in quickly reporting front and back office applications, field operations, supply chain management and CRM.
Product:
SMART VPN
The rising competitive landscape in India has created an urge for agile connectivity to manage multifaceted businesses. Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is a technique that allows for the setting up of virtual private networks (VPN) and is a compelling alternative for addressing the complex issues faced by the technology firms. The connectivity helps in resolving concerns such as transferring secure internal data to multimedia broadcasts, telepresence and so on.
What is MPLS VPN?
MPLS VPN acts like a private network which is designed to provide security while transmitting the data between business locations. The amalgamation of cloud services and MPLS VPNs creates a “virtual private cloud”. MPLS VPNs are carried over a single carrier’s network to provide enhanced security as compared to the public Internet.
What is the Difference between MPLS VPN and VPN?
Traditional VPNs function on the assumption that data is transferred over public networks, which makes it indispensable to encrypt confidential data, while MPLS VPN uses a remote private network – virtually isolated from the public Internet. It ensures that information gets transferred more securely between two locations.
How Does Managed MPLS VPN Help in Improving Business Performance
Managed MPLS VPN is a viable solution when a user is looking for high performance, simple deployment and maintenance. Some of the advantages of the MPLS VPN solution in improving business performance and productivity are as follows:
Enhances performance and traffic control
MPLS VPN can be a key factor in improving business performance for cloud applications as it helps firms in prioritizing specific types of traffic which are called ‘Class of Service’ (CoS). By leveraging CoS, corporations can priorities the traffic flow to prevent an engineer performing a huge file transfer which might disturb or cause problems a during CEO’s conference call.
Offers Reliability and Security
MPLS VPNs are performed over a single carrier’s network, which ensures reliability as the traffic is not prone to the challenges faced by the public network. It also adds another layer of security which is not offered by IPS.
Reduced Bandwidth
MPLS VPN ensures that each website connects to other sites on the network through a single connection to the MPLS network. This has a profound impact on the amount of bandwidth required by the customer.
Provides Flexibility
It is far easier to add capacity to an MPLS VPN than via traditional carrier services. The venture of cloud services and MPLS VPNs extend the premise-based network and services and result in the formation of a “virtual private cloud.”
Tata Tele Business Services
MPLS-based VPN from Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) delivers pan-India connectivity across 100+ points of strategic presence. We help in optimizing businesses with a fully meshed network to ensure fail-safe connectivity. With our mobile and managed solutions, authorized personnel may connect to business networks from anywhere, including remote locations. TTBS provides both wireline and wireless solutions. Under wireline, we have Standard and Managed MPLS. Wireless solutions include Xpress VPN and Road Warrior. Our MPLS VPN now comes with Secure Connect – a bridge that offers a private and dedicated connection to leading cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Secure Connect is a value add-on to the existing MPLS VPN service offering that offers connectivity to the cloud. Through Secure Connect, you get secure enterprise-grade network connectivity to the public cloud infrastructure that is SLA-backed and predictable.
