What Is a Leased Line in Networking?
A leased line is a dedicated point-to-point communication link that connects two locations. It is a private, high-speed data connection that is leased by an organization from a telecommunications provider. Leased lines are also called private circuits or dedicated lines, and they are used to connect two locations that require fast, reliable, and secure communication.
A leased line is always active and dedicated to the specific user who leases it. This means that the bandwidth of the leased line is always available to the user, and it is not shared with any other users. Leased lines offer higher reliability, security, and privacy compared to other types of internet connections, such as broadband or DSL.
Leased lines are used by organizations that require high-speed and secure communication between their offices or data centers. For example, a business with multiple locations may use leased lines to connect its offices and provide fast and reliable communication between them. Similarly, a data center may use leased lines to connect to the internet or other data centers, and to provide high-speed and secure connectivity to its customers.
Leased lines can be provided in different speeds, ranging from a few megabits per second (Mbps) to several gigabits per second (Gbps), depending on the specific requirements of the user. The cost of a leased line depends on several factors, such as the speed of the line, the distance between the two locations, and the type of service agreement between the user and the telecommunications provider.
There are different types of leased lines available, such as point-to-point leased lines, multipoint leased lines, and virtual private leased lines (VPLL). Point-to-point leased lines are the most common type, and they provide a dedicated connection between two locations. Multipoint leased lines allow multiple locations to be connected to a single point, such as a data center. VPLLs are a type of leased line that provides secure communication over the public internet by creating a virtual private network (VPN) between the user’s locations.
In summary, a leased line is a private, dedicated, and high-speed data connection that connects two locations. It offers higher reliability, security, and privacy compared to other types of internet connections, and it is used by organizations that require fast and secure communication between their offices or data centers. Leased lines can be provided in different speeds and types, depending on the specific requirements of the user.