Twang Blog

 

Bonded xDSL

 

Video streaming, gaming, VoIP and TV on demand are just a few of the applications making huge demands on ADSL bandwidth. Businesses are demanding more and more of their broadband connections and speed and performance are bound to suffer. When looking for alternative answers to the bandwidth choices are either limited or expensive. SDSL has limited availability and dedicated access 1 to 1 ADSL or Leased line are too costly for the average business. However bonding ADSL/SDSL connections together is the most cost effective way to double available bandwidth.

 

At Twang we are able to bond ADSL or SDSL channels into one combined “single” high speed managed connection using MLPPP (Multi-linkPoint-to-Point Protocol). Bonded DSL significantly increases bandwidth on both the upstream and downstream.

 

This solution is very popular for businesses throughout the UK that require high speed internet connectivity with added resiliency for applications such as VPN traffic, Multimedia or accommodating the connectivity requirements of the larger office. Multiple channels increase service resilience by building up to n+3 redundancy into the solution. Couple this with our Enhanced Care pack offering an 8 office hour SLA; you can be sure you have a very high grade service, capable of meeting your needs of today and tomorrow. We only use our business quality connections for bonded services, coupled with managed Cisco hardware.

 

Bonding offers the perfect solution to businesses requiring higher bandwidth, with extra resiliency and a heightened SLA without the high costs of a leased line connection, or the limitations of a single broadband circuit.

 

The benefits of bonded:

• Higher bandwidth speeds

• Greater resilience

• Cost effective alternative to leased lines

• Increased site flexibility

• Fully managed option takes the strain out of

  configuration and management

 

Bonded Features:

• Applicable to all Business xDSL services

• 2 to 4 xDSL circuits combined to for a single connection

• Multiple IP addresses

• Cisco hardware with managed option

•10 day lead time

 

Bonded Options:

• Wires only – connections plus bonded service only

• Wires only plus CPE – connections plus

  supported router

• Fully managed – managed connections plus

  managed hardware

 

 

Richard Manton

Twang.net

 

 

Over half a million readers had the opportunity to read Twangs thoughts on flexible/remote/homeworking in yesterdays Times.

Richard Manton, Twang Sales and Marketing Director said, “These articles are aimed at employers and employees alike, flexible/remote/homeworking will be a critical tool for companies who are looking to reduce costs and retain staff. In a world of the £6 gallon many employees will be looking to reduce commuting costs and with finances being squeezed employers will be seizing any opportunity to reduce capital expenditure. Add all of this together with the unstoppable move towards “being seen to be green” and the carbon savings from less commuting will significantly improve a company’s carbon credentials.”

To read these and past articles go to www.twang.net and click on the “Home is where the office is” banner

Flexible working –

the transformation in work practices that is benefiting business and employees

Flexible working isn’t new but its popularity amongst employers and employees is increasing rapidly and is now backed by employment legislation. Cost of fuel is further driving people to consider commuting patterns

A recent poll revealed that over half (56%) of British firms with more than 10 employees allow flexible working, and the Office of National Statistics estimates that there are more than two million teleworkers in the UK. This is just the start of a huge transformation of working patterns.

According to the RAC Foundation the average commuter will travel the equivalent to two and a half times around the world during their working lives

Most industries have a significant number of people manning PCs & telephones and if a reasonable number work from home on a regular basis, the roads will be clearer and therefore less polluting, public transport less crowded and commuting time reduced.

As both the AA & RAC attest, a modest reduction in traffic volumes at peak times makes a huge impact on congestion, so even those who must continue to go to work during “rush hour” benefit.

As a Newbury-based IT company that helps organisations deploy flexible working efficiently, we see at first hand the growth of flexible working and the benefits that it brings to businesses and employees alike. Everyone benefits when flexible working is deployed well.

So what is flexible working? Flexible working enables employees to work anywhere, at any time with access to all the resources associated with the traditional office-based environment. The focus is on work as something that you do, rather than a place you go to.

Flexible working is backed by the Employment Act of 2002, which aims to help working parents balance work and family life. The Act gives parents of young and disabled children “the right to request flexible working” which employees have “a duty to consider” in terms of changing the hours that employees work, the times they may be required to work and the possibility of working from home for all or part of the week. Our government intend to extend this right further during this parliament.

Rather than being restrictive, many have hailed the trend towards flexi-working as being good for job creation and business performance.

Employers frequently report improved productivity – sometimes as much as 60%, reductions in absenteeism – sometimes by one-third, and a very rapid return on investment. Staff recruitment and staff retention become easier and businesses can become more competitive by being able to react more quickly to market conditions. We have also surprised companies by actually reducing their communications costs by consolidating their communication circuits, and streamlining contracts and billing.

For employees, it becomes easier to create a good work-life balance and they often manage their workloads much better. Health seems to improve and the grind of the daily rush-hour commute becomes a distant bad memory.

In future Blogs, I will look at the technologies that are making flexible working possible and give examples of how companies are adopting and benefitting from new working patterns.

Richard Manton

Twang.net