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What is a passive optical network (PON)?

We explain PONs, how they work, their main types, and their advantages over active Ethernet networks.

What is a passive optical network?

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What’s a passive optical network (PON)?

A passive optical network (PON) is a fibre optic network that uses passive (unpowered) optical splitters to deliver connectivity from a single fibre source to multiple end users.

They’re called “passive” because they don’t require any electrical power to distribute the signal once it’s sent across the network. As PONs can efficiently serve multiple users from a single fibre, internet service providers (ISPs) typically use them to deploy fibre to the premises (FTTP), also known as fibre to the home (FTTH).

What’s the difference between an active and a passive optical network?

The key difference between active optical networks (AON) and passive optical networks is how they split the signal for each end user. AON use multiple fibres and electrically powered switching equipment to distribute the signal to multiple end users.

By contrast, passive optical networks use a single fibre and an unpowered (passive) splitter to serve different customers. With PONs, electrical power is only required at the send and receive points of the network, making them more efficient than active networks.

How does a PON work?

A passive optical network transfers data, voice and video using light signals transmitted through fibre optic cables.

In simplified terms, a passive optical network consists of the following basic components:

  1. Optical line terminal (OLT) at the provider’s central office or point of presence (PoP)
  2. Passive (unpowered) optical splitters, which split the signal and distribute it to multiple output fibres
  3. Optical network terminals (ONTs), also known as optical network units (ONUs), which relay the signal to points near the end user

 

Passive optical wavelength

Passive optical network

 

A single fibre optic is run to a passive optical splitter from the OLT at the provider’s central office or PoP. The splitter replicates and divides the light signal, relaying it to many ONTs near end users. Typically, the signal is split between 32 ONTs, although the latest PON standards support 64 or more.

The ONTs then provide the signal to end users. Depending on where the PON ends, this can be:

  • Fibre to the premises (FTTP): The fibre connection runs all the way to a customer’s home or business.
  • Fibre to the building (FTTB): The fibre cabling runs to the building, for example, serving an apartment block, school or office block.
  • Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC): The fire cabling runs to a curbside cabinet, where it’s distributed to individual homes and businesses via copper wires.
  • Fibre to the neighbourhood (FTTN): The fibre may end a few miles from the customer’s premises.

Since a PON uses a single fibre, it typically uses wavelength-division multiplexing to split the light signal into upstream and downstream channels. Downstream, the signal is visible to all ONTs. However, each ONT only reads the data addressed to it, and encryption is used to stop eavesdropping on adjacent channels.

Upstream, the wavelength is typically divided by time-division multiplexing, meaning each ONT takes turns transmitting with time slots assigned by the OLT.

With the fibre signal powered only by the OLT, the latest PONs can cover distances of 20-40 km (12-24 miles) between the OLT and the end user.

What are the advantages of passive optical networks?

The passive nature of PONs gives them several advantages over active optical networks:

  • Lower costs: PONs are simpler, with fewer components, unpowered splitters and fewer fibre cables, so they tend to cost less to deploy and maintain.
  • Energy efficiency: PONs are more energy efficient than active networks because they don’t require power to run and cool active components.
  • Reliability: As PONs use fewer passive optical components, which are less prone to failure than powered switching equipment, PONs tend to be more reliable.
  • Scalability: PONs are easy to scale by adding more optical network terminals (ONTs), while active networks are more likely to require infrastructure upgrades as they expand.

Types of passive optical networks

Originally developed in the 1990s, the first passive optical networks used Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) to distribute the light signal. APON (ATM PON), which quickly evolved into BPON (Broadband PON), typically delivers data transfer speeds of up to 622Mbps downstream and 155Mbps downstream.

Over the last two decades, GPON and EPON emerged as the main PON standards, although these are fast being superseded by next-generation standards.

GPON

First ratified by the ITU-T in 2003, Gigabit PON (GPON) uses a mixture of ATM and ethernet technology protocols and typically provides speeds of 2.5Gbps downstream and 1.25Mbps upstream. GPON is currently one of the most widely deployed PON standards.

EPON

An alternative protocol ratified by the IEEE in 2004, Ethernet PON (EPON) uses ethernet as its transport protocol and typically provides the same upstream and downstream speeds -- up to 1.25Gbps. Network providers sometimes choose EPON because it works seamlessly with ethernet-based networks and services.

Later-generation PON standards, like XGS-PON and 10G-EPON, can deliver speeds of 10Gbps, while next-generation protocols, like NG-PON2, are set to achieve speeds of up to 40Gbps or more.

Deploying passive optical networks

As UK businesses look to invest in digital transformation, internet service providers are using passive optical networks to give businesses the high-capacity, gigabit-enabled networks they need.

At Neos Networks, we’re helping businesses build their digital future across the UK. To find out more about options for deploying optical connectivity, get in touch.

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Passive optical network FAQs

  • Why are passive optical networks called “passive”?

    “Passive” means that a PON requires no power or active electronic parts once the light signal is transmitted across the network. A PON relies on passive optical splitters to distribute the signal to end users. By contrast, active optical networks (AONs) rely on powered (active) components like switches or amplifiers to operate.

  • What are the advantages of PONs over traditional copper-based networks?

    Compared to traditional copper-based networks, like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), PONs offer higher bandwidth and data transfer speeds and lower latency. They can also transmit data over much longer distances without signal degradation. Unlike DSL cables, PON fibre optic cables are immune to electrical interference, and their passive nature means they’re generally more reliable than traditional DSL networks. As PONs can handle higher bandwidths, they’re also easier to scale for future technologies without upgrading infrastructure.

  • What are the main disadvantages of PONs?

    PONs require laying fibre optic cables and setting up an optical distribution network, so initial installation costs can be high. In addition, with PONs, a single optical line transmitter (OLT) serves multiple optical network units, so the failure of a central OLT can impact many end users.

  • Is a PON the same as FTTP?

    FTTP (fibre to the premises), also known as fibre to the home (FTTH), is a broad term comprising various technologies to deploy fibre optic connectivity to homes and businesses. PON is one optical networking technology that is commonly used for FTTP.

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What is 400G?

400G is the next generation of cloud infrastructure set to supercharge your business network capacity to meet ever-growing demand.

What is 400Gc?

The relentless rise of cloud computing, 5G and edge-enabled networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) is fuelling massive demand for ever higher data speeds and greater network efficiency. 

Learn why data-hungry UK businesses are looking to 400G to scale up their network capacity and get ahead for the future.

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What is 400G?

400G is next-generation optical networking technology that can transfer data at speeds of up to 400 gigabits per second on a one optical wavelength.

While “400G”, “400GbE” and “400Gbps” are sometimes used interchangeably, they’re not the same:

  • 400G typically refers to optical networking solutions that offer a 400Gbps capacity or data transfer rate on a single optical wavelength.
  • 400GbE (400Gb Ethernet) is the next capacity rate for ethernet services based on the IEEE 802.3bs 400 Gigabit Ethernet standard – often interchangeable with “400G”, depending on the context.
  • 400Gbps is the data transfer rate of these networks – 400 billion bits per second on a single wavelength.

How does 400G work?

400G works by combining a higher symbol rate and advanced modulation formats to boost the data transport capacity to 400Gbps on one optical wavelength. It can be used to transport either four 100GbE client services or one 400GbE client service.

400G optical wavelength carrying either 4 x 100GbE or 400GbE

 

400G optical wavelength

Using a single wavelength can mean less hardware to set up and maintain, fewer points of failure, and less power and heating, all leading to lower cost per bit.

What challenges does 400G solve?

With significantly higher data transmission rates, 400G wavelengths can meet the ever-growing demand for higher network capacity in data-hungry applications like cloud computing, telecommunications, media, finance, and healthcare.

400G also allows businesses to simplify networks, increasing efficiency and transparency. But they’re not the only advantages of 400G.

What are the benefits of 400G wavelengths?

Deploying 400G optical wavelengths has several potential advantages for your business, including:

  • Higher capacity: The IEEE 802.3bs 400GbE standard achieves four times faster data transfer speeds on a single wavelength.
  • Cost savings: 400G simplifies your network, providing one single 400Gbps connection instead of multiple wavelengths in a bundle. Save on hardware costs and cut your cost per bit over time.
  • Low latency: When correctly configured, 400G’s higher speeds and greater efficiency can mean lower latency per bit. So 400G can give you an edge, especially if data speeds are critical for your business.
  • Easy scalability: The latest 400G hardware, such as high-speed optical transceivers, allows you to scale up and scale out your network architecture. Start small and transition to higher capacities as demand grows.
  • Greater network transparency: By providing increased bandwidth and simplified, more advanced network infrastructure, 400G can be more transparent than previous-generation technology.

Who are 400G optical networks suitable for?

While every business will need increasing data bandwidth in future, not all need 400G right now.

400G optical networks are ideal for organisations that need to transport massive amounts of data with minimum latency and maximum reliability.

Here are some industries and sectors that can benefit from 400G now.

400G optical networks – typical applications

Industry/sector Example use case
Telecoms providers 5G networks and high-quality streaming and video conferencing
Data centres Cloud computing, data centre interconnects (DCI) and big data processing
Financial services Real-time trading and transaction processing
Media companies 4K video streaming and content distribution
Manufacturing Real-time control of industrial operations, including the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Energy and utilities Monitoring and managing energy infrastructure, including remote sites
Healthcare organisations Sharing large medical images, patient medical histories and research data

 

Is 400GbE right for your business?

If you think 400G might work for you, we can help. At Neos Networks, we design our optical networking solutions to meet your unique business needs and scale as you grow.

With Neos Networks 400Gbps Optical Wavelengths, you get:

  • Flexibility: Optical wavelengths scalable from 10Gbps to 100Gbps or 400Gbps with options for multiple wavelengths between your sites
  • UK-wide availability: 10Gbps and 100Gbps available from 400+ exchanges and 90+ data centres; 400Gbps from 26 UK data centres
  • Reliability: Robust, ultra-high bandwidth data transfer using ROADM and DWDM technology with at least 99.85% uptime
  • Route diversity: On-net and off-net routing tailored to your business for maximum resilience
  • Low latency: Network engineered with the shortest hops for low or ultra-low latency
  • Security: Optical protection and options for bespoke encryption

To find out more and discuss if optical networks are right for you, get in touch. We’ll be happy to help you supercharge your business network – for now and the future.

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400G optical wavelength FAQs

  • How does 400G internet speed differ from previous networking speeds, like 100G?

    400G provides a data transfer rate of 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) on one optical wavelength, four times faster than 100G.

  • What are the advantages of 400G?

    As 400G can deliver next-generation 400Gb Ethernet on one wavelength, potential advantages include greater network efficiency, lower latency, and enhanced flexibility and scalability.

  • What is the line rate of 400Gb Ethernet?

    While the headline speed of 400GbE services is 400Gbps, the actual line rate is 425Gbps. That’s because the IEEE 802.3bs 400GbE standard includes a forward error connection (FEC) mechanism, which detects and corrects errors in transmission. The additional 25Gbps are for FEC.

  • What are the main applications or use cases for 400G?

    400G is suitable for any data-intensive applications that need to transfer huge volumes of data reliably at speed. Use cases include cloud computing, data centres, media and 4K video streaming, financial services, 5G networks, AI and machine learning, and virtual and augmented reality.

  • How does 400G affect network latency and overall performance?

    When designed and configured correctly, 400G optical networks can improve network latency per bit because higher data transfer rates enable faster data transmission for a given length of fibre. Similarly, 400G’s higher capacity and reduced congestion can lead to better overall performance.

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The opportunities NS3 brings to public sector organisations

As a result of the new NS3 Framework awards, all UK public sector organisations can access network solutions, communication services, connectivity to cloud-based data and applications, audio and video conferencing, radio and satellite networking, and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities.

Neos Networks discusses how the NS3 Framework award creates new network options and capabilities for the Public Sector.

The Crown Commercial Services awarded Neos Networks access on the Network Services 3 framework, achieving maximum marks on the quality of our response.

How does this benefit organisations in the Public Sector?

Simply put, it allows Public Sector organisations to take advantage of Neos Networks UK-wide fibre network providing the ability to disaggregate the underlying infrastructure from the provision of data services.

This is critical as it enables them to benefit from the infrastructure economics of owning or hiring the underlying network they require. As a result, they do not have to make massive long-term investments in the technology and service layers, allowing short term management contracts to be migrated in a more agile way, as technology changes or the service experiences do not meet users' requirements.

Key areas of benefit to the Public Sector

Firstly, we are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service. We believe that our expertise in and more importantly our willingness to open up Dark Fibre networks will be invaluable to our customers.

This is before we even mention the scalability offered from such networks. Unlike traditional leased lines, which have fixed bandwidth limits, Dark Fibre networks are becoming increasingly important for organisations that require high-speed connectivity and low latency. They can be easily upgraded as government departments needs grow, making their network infrastructure future-proof.

Secondly, providing secure and segregated, cloud first enabled, networks. In partnership with HPE and their Aruba Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solution.

Neos Networks partnership

By working with us, critical network services can be delivered across the UK over a single physical infrastructure, even operating different security level requirements by using dedicated fibre pairs, then managing the entire network using SD-WAN technology. Because they are dedicated connections, there is no risk of interference from other users or external factors.

Read about how we work in partnership with the Public Sector to help make our cities, regions and local communities better connected places. Contact us to find out how we have been working on multiple projects with the Public Sector and see how we can help you.

 

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Welcoming our new CFO

New C-level

In August we welcomed our new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Craig Forrester, into the Neos Networks family. Craig is a telecoms industry veteran, having held senior roles at BT Global Services and Colt Technology Services, with remits across Finance, Procurement and Commercial Operations. As Craig settles into life here at Neos, we sat down with him to find out more about his experience, passion for the industry and what his plans are for the business.

So, Craig, tell us about yourself, your experiences and how you got into the telecoms industry?

Well, my educational background at a degree level is in Engineering and Material Sciences. Career-wise though, I’m a qualified accountant. I trained with one of the ‘big six’ firms and have worked with technology businesses at an international level – companies like Sony – for most of my career.

It was around 2008 that I made the decision to move to a UK multinational telecoms company, joining BT where I was initially responsible for managing its global networks. Subsequently over the last 15 years I’ve worked for three different telcos with roles that covered financial and operational responsibilities.

I’d describe myself as a hands-on commercial finance leader who’s accountable, leads by example and believes in removing bureaucracy whilst maintaining strong controls aligned to the success of a business. I’m looking forward to getting my feet under the table to understand where Neos is as a business, exploring our go to market strategy, and ensuring our team is continuously adding value and challenging the business in the correct way.

Having worked for several telcos now, what is it about the telecoms industry that has kept you interested?

If we look back at the last three years alone, we would have had a very different COVID lock down had it not been for the outstanding work of this industry. There were numerous new challenges that the industry hadn’t faced before. Despite having little time to react and adapt to those changes, the transition to virtual meetings or a virtual pub quiz on a Friday night was made seamless by telco. The industry showed how critical, reliable and resilient it truly is.

As an industry we enable so much of our daily lives. We connect people and businesses. We’ve helped diminish barriers to working with people around the world and democratised access to information and new opportunities. Communications are a core foundation of providing support for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Our networks underpin support for some of societies biggest issues, enabling the mobilisation of people and the distribution of resources.

And we, Neos, as a business, are integral to supporting the development of this country, providing new opportunities for UK businesses and citizens.

Why did you choose to join Neos Networks? And what are your ambitions for the company?

I’ve been aware of Neos for many years through my previous roles. What’s really impressed me are the investments it has made; from expanding its network, to unbundling BT’s exchange estate and increasing its presence across the UK. I think Neos has a fantastic asset base and a great set of customers. The SSE heritage coupled with the role we’ve played in supporting Three UK’s 5G network rollout and our model for aggregating UK alternative network providers has made us a key, established connectivity player in the UK.

Looking at where the business is now and our opportunities to support the UK’s digital economy through initiatives like Project Reach, we have several strong footholds to help impel the growth of the UK’s businesses and its communities. Project Reach is a huge opportunity for the business – I was part of conversations with Network Rail about such a project more than 10 years ago. It’s exciting to join the company as it takes on the build and design of a new national backbone for the country.

I’m looking forward to working with other leaders in the business to both leverage that strong asset base, but to also make Neos a fun place to work, and a company whose employees are proud to work for. We have a significant base in the UK, and I’ll be exploring how we can continue adding value for our employees, shareholders and customers to help drive new business opportunities and talented people towards us.

It’s undeniably a challenging time for the telecoms market, both in the UK and internationally. What are your priorities for the business to help navigate this period of turbulence?

The last three to four years have been interesting for any business that is looking to grow. Traditional channels for growth were completely changed and the needs of businesses and individuals evolved to support flexi-working models. Businesses were so focused on stabilising as the economy recovered that there was less change in terms of procuring new telecoms solutions, despite how imperative connectivity is for business resiliency.

With organisations moving to the cloud to support new working norms, there is greater need for digital infrastructure and services. As a business, our focus needs to be on continuing to bring value to customers. That means delivering continuous service innovation and developing our understanding of how our customers are impacted by circumstances like the cost-of-living crisis and finding innovative ways to support them.

What do you see as the key challenges that Neos helps UK businesses to solve?

Fundamentally, we’re an enabler for our customer base. The digital infrastructure and services we provide act as a springboard to support their wider business functions, regardless of industry or sector. There is a fair amount of the ‘invisible’ that our services are core to. Providing our customers with the connectivity solution that fits their needs now and into the future, is instrumental as a foundation for their growth and profitability. The UK is also on a trajectory towards Fibre-to-the-Premise connectivity, a country-wide transformation that will be key in driving socio-economic growth and regeneration projects. We really are at the heart of the UK’s digital future.

We can also help UK businesses with commercial flexibility behind our services and offerings. We need to think about how we structure deals, how we measure, agree payment terms and how we operate with our customers in a way that suits their needs whilst ensuring our own are met. We also need to ensure the right level of CxO engagement with our current and prospective customers, to ensure they get a complete feeling for what it is like to work with us as a business.

And finally, who has inspired you in your career, what’s some advice that you live by?

I wouldn’t say there’s a singular role model that stands out for me, rather, I’ve worked with lots of leaders who I’ve learned a variety of valuable skills from. Pulling from different environments and different personalities has helped expand my capabilities and helped me to develop meaningful relationships with my colleagues. Little learnings from a lot of people have made a big difference.

In terms of advice, something I tend to apply to everything I do is to be inquisitive. Take an interest in an area or a new subject, look at how to optimise, leverage opportunity or address inherent risks, identify solutions, and deliver the changes needed.

I encourage anyone to always ask questions. Business is about empowering ourselves and each other for the benefit of the whole organisation. I think it’s so important to spend time with people, and to find out about them to recognise what works for them. Encouraging learning and fostering a culture built on curiosity is key to our continuous development.

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The Difference Between Traditional WAN & SD-WAN

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SD-WAN

What is WAN  and how does it work?

A traditional Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to connect multiple office locations, or Local Area Networks (LANs). It provides a widely dispersed IT, voice and data networking infrastructure based on routers and Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

These solutions are completely reliant on hardware devices and often incorporate a mix of private and public connections. Traffic is normally routed using Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), a telecommunications technology introduced in the early 1990s. MPLS allows a business to shape its data packet transmissions, prioritising voice, video and data traffic across a network.

Due to the layers of physical hardware required, the management and scalability of a traditional WAN can be a complex and manual process, requiring advanced planning. However, despite its disadvantages, traditional WAN does have its benefits, and can still be the right solution for some types of businesses.

What are the advantages of traditional WAN?

  • Security

Traditional WAN offers a high level of security, as the data packets transmitted over MPLS can only be accessed through the intended MPLS link. All associated hardware is used exclusively by a single enterprise, while dedicated leased lines ensure data remains private and secure as it travels from site to site.

  • Reliability

High service quality and consistent reliability are achieved through a combination of dedicated circuitry and the use of MPLS transmission technology. Packet loss is prevented, latency is low and bandwidth availability is high; all contributing to reliable, efficient communications.

  • Control

Traffic can be managed and shaped, with a wide scope for prioritisation and control over routing. This allows an organisation to ensure video conferencing is smooth and without lag, as well as safeguarding against voice calls being lost. Traditional WAN offers traffic predictability, yet when any changes are required, these need to be carried out manually.

What is SD-WAN and how does it work?

A Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) takes some elements of traditional WAN, such as MPLS, and combines them with other transport mechanisms like broadband services to create a virtual network. As the name suggests, its architecture is based on software, which manages, prioritises, routes and monitors traffic.

To transmit and protect data between locations, SD-WAN uses tunnelling (wrapping a data packet inside another packet to move it from one network to another), and can provide network encryption and firewall software. It actively measures and evaluates traffic, selecting the optimal real-time route for every data packet.

SD-WAN can also allow for consistent enforcement of company data policies, while automatically adapting to changes in the network. This reduces the amount of manual intervention required and minimises any outages or congestion.

What are the advantages of SD-WAN?

  • Operational simplicity

SD-WAN reduces complexity by providing centralised management and configuration. It’s easier to control, as everything can be monitored from a single location, and IT teams can create and update rules in real time.

  • Higher capacity bandwidth

By using cloud-based resources, static routes are replaced with dynamic routes. SD-WAN allows IT departments to adapt to changing network conditions and adjusts accordingly, ensuring capacity needs are met.

  • Scalability

It’s easy to accommodate increased traffic and additional devices because SD-WAN connections can be scaled up or down quickly, based on actual demand. Instead of having to rely solely on MPLS, network administrators can use broadband connectivity to add or remove capacity as necessary.

  • Reduced costs

MPLS is expensive, both in terms of creating the connection and using the bandwidth. With SD-WAN, businesses can minimise using MPLS, employing a combination of services that includes broadband, 4G, 5G and DSL, bringing down costs significantly. MPLS can still be used when required but isn’t the only available option.

SD-WAN also reduces costs by relying on software instead of hardware, avoiding purchase, installation and ongoing maintenance expenditures.

Should I use traditional WAN or SD-WAN?

When you’re weighing up the benefits of SD-WAN vs traditional WAN, it’s important to consider your company’s current circumstances and future digital transformation roadmap. If you’re running a relatively small multi-site business, which is unlikely to expand in the mid-to long-term, the security and traffic prioritisation elements of traditional WAN may be your best option.

However, if your business is cloud-centric and operating across many sites or internationally, the scalability, performance and simplified management of SD-WAN will make it the preferred choice. You’ll be able to build a network that supports your company’s ongoing digital transformation and supports future expansion.

The needs of every enterprise are different, and if you’re currently considering your WAN options, we can help. Find out more about our WAN solutions or contact one of our experts today.

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How does SD-WAN simplify network management?

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  • SD-WAN ,

SD-WAN offers network management solutions that can simplify operations, reduce workloads and optimise connectivity. Find out more today.

How does SD-WAN simplify network management?

Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), enable businesses to better understand the performance of their WAN networks. These software-based network management solutions deliver better-than-ever visibility, allowing IT decision-makers to make more informed choices around capacity, security and flexibility.

In this article, we explore SD-WAN, the opportunities and challenges of using traditional WAN, and how SD-WAN can simplify your network performance.

What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN is a software layer that allows you to manage a network of networks. It’s a highly efficient and advanced way to connect a group of local area networks (LANs) in to a Wide Area Network (WAN), allowing multiple locations to communicate with each other seamlessly.

Unlike traditional WAN deployments, SD-WAN services are designed to support an increasingly remote and mobile workforce. They are far more flexible and scalable, allowing organisations embracing cloud computing an option to scale quickly and more seamlessly.

What are the challenges of using traditional WAN?

Traditional WAN was created before widespread cloud adoption. It just wasn’t designed for a business landscape where bandwidth prioritisation, granular data visibility and app performance under heavy load are continually demanded of a network.

As hybrid working has become the norm, the WAN situation has grown more challenging. If you combine a widely dispersed workforce with applications that are also accessed by partners, contractors, vendors and customers, then traditional WAN infrastructures create many security and performance challenges.

With digital transformation comes opportunity, but it also uncovers the limitations of traditional WAN.

Six ways SD-WAN can simplify network management

There are many reasons why you need SD-WAN, and it provides a wide range of advantages for business. Here are some of the key ways in which it can simplify network management for you.

Central management

SD-WAN enables central visibility and management of multiple sites, reducing complexity, duplication and cost. By assigning several sites to a policy template, a network manager can apply updates to all the assigned sites together, with changes rolling out near-instantaneously.

Web-based consoles

Speedy configuration and deployment of hybrid WAN links is easy with SD-WAN’s web-based interfaces, regardless of the type of underlying connectivity. In contrast, with traditional WAN, each router would have to be configured on an individual basis.

Automation

Built-in automation capabilities allow network managers to implement dynamic responses to changes in traffic conditions. Examples include increasing bandwidth without sacrificing the quality of service when a user suddenly adds video to a voice session, or allowing applications to automatically switch from one link to another when congestion occurs.

Through reporting

SD-WAN’s granular system reporting and enhanced visibility allows network administrators to use bandwidth more efficiently. This ensures high levels of performance for critical applications without sacrificing security or data privacy, delivering the optimal user experience on a highly personalised case-by-case basis.

Increased security

With the ability to orchestrate comprehensive end-to-end security protocols, SD-WAN helps businesses to minimise any cybersecurity risks.

Optimised cloud connectivity

SD-WAN allows seamless connection with multiple public clouds, including real-time optimised performance for all the major SaaS applications, like Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace and more. Optimised workflows for cloud platforms such as AWS and Microsoft Azure make SD-WAN a must-have component for any business on a journey of digital transformation.

Is SD-WAN the right move for your business?

If you’re looking to improve network performance and adapt quickly in times of change or disruption, SD-WAN should be a key consideration. With stable, reliable and more control and visibility than ever before, SD-WAN simplifies your network management and places your business in a highly competitive position. To explore your options in more detail, contact one of our experts today.

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What is Ethernet WAN (Wide Area Network)

Ethernet WAN, also known as Ethernet wide area network or Wide Area Ethernet, is a type of wide area network. It allows a business to seamlessly extend its Ethernet network beyond its location, connecting local area networks (LANs) together. This enables reliable, higher-bandwidth connectivity between sites, while using a standardised Ethernet connection.

How does Ethernet WAN work?

Ethernet WAN works by physically connecting separate network structures together using fibre optic cable and an Ethernet interface, rather than utilising the time-division multiplexing (TDM) method.

TDM is a way of combining multiple data streams in a single signal. In summary, this is done by separating the signal into very short segments, then reassembling them at the receiving end. However, Ethernet WAN is the better option for two main reasons. The cost of Ethernet devices is much lower than TDM, and Ethernet WAN provides businesses with a faster private network of interconnecting sites, ensuring traffic remains safe and secure.

In addition, as businesses use Ethernet local area networks (LANs) to communicate within each of their locations, it often makes sense to use Ethernet technology to extend communications beyond each individual location.

What’s the difference between Ethernet WAN and Ethernet LAN?

Although Ethernet LAN and Ethernet WAN both employ fibre optic cable, they operate in different ways. The fundamental difference between Ethernet WAN and Ethernet LAN is that an Ethernet LAN is a network that operates within a small geographical area, such as an office or industrial facility, whereas an Ethernet WAN covers a larger area, such as a city or a country. In its simplest form, an Ethernet WAN is a collection of Ethernet LANs.

Individually, the LANs use layer 1 (physical) and layer 2 (data link) devices, such as switches, hubs and bridges, plus layer 3 (network) devices. The WAN is then typically built using layer 3 devices, such as routers and multi-layer switches, to connect the infrastructure together.

What’s the purpose of a wide area network (WAN) connection?

WANs have many uses and benefits. Without them, businesses would be restricted in their growth, and would incur prohibitive costs when communicating between locations.

Uses of WAN

Businesses use WANs to communicate using voice and video, access data storage and create remote backups, as well as to host applications and connect to them in the cloud. When there’s a need to connect securely, quickly and reliably to people or data that reside beyond the physical office location, it’s likely that a WAN will make it happen.

Benefits of WAN

As well as being able to cover huge geographical areas, connecting offices and facilities situated at different locations, advantages of using a WAN include:

  • A continuously reliable and stable connection, with guaranteed uptime backed up by robust SLAs.
  • No overprovisioning of servers and other network assets, because all branch files and backups can be supported at a single location. A WAN allows a business to centralise its data without compromising on speed of access or reliability of service.
  • No duplication of data or version control issues, as all files are shared among all authorised users, and everyone has access to the latest versions.
  • Improvements in employee productivity, with higher bandwidths that allow for faster, more collaborative communications.

What are the different types of WAN technologies?

Wide area networks and managed WAN services are underpinned by a range of different technologies. These include:

  • Frame relay, which is a technology for transmitting data between LANs using packet switching.
  • MPLS, or Multiprotocol Label Switching, a network routing technique that uses short path labels to avoid time-consuming table lookups.
  • Overlay networks, where software is used to create a virtual network on top of another network, usually to ensure greater security for data communications.
  • Packet over SONET or SDH, which is a protocol that defines how point-to-point links communicate when using optical fibre and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) communication protocols.
  • Packet switching, where the transmission is broken into several parts, called packets, which are sent independently, over different routes, and in triplicate. Once they reach the destination, at least two copies have to match.
  • Routers, which are used to connect LANs together to form a WAN.
  • SD-WAN, or Software Defined Wide Area Networking, which is an easily deployed overlay network solution. It adds control to Hybrid WAN, and allows greater visibility of the entire network estate, helping businesses optimise their networks and become more efficient.
  • TCP/IP, or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, which is used to interconnect network devices across the internet and other networks.

What is the future of Ethernet WAN?

As digital transformation continues to present new opportunities, and businesses evaluate their cloud strategies, more are exploiting leading edge technologies to improve their competitive position. The future of Ethernet WAN points to ultrafast performance, with a roadmap that suggests speeds of over 400Gbps in the next five years.

That means the use of advanced, bandwidth-hungry applications, IoT technologies and edge devices won’t add undue strain to the network, allowing shrewd and knowledgeable businesses to thrive in the new digital world. And with cybercrime continuing to escalate, the latest WAN technologies help maintain a secure network.

These are just some of the compelling reasons pointing businesses in the direction of Ethernet WAN. So, if you’re considering your next connectivity move, contact one of our experts today and we’ll help you make the most of the opportunity.

 

“As a Critical National Infrastructure provider, ensuring our production facilities and multiple sites have a reliable, resilient network to operate is essential. The power of SD-WAN technology delivers independence to our sites, with improved network visibility and resilience, ensuring maximum up-time for our essential production facilities.”
Neos Networks provide the most robust solutions, and took time to understand our specific needs, allowing us to focus on what matters most – delivering highly reliable, ‘always on’ services to our clients.
"Neos Networks has been our managed network provider for many years, thanks to the partnership our teams are now better equipped to do their jobs and collaborate with their peers, from anywhere in the country."

– Chris Barnicott, CTO, SSE Group

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What is Cloud Connect and how does it work?

Cloud Connect is a direct, secure connection between your network and your cloud service provider (CSP). It bypasses the public internet, using a private network instead, which ensures consistent performance, capacity and improved security.

When you choose Cloud Connect, you can enjoy easy, affordable access to applications and resources without the need for physical infrastructure or hardware. You’ll be able to connect to multiple major providers, such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), using the same secure, high-performance connection across all services.

Cloud Connect works by acting as a natural extension of your private network into the virtual network of your chosen CSP. It offers seamless cloud connectivity, with data travelling between endpoints as if they were communicating within the same network.

Why is it worth using Cloud Connect for your business?

When you use a Cloud Connect service, your connection bypasses the public internet. You don’t share your connection, or your bandwidth, with anyone else. This means you’ll avoid all the associated performance irregularities and security issues. You’ll also benefit from increased flexibility, scalability, resilience and consistency.

With a Cloud Connect service, security is enhanced, with a private and direct virtual connection to your chosen CSP offering multiple layers of protection. Plus, as well as avoiding the risks that come with using the public internet, your provider will also have additional security and threat detection measures in place to protect your data.

Cloud Connect puts you in a more flexible position, as well, with a subscription model that lets you pay only for what you need. You can scale your bandwidth up and down to meet your requirements.

If your organisation is heavily dependent on your connectivity infrastructure, it needs to be resilient and reliable. With Cloud Connect you’re protected from interruptions, with failover options that keep your business connected, no matter what. Collaboration and productivity can also be enhanced with Cloud Connect. If your business is supported by nationally or globally diverse teams, they will be able to work together more effectively and share ideas anywhere, on any device, without compromising sensitive company data.

What are the different types of cloud connectivity?

When you’re considering how to connect to the cloud, there are many different methods that you can use. The most basic and cheapest route to cloud connectivity is through a standard internet connection over the public internet.

Although this type of connection is easy to deploy, it also has many challenges. That’s why more sophisticated connectivity options have been developed, which include direct Ethernet, MPLS IP VPN and SD-WAN Cloud Connect.

Using the public internet

When an organisation connects to the cloud using a standard public internet connection, it’s easy to set up and the costs are low. However, accessing cloud applications in this way can result in performance inconsistencies, and it also exposes the organisation to more security risks.

Accessing cloud applications using the public internet means your business is competing for bandwidth with other users, too. You’ll experience congestion, and you’ll have no control over how your data is routed. If the shortest, fastest link isn’t available, data will be redirected over a more indirect route, potentially resulting in packet loss and a less stable, high-latency connection with higher security risks.

Using direct Ethernet

Using a direct Ethernet connection provides a rapid and safe route to cloud. It bypasses the public internet completely, and ensures high-performance, end-to-end connectivity without any of the potential security issues associated with the public internet.

When you choose the direct Ethernet route, your organisation is guaranteed a reliable, low-latency and consistent connection that delivers high bandwidth. The connection is private and uncontended, which means your business doesn’t compete for bandwidth with other users. As a result, you’ll enjoy an exceptionally fast service, with no bottlenecks and a choice of bandwidths and service options to match your needs.

Using MPLS IP VPN

An MPLS IP VPN network, or Multiprotocol Label Switching Internet Protocol to create a Virtual Private Network, allows multi-site businesses to access cloud services, sharing connectivity and data within a high-bandwidth network.

When you choose MPLS IP VPN, your cloud connection is directly integrated into the network, which means it is completely private and totally secure. Your individual business locations share the connectivity to access resources in the cloud and, as your business grows, your MPLS IP VPN can scale with you.

With its combination of high data privacy, high performance, and security and compliance advantages, MPLS IP VPN is a commonplace option for businesses that want a secure and reliable connection to cloud providers.

Using SD-WAN Cloud Connect

With SD-WAN Cloud Connect, or a Software-Defined Wide Area Network, an organisation can connect its multiple business locations to several cloud service providers at once. For cost-effective, direct connectivity into multiple cloud environments, SD-WAN provides a wide range of advantages that is hard to beat.

SD-WAN’s secure and private connection mitigates the risk of using the public internet, while providing guaranteed reliability and predictable spend. Plus, there aren’t any large outlay costs, just a quarterly bill, and the flexibility to use what you need. With SD-WAN Cloud Connect, organisations can add or remove capabilities quickly and easily.

Key advantages include end-to-end visibility and the ability to manage the entire enterprise network, as well as providing access to sophisticated and comprehensive connectivity capabilities. From networking and routing, to analytics and traffic optimisation, SD-WAN delivers a wide range of connectivity benefits.

Explore your secure connectivity options

If you’re looking for a direct, secure connection between your network and your cloud service provider then Cloud Connect can provide a wide range of benefits to your organisation. To explore your secure cloud connectivity options in detail, and ensure you achieve the best possible outcome for your business, contact one of our experts today.

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What is a colocation data centre?

What is a colocation data centre?

A colocation data centre, or colo, is a purpose-built data facility designed to provide the optimal environment for servers. The difference between a colocation data centre and a typical data centre is that a colo leases its rack space to third parties, providing businesses with a suitable location for their servers or other network equipment.

This is a popular service for UK businesses that don’t have the necessary on-premise resources to maintain their own data centre, or have outgrown the capacity of their in-house server room. However, it isn’t always a question of whether a business has enough space. It could be that power or cooling demands, or the desire for a more secure solution, are determining factors behind exploring the possibilities of colocation data centres.

In this article, we’ll outline the colocation options available to you, and help you make the right decision for your business.

What is colocation?

Colocation itself is a little different to a colocation data centre as colocation is the actual service provided. It’s the process of having your IT hardware hosted in a commercial data centre, and taking advantage of the infrastructure it provides.

The easiest way to differentiate them is to think of colocation as the service, and a colocation data centre as the place.

Colocation can also be interpreted in different ways. As well as referring to servers and other equipment from multiple companies all being housed together in one data centre, it can also describe one company that has its equipment located in multiple places. This is a key consideration for any business that have their operations dispersed across a wide geographical area as they may wish to locate their computing infrastructure close to a number of their physical offices.

What are the benefits of data centre colocation?

Colocation presents a viable option for any UK business with an expanding infrastructure. As a relatively small server room becomes overcrowded, there’s a greater demand for power and cooling. Particularly if servers begin to encroach upon each other’s airflow space, this creates potential safety risks.

In contrast, commercial data centres benefit from economies of scale that make colocation data centre pricing a far more affordable option. And when your computing requirements expand, there’s plenty of space to accommodate the extra hardware. As well as paying less to operate your servers, your business will also be far more energy efficient, aligning with sustainability goals.

You’ll be able to rest easy, too, with experienced professionals dedicated to managing your infrastructure. Plus, choosing a colocation solution significantly reduces the danger of fire, flood or theft, with sophisticated risk detection systems in place and around-the-clock data centre security.

Many commercial data centres also provide additional services to make colocation an even more attractive prospect. Add-ons include having a resource on site to carry out small maintenance jobs and troubleshooting, as well as cyber security and cloud infrastructure packages.

What types of colocation facilities are available?

The three main types of colocation data centre facility are retail, wholesale and hybrid cloud-based colocation.

Retail colocation is when multiple customers lease a set amount of space within a multi-tenanted data centre. This tends to be either space within a rack, a full rack, or a caged-off area.

Wholesale colocation is when a customer leases an entire data centre location. This generally commands a cheaper rate than retail colocation.

While retail colocation and wholesale colocation are long-standing, relatively traditional solutions, hybrid cloud-based colocation facilities are a newer, more flexible option. This offers a mix of in-house and outsourced data centre services, delivered on a hybrid cloud platform.

Is colocation right for your business and why?

Colocation may not be right for everyone. However, it delivers a predictable, robust expenditure model with the flexibility and scalability that usually appeals to larger UK businesses with substantial and complex hosting requirements.

The resiliency and uptime that can be achieved with best-in-class tools also makes colocation a good choice for many, particularly for hosting non-critical data where network bandwidth and performance are crucial factors.

Why should you choose Neos Networks for colocation services?

Neos Networks is the ideal home for your data replication, data archive, data backup, network access, network aggregation, switching and routing systems. We can help you reduce costs, improve connectivity and network security, with an extensive national colocation network that offers exceptional scalability.

Our 15 colocation facilities are purpose-built, designed and owned by us, and all located close to major UK towns and cities. Combined with a tailor-made service to suit every customer’s budgetary and business needs, and supported by our dedicated team of specialists, it’s likely that we’ll have exactly what you’re looking for. Take a closer look at our colocation services, or contact one of our experts today.

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What is SoGEA?

What Is Single order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA)

Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (or SoGEA for short) is a way to subscribe to a broadband service in one single order. That means there’s no need to have a traditional phone line installed, and then add an ADSL broadband or fibre broadband service on top.

Choosing a SoGEA service doesn’t stop you having a voice line, but you will require an overlaying VoIP application.

How does SoGEA work and why was it created?

SoGEA was created as a response to the reduced demand for traditional phone line services within businesses and homes across the UK. It is delivered using existing Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband infrastructure.

Fibre technology is used for the majority of the cabling, and copper wire provides the connection between the green cabinet and the customer’s premises. As a result, SoGEA operates in much the same way as FTTC broadband, delivering similar performance and data rates.

How is SoGEA installed?

SoGEA is installed in a similar way to many other business broadband services. This could involve a survey of your premises, to evaluate the fastest, most efficient way of achieving the connection. However, if you currently have a fibre broadband connection, a survey may not be necessary.

On your installation day, an engineer will carry out the necessary work to install your broadband equipment. This could include working at height, and drilling holes to allow cable to access your property. With only a single connection required, you may be up and running faster than a regular FTTC broadband installation.

What is SoGFast, the GFast variant of SoGEA?

G-Series Fast Access to Subscriber Terminals (or GFast for short) is an improved version of FTTC broadband, achieving speeds up to four times faster than traditional FTTC broadband. Whereas FTTP requires additional infrastructure, Gfast employs the existing FTTC infrastructure, such as copper wires. However, a device is fitted into the fibre cabinet to increase data speeds through the copper cable.

SoGFast is the GFast variant of SoGEA. SoGFast allows users to achieve speeds of up to 330Mbps using the existing FTTC service, without having to take an analogue telephone service.

Before GFast, the only way for customers to reach these speeds was through the installation of an FTTP connection, which is still being rolled out nationwide and so, isn’t available for all.

What are the benefits of SoGEA broadband?

The advantages of choosing a SoGEA broadband connection are:

  • Lower cost, because you’re only paying for a broadband data connection, with no landline rental charges included. Prices will of course vary from provider to provider.
  • Increased reliability, as there won’t be any interference from traditional phone line frequencies, which can result in an unstable connection.
  • Speed of installation, without the additional time needed to install a landline connection first.
  • Future-prepared connectivity, ensuring that your business will be ready for a data-only future, when traditional analogue phone lines are discontinued in 2025.

SoGEA vs FTTC: what are the differences?

The key difference between SoGEA and FTTC is that FTTC is capable of providing a data and a voice service, whereas SoGEA only carries the data element.

In terms of speed and performance, overall performance may be marginally better with SoGEA, as there is no phone traffic to interfere with the integrity of the data service.

Where is SoGEA available in the UK?

As SoGEA uses the same infrastructure as FTTC, SoGEA availability is dependent on whether you currently have access to fibre broadband. If you’re using fibre broadband at the moment, or it is available to your business, it’s highly likely that you will be able to get SoGEA.

Does SoGEA provide a good alternative for businesses preparing for Openreach’s PSTN, ISDN, ADSL and FTTC 2025 switch off?

In 2015, Openreach announced that it will terminate the UK PSTN by December 2025. PSTN supports a range of legacy telephone and broadband products, including basic telephone lines, multi-lines, ISDN, and ADSL broadband, as well as FTTC broadband. As part of the migration to an all-IP communications network, BT exchanges are now closed to new PSTN orders.

All this activity means that traditional phone lines will soon be replaced by fibre connections. If your business is preparing for PSTN, ISDN, ADSL and FTTC 2025 switch off, then SoGEA provides a comparable alternative to FTTC and futureproofs against upcoming changes. You’ll enjoy a similar service, and you’ll be able to use VoIP to maintain a voice line and retain a traditional phone number.

How can Neos Networks help?

If SoGEA seems like it could be the right choice for your business, we can help you explore your options in detail. Our Ethernet over Fibre To The Cabinet service (EoFTTC) is available in a range of capacities, 80/20Mbps upwards, to suit any business type. We’ll also validate whether your current modem is compliant. And because we have one of the largest business Ethernet networks in the UK, with access to over 550 exchanges, you’ll be well connected.

With our knowledgeable specialists, our extensive product and service portfolio, and the right strategic approach, we can help you achieve the best possible connectivity outcome for your business. Get in touch with one of our experts today.

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What is Optical Networking?

What is optical networking technology?

Optical networking is a system of communication that uses pulses of light, instead of pulses of electricity. These light pulses are created by a laser or LED light source, and send information between two or more points.

This is the fastest way to transmit and receive data, and an optical network allows reliable electronic communications to take place over extremely long distances. Also, when compared with copper, an optical network is far less prone to external inference and can achieve substantially higher bandwidth speeds.

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What are the different types of optical networks available?

There are currently two types of optical networks, fibre optic networks and free-space optic networks.

A fibre optic network, as the name suggests, uses optical fibre to carry the data signal between the light source and the receiver.

A free-space optic network transmits data between two line-of-sight points across air, space or a vacuum. No physical connection is needed between the transmitter and the receiver, as the light simply travels through free space.

What is optical fibre cable in networking?

Optical fibre cable is constructed from bundles of individual optical fibres. Each individual fibre is the medium that the light travels through, divided into multiple optical wavelengths. Optical fibre cable consists of two constituent parts, the core and the cladding.

The core is the innermost layer of the fibre. This is the part that the light travels through and is typically made of glass.

The cladding is the material wrapped around the core. It can be constructed from glass or plastic, and has a different density to the core. Its purpose is to prevent the light from escaping. When light inside the fibre hits the cladding, it is reflected back into the core in a process known as total internal reflection, and continues along its journey.

What are the different components of an optical fibre network system?

In addition to the optical fibre cable, an optical fibre network system requires the following components for it to function:

  • A laser or LED light source, to create and transmit the signal
  • A multiplexer, so multiple pieces of data can be sent over the same wire
  • Amplifiers, to allow the signal to travel longer distances by increasing its strength
  • Repeaters may also be needed if the data has to travel across extreme distances. Repeaters are cheaper than amplifiers and act by receiving and then re-broadcasting the signal
  • A photodiode receiver, to capture the signal at the end of its journey

The light source transmitting the signal and the receiver capturing it are both known as transceivers. These transceivers can be tuned down to reduce their performance. This reduces the total bandwidth capacity, but it also allows the signal to be carried over a greater distance without any noticeable degradation.

What are the advantages of an optical fibre network?

Optical fibre networking provides many advantages for businesses, particularly when compared to copper wire. Benefits include:

  • Higher speeds, with faster data transfer than copper cable can achieve
  • Better signal quality, because there’s no electromagnetic interference between adjacent optical fibres
  • Easy scalability, as new equipment can be installed over the original fibre, and wavelengths can be turned on or off as required
  • Heightened security, because data is transmitted as packets of light, which makes it much more difficult for hackers to intercept
  • Long-term savings, as there’s no signal loss, which makes fibre networks simpler and cheaper to operate and maintain

What is next-generation optical networking?

Next-generation optical networks are focused on ultra-high data throughput to support ever-increasing traffic demands, as well as improving energy efficiency and simplifying network design and deployment. These next-generation technologies will support transmission rates of multiple terabits of data per second, with the ability to scale up beyond 10Tbps and travel distances of up to 1,000km.

Convergence and access will form the foundations of next-generation optical networking. With lower latency, enhanced reliability and heightened security, these networks will be ideally suited to handle the heavy demands of edge networking, 8K video streaming services, and the metaverse as it merges with industry 4.0. In addition, next-generation optical networks will become a prominent focus of 5G and 6G mobile networks, due to the demand for extreme bandwidth, coverage and device synchronisation.

What optical networking solutions do Neos Networks offer?

Our optical networking and wavelength services deliver low latency, high capacity connectivity solutions to businesses across the UK. They are designed for flexibility, and deployed to meet your exacting connectivity needs.

We can provide you with a choice of optical connectivity bandwidths, from 10Gbps, 100Gbps and 400Gbps, with a focus on high capacity, long distance networks, and support for Ethernet, Fiberchannel and Infiniband. Whatever your optical networking requirements, we can help.

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"We began working with Neos Networks in 2015, when they deployed a robust core connectivity platform to help us expand our reach and meet ambitious growth plans. We’ve since taken advantage of the expansion of Neos Networks’ UK network to deliver more critical services to our customers."

– Mark Holden, Head of Data Networks, NatWest Group

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Celebrating Women in Engineering

Lisa Hamilton, Fibre Designer

To celebrate Women in Engineering Day, we sat down with Lisa Hamilton, Fibre Designer at Neos Networks. Lisa shares what she loves about her role, how she got into telecoms and what she hopes for the future when it comes to improving diversity in the sector.

Q: So, Lisa, tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: Well, I’m a Fibre Designer at Neos Networks where I plan and design cable routes that are key to enabling new connectivity services and supporting connectivity applications. I’ve recently joined Neos Networks and love being able to continuously learn more about how our networks operate. As a Fibre Designer, my primary responsibility is to futureproof our fibre network to allow future expansion of services in a way that is most cost-effective and gives us the best network possibilities.

Outside of my day job, I’m married and a mum to two young children, aged two and five, and we recently got a puppy so you can imagine my hands are pretty full!

Q: Tell us a little bit more about how you got into telecoms?

A: I finished school at 16, and went to work as a legal trainee secretary. Back then, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do, and looking back, I don’t ever remember telecoms being a career option for me—or indeed most women. Instead, the obvious career path for women was administrative roles which is the option I followed. After some time working as a legal secretary, I then moved to a bank, then a call centre, and from there moved into Change Management in Thus Plc, which was my first foray into telecoms. 16 years later, I haven’t looked back.

Q: What was it about that Change Management role that got you excited about the telecoms sector?

A: It was the first time I was able to understand how telecoms and networks actually work. My role saw me deal with network outages and I was responsible for notifying customers about potential disruptions to network services and other associated issues. I spent a great deal of time working closely with networking teams which gave me a fantastic understanding of how the sector operates. From then, I was hooked! Especially as that role opened the door to my next opportunity in a radio role at Cable & Wireless (C&W) (bought by Vodafone).

Q: Tell us more about your time at C&W?

A: My time at C&W allowed me to further expand my telecoms knowledge, as I was able to train as a microwave link planner. There I was responsible for ensuring the correct size of microwave dish and microwave frequency was used so that radio links met requirements for backhaul traffic. This meant I had to take into account things like distance, line of sight surveys, the amount of traffic being carried over the link, structural loads on towers and the best place, geographically to place any new microwave dishes.

I also dealt with any notice to quit sites, where we had to plan to move any existing microwave dishes to new locations, and also problem links where line of sights had started to be impacted by growing trees or new high rise developments for example.

I really enjoyed this role because it meant I was able to get into the very technical aspects of the telecoms world, something which fascinates me. The more I learnt, the hungrier I was to keep finding out more about this fantastic industry and all of its technical wonders. That’s why I decided to move into the fibre world after spending a good chunk of time dealing with microwave technologies, and I reckon I’ll remain here for the rest of my career as I thoroughly enjoy it.

Q: Based on your experience, would you recommend telecoms to those starting their careers?

A: Absolutely! I’ve been so lucky to work in an industry where I continuously learn about new technologies—it’s what’s kept it exciting for so many years. I certainly would have never thought about telecoms at the start of my career, and that’s why it’s so important that we do away with careers and jobs pushed towards a typical gender role. We need to see more women in male-dominated sectors, and while that’s definitely improving, we can still do more to improve diversity in the sector. We’re fortunate now with social media that we are able to better promote the industry, and days like Women in Engineering are a great way of spotlighting the amazing contributions made by women in this sector.

Q: Final question for you Lisa, what career advice would you give to a young woman starting out?

A: It’s so important to make sure that you explore all types of job roles. Your career should be chosen based on your interests and what you enjoy, rather than what society and gender norms expect of you. This is so important to me, especially as a mother to a young daughter, I want to make sure that all career paths are open to her. There will be challenges along the way, no doubt, but finding a company like Neos Networks, that supports diversity and working mothers is so important to ensuring we’re attracting the talent of the future.

To find out more about Lisa and her journey, connect with her on LinkedIn.

If you’d like to explore our current career opportunities, visit: https://neosnetworks.com/careers/  

 

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What is a Business VPN?

What is a business VPN and how does a business VPN work?

A business virtual private network (VPN) provides end-to-end encryption for your company’s internet connection. It delivers a secure web connection to devices, regardless of where your employees connect to the internet. This ensures your data is encrypted, private and protected from bogus Wi-Fi connections, cybercriminals, competitors and advertisers.

Since the pandemic, fundamental working practices, company policies and employee preferences have evolved. And although lockdown measures and movement constraints no longer apply, hybrid working, bring-your-own-device schemes, and a blurring of work and leisure boundaries are here to stay.

Not only have these societal changes exposed a larger portion of business activities to security threats, they have also encouraged cybercriminals to devise new ways to exploit security loopholes. As a result, the need for companies to invest in a robust business VPN has intensified. Read on to learn what a VPN is and why it is useful to business.

What Is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A VPN is a service that protects your internet connection and maintains your online privacy. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel for internet traffic, disguising your online identity. The encryption takes place in real time and makes it difficult for third parties to track activities and steal data.

What are the benefits of using a business VPN?

The main benefits of VPN for business are that it encrypts data packets and ensures anonymity. It does this by either encrypting end-user data or by creating an end-point connection where traffic is encrypted.

This ensures heightened security, particularly against man-in-the-middle (MIM) attacks, where a malicious actor creates an intermediary position between an end-user and the business, either to eavesdrop or to impersonate. This can put a business at risk of data breaches and ransomware attacks.

A VPN also prevents your employees from leaving traces of the websites they’ve visited, in the form of search history and cookies. The encryption of cookies is of particular importance as it prevents third parties from gaining access to confidential business information, such as employee data, financial information and other sensitive and business-critical content.

Another benefit of business VPNs is that they can support mobile platforms, usually offering a mobile app version of the desktop solution. While still providing protection, these mobile offerings are not resource intensive, ensuring internet traffic remains encrypted without excessively impacting battery life.

In contrast to personal VPNs, business VPNs also tend to provide dashboard-based centralised tools, enabling administrators to control access and monitor sessions. This provides an additional layer of security and reduces the amount of time required to identify any data anomalies and suspicious activities. As well as being easier to manage than multiple personal VPNs, opting for a business VPN will also save on costs.

Disadvantages of VPN for business include the potential to add latency into the system, as well as the small potential risk of an attacker gaining access to a remote employee’s VPN credentials. This may allow unauthorised access to all applications and data on the network. However, the benefits of implementing a business VPN far outweigh any potential negatives.

What types of business VPNs are available?

There are two different subdivisions of business VPN, namely remote access and site-to-site.

Remote access VPNs create a temporary connection between each employee and the company’s internal network, wherever the employee is located. When a user needs to access the network, they activate the VPN client, establishing an encrypted tunnel that connects to the network without exposing the details of the traffic. Remote access VPNs offer a significant security advantage for remote workers.

A site-to-site VPN is a permanent connection designed to function as an encrypted link between individual offices. The VPN client handles multiple individual user requests at once, and is hosted on the local network at each office location, rather than on individual devices. This means employees at each office location can access the shared network without using a VPN client individually. However, if they move beyond the office, they lose access.

Neos Networks offers businesses ultra-safe, highly reliable site-to-site VPN options, designed to avoid routing traffic through the public internet. These include dedicated IP-VPNs, which can start from as little as a few hundred pounds per month, and allow businesses to adjust network performance to meet their needs, pushing certain traffic to the front of the queue as required. Ethernet VPNs are another robust option, offering high, reliable bandwidths, which can be easily tweaked to suit a wide range of needs. They offer simple scalability, with simple-to-implement network add-ons and the ability to add or remove locations at speed.

What is the difference between a personal VPN and a business VPN?

As we’ve already established, using a business VPN allows employees to access work tools, applications and resources on any device, while maintaining a high level of security.

With a personal VPN, safety, security and anonymity are also high on the priority list for users, as many consumers want to prevent intrusive monitoring. Although a personal VPN doesn’t provide many of the tools afforded by a business VPN, it does offer a refuge from cybercriminals.

In addition to the security benefits, consumers may also use a personal VPN to break geo-restrictions, accessing entertainment and information that is otherwise unavailable in their country of residence. Variations in subscription rates and product pricing are also offered to different countries and regions, as well as different rates for airfares and hotels, regardless of a flight’s arrival or departure destination. These can be strong secondary pull factors for consumers.

Explore your VPN options with Neos Networks

Neos Networks is well placed to support customers with their VPN by providing expert guidance on connectivity options. To find out more speak to one of our experts.

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Why automation is fundamental for a digital future

Mark Charlesworth, Director of Product

In 2020 IDC predicted investment in digital transformation could reach over $1,009.8 billion by 2025, as companies looked to build out their connectivity and networking strategies to support a more digitally focused future.

As we close in on this 2025 timeline, it's evident that embracing digital practices continues to be essential for businesses and the service providers supplying them. As does the way in which these services are procured.

It’s not surprising then that automated ways of working are fast becoming the norm when it comes to quoting, ordering and delivering connectivity services. After all, automation exists to make the customer experience quicker, easier and more seamless.

Automation doesn’t just support a digital future, it is the future!

From withdrawing money from a cashpoint, through to ordering your weekly groceries, automation is expected.

In fact, a 2022 report by Cflow, they found that 31% of businesses have fully automated at least one key business function and 41% of the respondents stated that they are using automation extensively across multiple functions. These stats are set only to rise as businesses look to merge systems further and simplify internal and external processes using automation in order to streamline business practices, increase efficiencies and reduce manual intervention.

More recently, the 2023 Global State of IT Automation Report announced that 92% of respondents enabled end-users to execute their own workflows, tools, and processes through self-service automation. The move to this more joined up way of working enabled employees to reduce time spent on laborious tasks, instead freeing up teams to focus on other key priorities.

Interestingly, the 2023 Global Sate of IT Automation report also found that automation had evolved into the automated interaction between systems, known as orchestration, with 81% of respondents stating that they are looking to develop their automation programme and 86% are planning to replace or add a new platform to support orchestration.

This is something that Neos Networks knows only too well following its own internal automation journey. In collaboration with Blue Planet and Cerillion, Neos Networks completed a seismic transformation of its BSS/OSS platforms from quoting and ordering, to fulfilment and service orchestration, resulting in an all-encompassing, customer driven solution to improve efficiencies and speed of delivery.

Automation and telcos

It is not a surprise that the typically forward-thinking telco sector are advocates of automating services.

But for automation to function, connectivity must be prevalent.

Not only does automation naturally require better levels of connectivity and network in order to deliver its promised benefits effectively, something that we’re proud to be able to offer through our far-reaching, business-only national fibre network, it’s also something that’s been driving the quoting and ordering trend in telecoms for some time.

Self-serve portals, like LIVEQUOTE from Neos Networks, is a great example of this. The portal launched in 2013, initially enabling partners to quote and order 10Mbps – 1Gbps Ethernet connectivity services without the need for manual intervention and sales support. Over the last 10+ years the tool has benefitted from substantial investment, broadening both the range of products and services it offers as well as the capacities available (up to 100Gbps).

Just recently LIVEQUOTE has evolved further, following feedback from its 550-strong partner base, to implement new and easier ways of automating and simplifying the quoting and ordering journey for its users. Some of the new features include location-based quoting, quoting multiple bandwidths and services in a single entry, enhanced Optical ordering and geo-mapping for more accurate results.

The power of automation

Automation is set to be a staple in the future of our personal lives, work lives and the eco-system in which we reside. And this can only be a great thing.

Through the power of automation and the provision of self-serve solutions we can embrace a more sustainable future that allows for ease of information, speed of service and delivers ever important time efficiencies.

Keen to learn more about how we’ve improved automation at Neos Networks. Request access to LIVEQUOTE to see for yourself.

 

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A guide to Bank IT infrastructure management

IT infrastructure in the banking sector forms the bedrock of effective access, security and data control. When designed and deployed correctly, your IT infrastructure protects business operations and sensitive client data while providing a seamless digital user experience for customers and employees.

However, to maintain technological momentum, many firms in the financial industry have legacy platforms that require modernisation. In this article, we explore how the role of IT infrastructure in the banking and financial sector is changing. Discover how companies can benefit from transitioning to modern digital strategies in a world where new disruptive competitors and cloud-based applications are commonplace.

What is involved in banking IT infrastructure?

When we talk about IT infrastructure in the banking sector, we’re referring to the system of hardware, software, facilities, service and network components that support the delivery of all business systems and IT-enabled processes.

  • The hardware consists of the computers, mobile phones and tablets used by employees as part of business operations
  • The software is all banking applications used by employees and audiences
  • The facilities are the bank’s office locations and everything closely associated with those physical environments
  • The service parts are all the connections and accounts used to access sensitive data
  • The network parts are all the APIs, external links and data exchange standards

What makes an effective IT infrastructure in the banking sector?

A banking IT infrastructure needs to be flexible, reliable and secure, allowing the business to deliver a unified customer experience, achieve its goals and gain a competitive edge in the market. If the IT infrastructure isn’t functioning correctly, a banking business can face connectivity, productivity and security issues.

To build and deploy an effective banking IT infrastructure, five specific elements need to be satisfied:

  • Affordability
  • Efficiency
  • Dependability
  • Standardisation
  • Flexibility

In terms of affordability, moving away from a legacy IT infrastructure can cost you less in the long run than continuing to use traditional connectivity solutions. When evaluating your options, consider all the affordability factors, not just the initial cost of implementation, but also the long-term savings that each potential route could bring.

However, affordability is only a small component of the IT infrastructure decision-making process. You shouldn’t focus solely on cutting costs by a pre-determined amount. Instead, you need to step back and assess the amount of positive impact an effective IT infrastructure will make on operational efficiency. Much of this will be achieved through avoiding wasted time and effort, and allowing the core business functions to operate more effectively.

We already know that banking IT infrastructures can be complex systems. They underpin fast-paced business environments and support mission-critical processes, including transactional, compliance and relationship building elements. As a result, you need to be reliable and dependable, and the associated cybersecurity services need to be world-class.

Technology standardisation reduces complexity, as well as delivering cost savings through economies of scale, ease of integration, improved efficiency, and better IT support. When you focus on standardising your banking IT infrastructure, your aim is to work to a baseline of standards that fit your business strategy, security policies and goals. From there, you’ll be able to identify and select solutions that are of the right quality and consistency, as well as ensuring compatibility and interoperability with all your audiences.

With that intricate combination of hardware, software, facilities, service and network parts, flexibility is also a big consideration. Banking businesses are highly reliant on being able to anticipate and react to market changes, customer needs and compliance demands. As the landscape evolves, infrastructure flexibility and scalability will become a large part of the equation.

What strategies can improve banking IT infrastructure management?

When you’re looking for improvements, cloud migration is a major component of successful IT infrastructure management. That’s because investments in large-scale on-premise solutions lack the necessary levels of affordability, efficiency, dependability, standardisation and flexibility demanded by businesses today.

When you’re considering a migration strategy, take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Think about how the different components of your bank IT infrastructure need to operate as a whole.

There’s little point in shifting your peripheral services and systems into the cloud if the core operations are left running on legacy IT. Transitioning these non-critical elements won’t deliver the value that transformational thinking can bring. That doesn’t mean incremental changes should be avoided. However, your strategy has to identify the areas where the biggest gains can be made with the least long-term disruption.

Combine this with an audit of current application usage and likely future requirements, and you’ll be able to anticipate any potential obstacles during cloud migration, preventing delays and ensuring a smooth transition.

How is banking IT infrastructure evolving?

Changing customer expectations, emerging technologies, new business models and disruptive new entrants are all changing the course of the banking and financial sector. To stay competitive in this evolving environment, banks need to understand the fundamental changes that are taking place.

People and businesses expect far more from their bank than they did even five years ago. We’ve all become more digitally aware, and we expect our providers to reflect this in their offerings. As a result, banks are already putting strategies in place to help them perform at a level that will ensure their continued profitability and long-term survival.

The good news is that banks are hugely data-rich. The bad news is that a lot of the data is trapped in legacy systems and cannot be used to full advantage. However, as banking IT infrastructures begin to advance, the situation is changing. From automation and machine learning to big data and analytics, financial institutions are harnessing their IT infrastructures to successfully integrate the tools that keep them competitive and their customers happy. These include:

  • Analytical platforms for personalised services
  • Open banking APIs
  • Blending online apps with in-store branches
  • Leveraging online helplines

With the right banking IT infrastructure, banks can replicate the retailer approach to personalisation, creating experiences that build relationships and turn customers into brand advocates. By taking a big data approach, you’ll be able to understand behaviours and automate personalisation programmes that anticipate requirements and suggest actions. And you’ll be able to do it through the most appropriate channel, and at the right point in time.

As open banking APIs allow financial data and services to be shared with third parties, this also creates opportunities for a superior customer experience. However, to be able to leverage all that historical data requires a modern infrastructure that can interrogate statements and transaction records while ensuring the proper balance between data enrichment, compliance and personalisation.

Although the overwhelming majority of banking customers interact with their bank online, through PCs, smartphones and laptops, using websites, apps and virtual assistants, there needs to be a seamless connection between online, helpline, and in-person transactions. This is the omnichannel approach that is used by many other verticals, with retail leading the way. Despite the switch to digital banking, that omnichannel experience can be a key differentiator, and can only be realised by using the right IT infrastructure.

How can Neos Networks support banking IT infrastructure management?

A robust and responsive IT infrastructure is central to the future success of banking enterprises everywhere. It forms the foundations of the systems and procedures that allow a business to stay competitive. It also ensures they exploit every customer opportunity, adapt quickly to changes in the legislative landscape, and stave off attacks from industry disrupters.

At Neos Networks we work with banks and financial institutions to ensure their networks and connectivity match their strategic plans and keep up with the demands of their customers. In a sector where competition is fierce and digital-only banks are gaining ground, market players turn to us to help them deliver the best possible customer experience.

Our low latency, high capacity networks ensure private, fast and reliable connectivity at all times. When your customers demand round-the-clock service, they won’t tolerate anything less than excellence.

From our Ethernet service, which provides access to more than 34,000 kilometres across the UK, with access to over 550 exchanges, to our dark fibre service, which gives you the maximum level of control over your data, we have the perfect solution for your banking business. Plus, with our expertise in supporting Critical National Infrastructure you can be sure that we will deliver.

If you’re considering your next strategic step and assessing your IT infrastructure options, get in touch, and we’ll advise on the right route to achieve the best possible outcome for your business.

"We began working with Neos Networks in 2015, when they deployed a robust core connectivity platform to help us expand our reach and meet ambitious growth plans. We’ve since taken advantage of the expansion of Neos Networks’ UK network to deliver more critical services to our customers."

– Mark Holden, Head of Data Networks, NatWest Group

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