EFM Internet Connection Guide
EFM is a popular option for connecting your office to the Internet. It sends signals over 2-8 pairs of wires, unlike ADSL which sends them over just one.
Unlike ADSL, it offers symmetrical speeds - meaning your upload speed will match your download speed.
EFM Internet Circuit Availability
Ethernet First Mile connections aren't available everywhere. 3000 of the UK's 5600 telephone exchanges have the right equipment installed in them to support it.
Even then, not all wholesale EFM service providers are at all exchanges. For example, at the time of writing, BT Wholesale is only in around 1800 of the 5600 exchanges. TalkTalk is in more - around 3000.
So the largest determinant of whether you can get EFM is which local telephone exchange serves you. Call us on 020 7847 4510 if you'd like to check which telephone exchange serves your site.
EFM Internet Speeds
In theory, you're looking at a maximum speed of 20Mbps or 35Mbps, depending on which telephone exchange you're on. In practice, the maximum connection speeds will likely be far lower.
That's because only those closest to their local telephone exchange are likely to be able to get those top speeds.
For example, our office in London is 0.249 miles away from our local telephone exchange as the crow flies. That's around 400 meters. The cable distance to the exchange is 920 meters. As a result, the maximum speeds available to us our 20Mbps via the BT Wholesale network or 11Mbps via the TalkTalk Business one.
EFM Internet Installation Lead Time
Although some providers quote 25 days or more, we think that's terrible advice.
Firstly, it's not 25 CALENDAR days; it's 25 WORKING days.
Secondly, that's a best-case scenario, not a typical installation time.
Thirdly, it's the speed the wholesale providers offer to retail ISPs. You have to order from a retail ISP, and they have their own work to do that will lengthen the installation time.
For example, BT's wholesale division - BT Wholesale - suggests a 25 working day lead time to us, but BT's retail arm quotes 35-40 working days. Some retail ISPs conveniently 'forget' to add their own work to the lead time estimates.
As BT only has EFM equipment in around 1800 of the UK's 5600 telephone exchanges, there's a greater chance that your EFM line will come from the UK's largest EFM wholesale supplier, TalkTalk Business.
There, the lead time varies from 25 to 90 working days for your ISP. If you'd like to know the latest estimate for your location, give us a call on 020 7847 4510.
Note these are merely lead-time targets, not commitments.
Alternatives to EFM Internet Connections
Ethernet in the First Mile remains popular, but as fibre leased lines continue to grow ever cheaper, we expect EFM circuits to fall out of favour gradually.
The minimum speed mentioned by most leased line providers has already risen from 2Mbps to 10Mbps. We expect it to rise further to 100Mbps, with lower connection speeds being hidden away.
Fibre leased lines have several benefits compared to EFM over copper connections. They offer much higher maximum speeds. And over time, we expect their network latency to fall significantly in comparison to EFM.
In the UK, political parties are falling over themselves to promise gigabit full-fibre connectivity. Expect Government voucher schemes to subsidise the installation of some full-fibre leased lines but not to provide any subsidies to businesses getting EFM leased lines.
