EFM - Why Ethernet First Mile Is Becoming More Popular
Ethernet First Mile (EFM)'s growing popularity is down to two key main factors: it's often quicker to install than most fibre leased lines and it's affordable.
It's used to provide UK businesses with symmetric dedicated leased lines that offer up to 35Mbit/s of bandwidth.
Our EFM pricing tool can check how much it would cost you to get an Ethernet First Mile (EFM) connection. If EFM isn't your best option (e.g. if it's more expensive than alternatives), our tool will give you the price for that better option instead.
Bye Bye SDSL, Hello EFM
EFM offers higher bandwidth than a typical SDSL connection
You're probably aware of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), a technology that provides most homes with a connection that offers a fast download speed and a slow upload speed.
Well, there's a symmetric version of it called SDSL that offers connections that have matching upload and download speeds.
Most telephone exchanges don't have the equipment installed that's required to provide SDSL services. For example, the UK's main wholesale provider of DSL services has ADSL equipment in 5500 telephone exchanges, and SDSL in a mere 900. In contrast, it can provide us with EFM circuits in over 1000 exchanges.
But greater availability isn't the main reason why Ethernet First Mile will eclipse SDSL. The main reason is the difference in speed...
Ethernet First Mile offers speeds of up to 35Mbit/s
Even if you COULD get a dedicated SDSL connection, you'd probably be too far away from your local telephone exchange to be able to get anything more than 2Mbit/s.
Ethernet First Mile offers speeds of up to 35Mbit/s. While a standard SDSL connection uses just one phone line, a copper EFM connection can use several of them in parallel, boosting the maximum speed available.
Ethernet First Mile can use Copper OR Fibre
EFM can be used on copper circuits (that's phone lines to you and me) or on fibre circuits.
All else being equal, Fibre is preferable to Copper. This is because Copper circuits are affected by electrical interference. While most of these errors can be detected and corrected, this requires signal processing which slightly increases latency - the delay in sending or receiving data.
Fibre circuits can also support higher speeds than Copper circuits. For example, it's not uncommon to see Fibre circuits that connect at rates of 100Mbit/s, 1Gbit/s or even 10Gbit/s.
However, copper EFM circuits usually have quicker installation times than fibre circuits. So if you've left it a bit late to order your leased line, a copper EFM circuit may just save your bacon.
To find out how much an EFM or fibre leased line circuit is likely to cost you, visit our ethernet first mile price checker.
