Updated November 2026
The short version
- Shared broadband splits capacity among nearby users; dedicated internet reserves it for your business.
- Dedicated connections are typically symmetrical, so uploads are as fast as downloads.
- DIA usually comes with an SLA that sets out availability commitments.
How dedicated internet access works
With a standard broadband connection, you share capacity with other customers in your area, so speeds can drop when everyone is online. A dedicated connection reserves capacity for your business alone, so performance stays consistent at the busiest times of day.
DIA is often delivered over fiber, but fiber and dedicated are not the same thing: fiber describes the physical line, and dedicated describes whether the capacity is shared. 5x5 offers business internet access, dedicated internet access and dedicated fiber, plus fixed wireless with built-in redundancy and the same SLA as our fiber service.
Dedicated internet vs broadband
- Capacity
- Shared broadband: Shared with nearby users
- Dedicated internet: Reserved for your business
- Speeds at busy times
- Shared broadband: Can slow when the network is busy
- Dedicated internet: Consistent
- Upload vs download
- Shared broadband: Upload often slower than download
- Dedicated internet: Typically symmetrical
- Service commitments
- Shared broadband: Usually no performance guarantees
- Dedicated internet: Typically backed by an SLA
- Good fit for
- Shared broadband: Light use or a secondary connection
- Dedicated internet: Cloud apps, video calls, VoIP and large files
Does your business need dedicated internet?
Broadband may be enough if
- Only a few people use the connection
- Work is mostly email and web browsing
- Slowdowns at busy times are an annoyance, not a cost
- You need a secondary connection
Dedicated internet is worth it if
- Your team works in cloud apps all day
- You rely on VoIP calls and video meetings
- You upload large files or back up to the cloud
- Downtime costs you sales or productivity
How much bandwidth do you need?
Bandwidth requirements depend on three things: the type of work you do, where your files are stored, and how many people use the connection. If you work in the cloud or handle large files, you need more.
Most 5x5 customers choose symmetrical connections from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. These are common choices, not the fastest available. Tell us how your team works and we will recommend a connection.
What an SLA covers
An SLA (service level agreement) sets out what your provider commits to, such as network availability, and what happens if it falls short, such as service credits. For SLA-backed services, 5x5 commits to at least 99.999% network availability, subject to the SLA.
The SLA explains the covered services, measurement methods, exclusions, and available service credits, so read it before you compare providers on uptime alone.
Plan for a second connection
Even a dedicated line can be damaged, for example by construction nearby. A second connection with automatic failover keeps you online if one has a problem.
5x5 fixed wireless is a primary enterprise internet option with built-in redundancy and the same SLA as our fiber service, and it can also provide an additional connection. 5G and 4G LTE are available for primary, backup or temporary connectivity, and SD-WAN can route traffic across the connections you have.
How 5x5 Telecom can help
5x5 Telecom delivers enterprise dedicated internet access for offices and buildings, with service options matched to your bandwidth, performance and business needs. From contract to installation, our standard install takes days, not weeks or months, and we do not charge extra for it.
You get local service where you are, and our 24/7 US-based support team answers every ticket within 60 minutes. Add managed services, cybersecurity and voice from the same provider, with one support team accountable for all of it.