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Private WAN - FAQ

Speakeasy's Private WAN offers a superior alternative to legacy Frame Relay solutions where network congestion can lead to delays and reliable data delivery.

Check here to view all questions and answers.

  • What is Private WAN?
    Speakeasy Private WAN offers private point-to-point connections that deliver secure inter-office connectivity - a business' remote offices and workers are seamlessly connected as if in the same physical office.
  • How does Private WAN work?
    The technology works by taking two or more DSL and/or T1 circuits, and creating a Layer 2 "bridge" between them. This allows servers and hosts to talk to each other in a highly secure fashion, just like running an Ethernet feed between offices instead of between desks. There is no need to encrypt data sent between the sites since it never touches the public Internet.
  • How will Private WAN benefit my company?
    When compared with dated frame-relay technology, Private WAN delivers businesses a cost-effective Layer 2 security solution, secure, reliable connections and simplified security management over Speakeasy's private nationwide network.
    • Highly cost-effective second layer security solution - flat monthly fee with no bursting costs and no additional hardware to purchase
    • Simplified security management - no ongoing management and adding additional sites is a simple phone call to Speakeasy
    • Private, reliable connections - data travels over Speakeasy's private, multi-redundant nationwide network
  • What guarantees are there?
    • Uptime - Customers get Speakeasy uptime guarantees associated with the Speakeasy circuits in their private network
    • Same MTTR (mean time to repair) as noted in your Speakeasy Service Level Agreement.
    • Bandwidth - Same bandwidth guarantees as noted on your Speakeasy circuit Service Level Agreement.
  • What equipment do I need?
    No additional hardware is required above your existing Speakeasy hardware. However, switches or Ethernet routers are highly recommended, to reduce potential traffic congestion that can occur with standard Ethernet hubs.
  • Can I use my existing hardware?
    Yes, your existing Speakeasy hardware is used.
  • Where is this service available?
    Speakeasy Private WAN is available nationwide over Speakeasy DSL and T1 connections. Speakeasy is available in 120 markets across the US.
  • What type of support do I get?
    Our highly-trained, Seattle-based customer support team answers calls every hour of every day, usually within two minutes. Speakeasy supports customers with a real live human being who works with you from first contact to resolution. Our highly committed team can handle any questions or concerns, from your service to your bill.
  • What happens if my router goes down? Will someone come out to fix it?
    Provided your hardware is under warranty we will amend the problem. If you have a T1, IDSL, or SDSL circuit, we send a technician to your site to replace it. If you have a NetAdvantage OneLink circuit, we will overnight you a new one.
  • Are there bursting fees?
    No, with Speakeasy's Private WAN we don't charge bursting fees or additional mileage fees - your monthly fee is consistent and predictable.
  • Why is this cheaper than Frame Relay solutions?
    Speakeasy service runs over our private nationwide network. This means we don't answer to the traditional phone companies and their costs associated with crossing city and state line boundaries (LATAs), passing this savings to our customers. You save 30% over frame relay. Our "all you can use" traffic policy ensures that we won't charge you for bursting fees. Also, we don't charge for costly set-up and hardware.
  • How secure is Speakeasy Private WAN?
    Traffic on your Speakeasy Private WAN never touches the public Internet; it offers true, Layer 2 security.
  • What is Layer 2 security?
    There are seven layers of security according to the OSI Reference Model. Layer 1 is the physical layer. The physical layer includes your cables, connectors, network interface cards, and other hardware devices. The physical layer is responsible for various encoding and signaling functions that transform data that resides within a computer into signals that can be sent over the network, it also decodes this data when it is received from the network.

    Layer 2 security is the Data-Link layer of security. This level handles the moving of data across the physical links in a network. Layer 2 ensures that the connection has been set up, divides output data into frames, and handles the acknowledgements from a receiver that the data arrived successfully.
  • Can I put Voice or VoIP over Private WAN?
    No, you cannot use your private network for voice traffic, because we cannot guarantee quality of service (QoS) on a private network.
  • What kind of applications can we run on Private WAN?
    This service will allow you to use most applications. However, it is important that you understand the amount of bandwidth that you have in a shared environment and work with your Speakeasy Sales Engineer to ensure that your application needs will be met.
  • Can I access the Internet with Private WAN?
    Yes, this can be accomplished by having a separate line for Internet connectivity in your main office that all sites use to access the Internet or by having separate lines in each location to access the Internet.
  • How do I buy Private WAN?
    If Internet access is required at each of your sites, you have the following options:

    • Buy a connection for each location, and an additional connection in one office that all sites use to access the Internet and private network together.
    • Buy 2 connections for each location, 1 dedicated to the WAN and 1 dedicated to the Internet.
  • What is the installation timeline?
    For existing customers who already have Speakeasy connectivity, we can build your Private WAN very quickly - generally within 24-48 hours after your place your order. For new customers, your Private WAN can be built as soon as your circuits are installed.