What Is Indirect Broadband (NEBA)?

Have you ever wondered how so many providers can offer high-speed broadband without digging up every street in town? The answer lies in indirect broadband.

What Is Indirect Broadband?

Indirect broadband, or NEBA (Nuevo Servicio Ethernet de Banda Ancha), is a model within the telecoms sector that allows providers to offer high-speed broadband without deploying their own infrastructure.

In simple terms, it works by leasing bandwidth from operators that do own a network.

You can think of the broadband network as a motorway. Providers with direct broadband own the motorway. Those offering indirect broadband pay to use those lanes so they can deliver their services to customers.

This model was introduced to encourage competition in the telecoms market. It enables more companies to provide broadband services without the need for major infrastructure investment.

If you’d like to understand the technical side in more detail, take a look at our blog article on what broadband is and how it works.

Advantages of NEBA Broadband

Indirect broadband offers several benefits for both providers and customers:

1. More competition:  By allowing more companies to offer broadband services, the market becomes more competitive. This often leads to better prices and improved offers for customers.
2. Faster coverage expansion: Providers can offer broadband in areas where they don’t have their own infrastructure, helping extend availability more quickly.
3. Lower upfront investment: For companies, it’s a way to enter the broadband market without the cost of building a full network from scratch.
4. Greater flexibility: Operators can adapt their services more easily in response to changing market demand.
5. Reliable performance: Even without owning the infrastructure, customers still benefit from high-speed broadband with stable, consistent connectivity.

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Direct vs Indirect Broadband: What’s the Difference?

At first glance, the service may feel the same. However, there are important differences between direct and indirect broadband.

1. Infrastructure ownership:
   • Direct broadband: The provider owns the entire network, from the exchange right through to your home.
   • Indirect broadband: The provider leases access to another operator’s network.
2. Service control:
   • Direct broadband: The operator has full control of the network and can implement improvements or resolve issues more quickly.
   • Indirect broadband: Control is more limited, as certain actions depend on the network owner.
3. Costs for the provider:
   • Direct broadband: Requires significant initial investment, though long-term operating costs are lower.
   • Indirect broadband: Lower upfront investment, but ongoing leasing costs apply.
4. Speeds available:
   • Direct broadband: Providers can usually offer higher speeds thanks to full network control.
   • Indirect broadband: Maximum speeds may be limited by agreements with the network owner.
5. Innovation:
   • Direct broadband: Greater freedom to introduce new technologies and services.
   • Indirect broadband: Dependent on innovations implemented by the infrastructure owner.

In practice, many of these differences are not always noticeable to customers. Both models can deliver high-quality broadband.

Can You Choose Between Direct and Indirect Broadband?

As a customer, you can’t directly choose whether your service is delivered via direct or indirect broadband. That decision sits with the provider. However, your choice of operator can influence it.

Here are a few tips to help you decide:

1. Research providers in your area and check which ones operate their own network.
2. Compare more than just price — look at speed, customer service and reviews.
3. Read the small print, as contract terms may give clues about the type of network used.
4. Ask directly whether the broadband in your area is delivered via their own infrastructure.
5. Consider your needs. If you require the highest available speeds or a more tailored service, direct broadband may suit you better.

You can also find out more about how to check whether broadband is already installed in your home.

Is Olin’s Broadband Direct or Indirect?

At Olin, we provide direct broadband. We own our network infrastructure, which gives us full control over the quality of the service we deliver.

By choosing direct broadband, we can:

1. Deliver high speeds: up to 1Gb symmetric broadband, with download and upload speeds that match. In several coverage areas, we even reach 10Gb
2. Ensure greater stability: full network control allows us to detect and resolve issues quickly.
3. Continuously improve our service: we implement the latest technologies across our network.
4. Provide efficient technical support: our engineers know the network inside out.
5. Adapt to your needs: we tailor solutions for both homes and businesses.

Nuestra apuesta por la fibra directa refleja nuestro compromiso con la calidad y la excelencia en el servicio. Creemos que al tener el control total de nuestra red, podemos ofrecerte la mejor experiencia de internet posible.

Our commitment to direct broadband reflects our focus on quality and service. By managing our own network, we can offer a reliable, high-performance connection you can trust.

If you’re considering switching to high-speed broadband, explore our broadband plans and see how Olin can improve your online experience with fast, stable connectivity.

At Olin, you’re not just getting an internet connection. You’re choosing dependable technology, built and managed by us.

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