Solid Select vs Solid Unlimited: Which Managed IT Plan Is Right for You?
What every Managed IT plan includes, how Solid Select and Solid Unlimited differ, and how to choose.
Read the guide →Contention ratio in short
A contention ratio is how many customers share the same internet bandwidth. A 1:10 line shares its capacity with up to 10 others, so it slows down when they are busy; a 1:1 line is yours alone. The lower the ratio, the steadier and faster your connection, and the more it costs.
What is a contention ratio?
The Internet highway is a busy place with high demand on data transfer. We ensure you get a good share of the bandwidth for your business operation; in other words, good Internet speed.
Contention ratio is the amount (or ratio) of an Internet service provider’s bandwidth that is shared between clients. A contention ratio of 1:10 means that you share available bandwidth with 10 others, so at the busiest times your speed can drop to about a tenth of your line speed.
The best contention ratio is a 1:1 (a low ratio).
How does contention affect your internet speed?
A low contention ratio means that more bandwidth is available to you on the network at any time. The lower the contention, the more expensive the service.
On a contended line, everyone sharing the capacity rarely uses it all at once, so most of the time you get close to the speed you pay for. But when the other customers are busy, often first thing in the morning or in the early evening, your speed drops. You notice it as slow downloads, choppy Microsoft Teams and VoIP calls, and cloud apps that hang.
Contention ratios compared
| Contention ratio | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 (uncontended) | The full bandwidth is yours, all the time | Businesses that run on the cloud, video calls and VoIP |
| 1:5 to 1:10 | Shared with a few others; small slowdowns at peak times | Small offices with moderate use |
| 1:20 and higher | Shared with many others; noticeable slowdowns at peak times | Light use, or as a backup line |
| “Best effort” | No published ratio and no guaranteed speed (typical of home fibre and LTE) | Homes and very small offices |
Which contention ratio does your business need?
Look at how your people work. If they live in cloud services and Microsoft 365, spend the day on Teams calls or use VoIP phones, a low-contention or uncontended line pays for itself in time saved. Count how many people are online at once, add a backup connection so a fault doesn’t stop the business, and check the provider’s service level agreement for uptime and fault response. If you’d rather not manage the line yourself, our business internet and IT support covers it.
Speak to us about contention ratio options
Frequently asked questions
What is a contention ratio?
A contention ratio is the number of customers who share the same bandwidth on an internet service provider’s network. A 1:10 ratio means up to 10 customers share the capacity of your line; a 1:1 ratio means the bandwidth is yours alone.
What is a good contention ratio for a business?
The lower the better. A 1:1 (uncontended) line gives you the full speed you pay for at all times, which suits businesses that rely on the cloud, Microsoft Teams calls and VoIP. Small offices with light use can manage on a higher ratio, ideally with a backup line.
Why is my internet slow at certain times of day?
On a contended line, speed drops when the other customers sharing your bandwidth are busy too, often in the mornings and early evenings. If the slowdown follows a daily pattern, contention is a likely cause.
Is a 1:1 line the same as a dedicated line?
Usually, yes. Uncontended or dedicated business lines guarantee the full bandwidth, often with a service level agreement on uptime and fault response. Home fibre and LTE services are typically “best effort”, with no guaranteed speed.