Telecom
Things to Consider Before Choosing an IP VPN Service Provider
You want secure networks for your organization. Currently, you’re using VPNs. But you’ve been told that IP VPNs are an even better option, as they offer extra protection against security risks.
Now you’re wondering whether you should transit to IP VPN or stick with what you currently use. Maybe you don’t know much about the new option, and you’re not conversant with your existing solution either. What’s the superior alternative? What should you go with?
This article is a guide to answering these questions.
Let’s begin by explaining some of the terms involved.
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that is given to every device that connects to the internet. It’s like a ‘name’ or means of identification for each device; no two devices bear the same number.
Besides identifying the device (and, by extension, its user), it also indicates the location of the user and their device. For instance, you can tell what country a person is in through their IP address.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a network setup that lets its users connect to their organizations’ internal network remotely via the public internet. It makes it possible for employees to access their company’s shared files from locations outside its physical offices.
An IP VPN functions in a similar way to a regular VPN. But there’s at least one difference: IP VPN connects to internal networks via private gateways, rather than the public internet.
How IP VPN Works
IP VPN utilizes something called Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to allow the user to get to their organization’s intranet while avoiding the public internet.
The MPLS sorts the bits of data passing through the World Wide Web into appropriate groups—video, voice, or images for instance. It also speeds up the transmission of these data to their destination.
Why Choose an IP VPN Instead of a VPN?
An IP VPN can help you expand your bandwidth and increase uptimes for your applications. It’s not as susceptible to DoS (Denial of Service) attacks as a regular VPN. Because it functions away from the public internet, it’s not vulnerable to many of the threats that come through the broader web.
What to Consider Before Choosing an IP VPN Provider
Many firms offer IP VPN as a product. But they won’t all give you the same quality of service. That’s why you need to know what to look out for when prospecting for a service provider in this area.
Here are some things you should consider.
- Security
This is one reason why you want to get an IP VPN in the first place, so you should be sure that your vendor’s offering will guarantee it. If you find that the details related to this are too technical, you should ask your IT team to look at what’s being offered. They may spot defective aspects of the product, or give it an all-clear, depending on the results of their assessment.
- Speed
Your IP VPN should give you the advantage of a higher speed connection, compared to the public internet. Several factors will affect the speed of your network, including some localized to your organization or location. But it may be a function of the quality that a vendor can provide. So you should consider the reputation of various vendors in this area before deciding which one you will go with.
- User Friendliness
Can you use the service without much help? Or is it so complex that you require a technician to help you with it?
Your IP VPN should give you good user experience. The fact that it’s somewhat advanced technology isn’t an excuse for complexity. If you can’t navigate it yourself after a few tries, it’s probably not worth your while.
- Access
This service lets you connect all your business locations to your organization’s internal files and other resources. A high-grade IP VPN should enable you to achieve quick access to your business’s intranet regardless of where you are.
- Price
It’s important to compare prices too, where you can. Look for an IP VPN provider that gives the best balance of price and quality that matches your needs. On one hand, unusually low prices may indicate less than optimal product quality. But there may be a less expensive option than the pricey IP VPN services that are just as effective.
- Support
What happens if you run into some difficulty while using an IP VPN? Is the service provider always available to take on your requests for help?
Support is an important part of any IT vendor’s package. They should have resources that cover the issues you are most likely to encounter while using their service. You should also be able to speak with their agents when this is the more helpful thing to do.
Should You Choose a VPN or IP VPN?
You can settle with a regular VPN if:
- You are a small business with little need for the sort of expanded bandwidth that IP VPN gives.
- You don’t have a lot of staff working remotely.
- There’s no significant IT security threat.
Consider using an IP VPN if you meet these criteria:
- You are a medium or large scale business that has to deal with a lot of traffic on your networks.
- A lot of your employees work remotely.
- There’s a potential but significant IT security threat to your organization.
Final Words
There’s a lot that Virtual Private Networks can do for your company. With IP VPNs you can achieve even more. Whether it’s securing your banking details or raising the efficiency of your VoIP systems, this technology can make your operations much easier and more secure.
When you weigh up your options for an IP VPN service provider, you’ll certainly prefer one that’s been around for a while. You will also want them to know the peculiarities of the environment you work in.
That’s what you get with Layer3. For over 14 years, we have helped organizations in the public and private sectors with IT solutions they need to function optimally. We bring this experience to bear in our delivery of IP VPN services. Our team can deploy one that suits your specific needs, and provide expert management and support along with it.
If you would like to find out more about our access solutions, you can contact us here.
Telecommunication companies have threatened to withdraw their Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD), services from banks over what they called misinformation.
MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile- the telcos disclosed that the banks’ notice to their customers on the new billing system and airtime deductions for USSD services was misleading.
Also, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) also denied that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
USSD is done via shortcodes on mobile phones and allows bank customers to make transactions in places with limited or no internet service.
Recall that banks earlier this week claimed that NCC has directed them to begin charging them from their airtime rather than from customers’ accounts.
The notice from the banks read in part: “In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), please be informed that effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account.
“Going forward, these charges will be deducted directly from your mobile airtime balance in accordance with the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model.
“Under this new billing structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ?6.98 per 120 seconds, which will be billed by your mobile network operator.
“You will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session, and airtime will only be deducted upon your confirmation and availability of the bank to fulfil this service.
“If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel.”
Reacting, ALTON, umbrella body of telecom operators in Nigeria, said the banks’ notice is a gross misinformation deliberately hatched to suit their selfish interests.
Hence they threatened to withdraw network support to the banks’ USSD services.
Engr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON told Vanguard: ” I don’t understand why the banks are twisting agreements and distorting information just to favour their selfish interests. In the first place, the information wasn’t a directive from the NCC but a joint regulatory agreement between the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN witnessed by the telcos and the banks. The agreement was that if the banks finally cleared all USSD debts owed to the telcos by June 2, 2025, they are free to migrate to the end-user billing method, so long as the model of migration is transparent and agreed upon by the telcos.
“The reason for that clause was because the telcos insisted that the process of migration is such that will not allow a customer to be billed twice; in other words, that a subscriber would not have his airtime deducted and also have his or her money deducted for same services from his or her bank account.
” As we speak, some of the banks have cleared their debts, but the majority are yet to do so. So, even if all the modalities of migrating to end-user billing have been perfectly carried out, the implementation cannot even begin because the banks are yet to clear the USSD debt owed to the telcos.
“Our position now is that if that is the way the banks want to treat the agreement, we may withdraw support for their USSD services. It is not a must-have. They can do without it. But, they should clear the debts as agreed,” he added.
MTN Nigeria has announced plans to embark on a massive capital expenditure (CAPEX) drive in 2025, committing nearly N900 billion to significantly enhance network service quality across Nigeria.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria,
The substantial investment, more than double the combined CAPEX of approximately N440 billion spent in 2023 and 2024, underscored MTN’s aggressive strategy to address persistent service quality issues and meet growing customer and regulatory expectations.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria, detailed this unprecedented financial commitment during a recent interview on Arise TV, emphasizing that improving service quality is the company’s paramount message for the year.
He highlighted a clear understanding and expectation from both the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and security agencies for improved network quality.
A primary focus of this increased CAPEX will be on putting additional capacity in a city like Lagos, particularly in Abuja, where you have a lot of buildings coming up, you need additional sites because there are coverage issues.
Beyond these critical urban centers, the investment aims to bolster network resilience and ensure power stability for its infrastructure nationwide.
This includes proactively addressing site outages by ensuring timely payment for operational necessities such as diesel for generators, a persistent challenge in the Nigerian operating environment.
Toriola outlined a comprehensive upgrade process, which involves placing orders formally, opening letters of credit, and then the equipment gets shipped in and installed.
He added that MTN will be acquiring new sites and laying fiber to the base station to create better stability” where necessary.
While the immediate CAPEX is geared towards improving existing service quality and capacity, this investment aligns with MTN’s broader goals of enhancing financial inclusion in underserved rural areas, suggesting a long-term vision for network expansion and service improvement that extends beyond metropolitan areas.
Subscribers can anticipate tangible improvements in service quality, with a significant improvement in quality of service expected by the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2025, according to Toriola.
“This year is all going to be about capital expenditure on an aggressive basis to fix quality of service issues (and) meet both the regulators’ and the public’s expectations,” he affirmed, reiterating MTN’s steadfast focus on customer experience through substantial capital investment.
Telecom regulators and industry leaders from across the Middle East and Africa gathered in Cairo last week to chart a data-driven future for the region.
In a region where digital transformation is accelerating at unprecedented speed, connectivity intelligence firm, Ookla and Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) joined forces to organise the Telecommunications Regulatory Summit
Themed ‘Harnessing Data and Technology for Superior QoS’, the summit focused on how data, particularly crowdsourced insights, can transform regulatory strategies across the region.
The summit attracted stakeholders from over 30 countries, including delegates from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and World Broadband Association (WBBA), who engaged in high-level discussions on optimising network performance and accelerating digital inclusion.
Karim Yaici, lead industry analyst for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla, said the event set the tone for the growing value of data-driven decision-making.
“Access to and the use of crowdsourced data contribute to making more informed decisions, fostering transparency and ensuring that citizens in the MEA region benefit from high-quality, accessible and affordable connectivity,” he said.
The experts underlined that crowdsourced data is becoming a critical complement to traditional regulatory methods.
They agreed that it helps identify service gaps, prioritise infrastructure investments, and drive innovation.
With broadband speeds now closely tied to GDP growth and productivity, accurate performance data is seen as key to socio-economic advancement.
Dr. Hossam Abdel-Mawla, vice-president of technical affairs and quality of service at NTRA, stressed that the summit was pivotal in fostering regional collaboration.
“By actively sharing best practices and exploring innovative data-driven strategies, we are shaping a future where telecom regulations ensure digital inclusion and economic growth across the region,” he said.
In a key session, Ahmed Nabawy, director of client services at Ookla, presented findings on 5G performance in Egypt and Tunisia.
He demonstrated how Ookla’s unified data platform, powered by AI, enables operators to analyse 5G-capable device density and prioritise high-impact rollout areas.
The summit also explored the shift from conventional network quality metrics to more user-centric Quality of Experience models. These advanced analytics tools promise to enhance transparency, improve accountability, and ultimately deliver better connectivity experiences for all.
Telcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges
MTN Nigeria Plans N900Bn in Service Upgrade
NDIC Calls for Inputs to IADI Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance
Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”
DSO: STBMAN Accuses NBC of Contempt, Seeks Presidential Intervention
E-Business3 days agoNIMC Plans to Register 95 Percent Nigerians by December
News3 days agoJAMB Waxes Worriedly over Rising Digital Exam Fraud
Telecom3 days ago9mobile Nigeria Inks Agreement to Roam with MTN
Telecom3 days agoIHS Nigeria Moves to Enhance G4S Secure Solutions Site Patrols and Increase Operational Efficiency with Patrol Vehicles
E-Business2 days agoAXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era
Telecom3 days agoBanks, Telcos to Start Deducting USSD Charges from Airtime Today
- E-Financial2 days ago
UBA Compiles with NCC, to Deduct USSD from Customers’ Accounts
E-Business2 days agoNigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan