IPLC vs MPLS: Which Private Connectivity Is Right for You?
IPLC and MPLS both give you private, predictable connectivity instead of the public internet, but they solve different problems. An IPLC is a dedicated pipe between two points. MPLS is a private network connecting many points. This guide explains how each works, compares them side by side, and shows when to use one, the other, or both.
What is an IPLC?
An International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) is a dedicated, point-to-point private line between two locations in different countries. The full capacity is reserved for you end to end, typically delivered over subsea and terrestrial fibre systems and handed off as Ethernet or SDH.
Because the circuit is yours alone, performance doesn't change with other customers' traffic. It's also protocol-agnostic: it carries whatever you put on it, whether IP, Ethernet, voice or storage replication, transparently and at a consistent latency.
Strengths: reserved capacity, very consistent latency and jitter, strong security through physical and logical isolation, and full control over what runs across the link.
Limitations: it connects only two sites, adding sites means adding circuits, and it's usually the highest-cost option per link.
What is MPLS?
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a carrier-managed private network that connects many sites in an any-to-any topology. Traffic is tagged with labels and forwarded along engineered paths, with Quality of Service classes that prioritise real-time and critical applications.
Strengths: any-to-any connectivity between many sites, QoS for different traffic types, a single managed network, and easy addition of new sites.
Limitations: capacity is delivered over a shared carrier core, managed through classes of service rather than reserved end to end. The carrier also controls routing inside the network.
IPLC vs MPLS at a glance
| Factor | IPLC | MPLS |
|---|---|---|
| Topology | Point-to-point (two fixed sites) | Any-to-any (many sites) |
| Capacity | Dedicated and reserved end to end (64 Kbps to 10 Gbps) | Carrier MPLS core with class-of-service guarantees |
| Protocols | Protocol-agnostic and transparent | IP-based with QoS classes |
| Latency | Fixed, lowest possible on the route | Low and predictable, per QoS class |
| Security | Physically and logically isolated | Private VPN separated from other customers |
| Scaling | Add a circuit per link | Add sites to the existing network |
| Management | You control the traffic on the link | Carrier manages routing in the core |
| Cost profile | Higher per link; efficient for high bandwidth between two sites | Efficient for many sites with moderate bandwidth |
| Best for | High-security, high-capacity fixed international links | Multi-site networks needing prioritised any-to-any routing |
Typical uses for an IPLC
- Data centre to disaster-recovery replication between countries, where reserved bandwidth and consistent latency are essential.
- Head office to a key international office carrying voice, video and core applications.
- Carrier and ISP backbone links between points of presence (see connectivity for ISPs and carriers).
- Financial and trading links, where every millisecond is engineered (see banking and financial services).
Typical uses for MPLS
- Regional branch networks where every site needs to reach every other site.
- Distributed enterprises that want one managed private WAN with QoS for voice and ERP.
- Networks that grow, where new offices must join quickly without a new circuit to every existing site.
Using IPLC and MPLS together
Many organisations use both. IPLCs link the two or three most important locations, usually the data centres, with reserved capacity. MPLS, often combined with SD-WAN, connects the wider branch network to those hubs. This puts the highest-performance, highest-cost service only where it's needed.
How to choose
Choose an IPLC for a dedicated, private link between two locations, such as data centres or head offices in different countries, where security, reserved capacity and consistent latency matter most.
Choose MPLS when you need to connect many sites with prioritised, any-to-any traffic and centrally managed performance.
Consider SD-WAN as well if cloud access and cost are priorities. Our MPLS vs SD-WAN guide compares them.
How Delta Communications helps
As a vendor-neutral provider, Delta delivers both over reliable, top-tier carrier backbones, with a 99.9% uptime SLA, 24/7 NOC support and a single point of contact. You get the right private connectivity for each part of your network. Explore IPLC and MPLS & Ethernet Private Line.
Frequently asked questions
What does IPLC stand for?
International Private Leased Circuit: a dedicated point-to-point line between two countries.
Is an IPLC more secure than MPLS?
Both are private and don't cross the public internet. An IPLC adds physical and logical isolation, because the circuit carries only your traffic end to end.
What bandwidths are available on an IPLC?
We deliver IPLCs from 64 Kbps to 10 Gbps. Availability of each capacity depends on the route, and we confirm it when quoting.
Can I add sites to an IPLC?
Not directly. Each IPLC links two points. To connect more sites, add circuits or combine IPLC with MPLS or SD-WAN.
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