Final answer:
An organization can lease a dedicated line for exclusive use or a virtual circuit for shared use. A dedicated line provides consistent quality and bandwidth while a virtual circuit simulates these qualities. Virtual circuits can be Permanent (PVC) for continuous use or Switched (SVC) for temporary connections.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organization can lease a dedicated line that is not shared with other users, or a virtual circuit that can be physically configured over shared lines in the carrier's cloud. In the context of networking, a dedicated line is a type of telecommunications line that provides a direct connection between two points, which is typically used for data services and is dedicated for the use of one particular customer, thus ensuring consistent quality and bandwidth. Conversely, a virtual circuit, which can either be a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) or a Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC), is used in a shared network infrastructure to simulate the qualities of a dedicated line while utilizing a physical network that services multiple customers.
A Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) is a virtual circuit that is established for continuous use between two end-points, providing a consistent connection without the need for re-establishing the link. On the other hand, a Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) is a temporary virtual circuit that is established and maintained only as long as data is being transmitted and is subsequently terminated. In practice, the choice between dedicated lines and virtual circuits often comes down to the balance between cost, usage needs, and performance requirements