Business broadband or a leased line?
Both bring fibre to your premises. The difference is whether the capacity is shared or yours alone, how fast you can upload, how quickly faults are fixed and how long it takes to install. Here is an honest comparison to help you choose.
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Business broadbandQuick to install and good value for most offices, shops and practices.
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Leased lineA dedicated line with the same speed both ways and fix targets in your contract.
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We check bothWe look at what your premises can get, then recommend the best fit.
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Honest adviceIf business broadband will do the job, we will tell you.
What you get, and what to weigh up
Neither is better for every business. Each has real strengths and real trade offs.
- Usually quicker to install, where full fibre reaches you
- Good value: a lower monthly price than a leased line
- Speeds up to 8Gbps, depending on your address
- A router we set up before you go live, or use your own
- Contracts from 12 months
- Shared capacity, so speeds are estimates and can dip at busy times
- Usually uploads more slowly than it downloads
- Faults are fixed to the standard repair target in your Contract Summary, without leased line fix targets and service credits
- Dedicated and uncontended: not shared with neighbours
- Symmetrical: upload as fast as you download
- Fix target of 5 hours on Openreach, 6 hours on CityFibre, 5 hours on Virgin Media Business or 8 hours on Colt for a complete outage, 24/7
- Service credits if a fix target is missed
- Takes longer to install: each site is surveyed and built
- Extra construction charges are possible; you choose whether to go ahead
- A higher monthly price than business broadband
- 36 months only, and only where its network reaches your premises
- Only where the network can provide it at your address: we show its price with your leased line prices, or quote for your premises
About Ethernet Flex Check prices at your address Request a quote
- Peak rate
- Up to 1Gbps
- Normally available at peak time (8pm to 10pm)
- 200Mbps
- Committed rate
- 200Mbps
- Minimum guaranteed speed
- 170Mbps
The same for upload and download, measured at the network equipment at your premises.
Prices are per month excluding VAT, subject to availability and, for leased lines, survey. Your exact price is shown when you check your address. A fix target is a commitment to restore your line within that time or pay a credit, not a promise that faults will never happen: see our leased line service levels.
Business broadband, Ethernet Flex and leased lines compared
| Feature | Business broadband | Ethernet Flex | Leased line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Shared with other users | Shared, with a committed rate for your connection | Dedicated to your business |
| Upload and download | Usually more download than upload | The same in both directions | The same in both directions |
| Speed | Estimated, can vary at busy times | A minimum guaranteed speed; above the committed rate depends on how busy the network is, with 200Mbps normally available at peak time on Ethernet Flex 1Gbps Burst, 200mb (up to 1Gbps) | Consistent, as contracted |
| Fault fixing | Standard repair target, set out in your Contract Summary | 5 hour fix target, 24/7, with service credits | Fix target of 5 hours on Openreach, 6 hours on CityFibre, 5 hours on Virgin Media Business or 8 hours on Colt for a complete outage, 24/7, with service credits |
| Installation | Usually quicker, where available | Free; a survey only where the network needs one | Site survey and build, so it takes longer. Your Order Summary gives the typical lead time |
| Extra charges | Any installation charge shown before you order | Possible extra construction charges if a survey finds work is needed, which you can accept or decline | Possible extra construction charges after the survey, which you can accept or decline |
| Monthly price | From £35 ex VAT | Shown with your leased line prices where available, ex VAT | Higher, quoted for your site |
| Contract length | From 12 months | 36 months only | 12, 36 or 60 months |
Match the connection to how your business works
Think about how many people are online at once, what they do, and what an outage would cost you.
| Your business | Business broadband suits you if | Consider a leased line if |
|---|---|---|
| People online | A small team, or a few people online at the same time | A larger team, all working online at once |
| Cloud apps and video calls | Email, web, cloud apps, card payments and everyday video calls | Hosted desktops or line of business software in the cloud, and many video calls at once |
| Uploads | Mostly downloading, with occasional uploads | Large files, backups, video or drawings sent out every day |
| Phone system | A few phones or a business phone line | Many calls at the same time that must stay clear |
| Sites | One site | Several sites that need a dependable link between them |
| Downtime | A slowdown or short outage would be an inconvenience | Downtime costs you money, so you want committed fix targets and credits |
| Timescale and budget | You want to be connected sooner, at a lower monthly cost | You can plan ahead for a survey and build, and the connection justifies the cost |
Most of your answers are in the middle column. It does everything most small and medium sized businesses need, it is quicker to install, and it costs less each month.
About business broadbandSeveral answers are in the right hand column, especially uploads, several sites or the cost of downtime. Plan ahead for the survey and installation.
About leased linesStill not sure? Call us on 0191 543 3564 and we will talk it through. Read our full comparison guide.
See what your premises can get
Enter your business postcode for either. Both show our prices for your address straight away.
Check business broadband
See the packages, speeds and prices at your premises, with any installation charge, before you order.
Get a leased line quote
We check the networks at your address and show our leased line prices in about a minute.
Several sites, or need something specific? Ask us for a quote.
Good to know
Anything else? Call us on 0191 543 3564.
Is a leased line always faster than business broadband?
Not always on paper. The difference is that a leased line gives you its full speed in both directions, all the time, while business broadband shares capacity with other users and usually uploads more slowly than it downloads.
What is Ethernet Flex?
Ethernet Flex sits between the two. It is shared fibre access with a committed rate for your connection and the same speed for upload and download, with a fix target and service credits. Because the capacity is shared, speeds above the committed rate are not guaranteed. It is for businesses only and has one fixed minimum term. Where it is available at your address, you see its price with your leased line prices: see our Ethernet Flex page.
Why does a leased line take longer to install?
Each leased line is built for your site. The network surveys your premises and may need to lay new cabling or ducts before it can go live. Your Order Summary gives the typical lead time for your site.
What are extra construction charges?
If the survey finds that extra building work is needed to reach your premises, the network may charge for it. We tell you the amount and you choose whether to go ahead before that work is done.
What about our phones?
Phone calls over the internet work on either connection. With business broadband you can add one business phone line when you order and keep your number. For a team that needs several numbers or phones, our sister brand Virtual Voice Office builds business phone systems.
Can we start on business broadband and move to a leased line later?
Yes. If you end your broadband during its minimum term an early termination charge applies, so tell us your plans and we will help you time the move.
Are your prices ex VAT?
Yes. Business broadband and leased line prices are shown per month excluding VAT. VAT is added at the current rate.