The Ultimate Guide to Business Leased Lines

If you're looking for a quicker, more reliable internet connection for your company, you might have heard business leased lines recommended. But what exactly are they, and are they the right choice for your business?

This guide will explain everything you need to know, including the pros and cons of the solution.

What Is a Business Leased Line and How Does It Work?

Simply put, a business leased line is a dedicated internet connection for your company. Think of it like a chauffeur-driven car for your data, where standard business broadband is a busy rush-hour bus. Instead of competing with other businesses in your building or local area, a leased line is exclusively yours.

This private connection runs from your business premises all the way to your provider's network. This direct setup is crucial because it ensures your bandwidth is never shared with anyone else, guaranteeing that you always get the exact speed you're paying for.

Leased lines use the same fibre optic technology as most modern broadband solutions, sending data as pulses of light along an underground fibre cable. The key difference is that with a leased line, your company has its own physical line. This private cable bypasses the local roadside cabinets that often create bottlenecks for shared broadband services.

Leased Line Advantages and Disadvantages

Choosing a business leased line is a big decision, so it's important to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks carefully.

Leased Line Advantages

• Guaranteed Performance: With a leased line, the speeds are symmetrical, meaning your upload and download speeds are the same. This is important to modern, digital businesses that rely on cloud services and video conferencing.

• Superior Reliability: Because the line is dedicated to your business, it's incredibly reliable and free from peak-time drop-offs that plague shared networks.

• Enhanced Security: A private connection is less vulnerable to cyber threats than a shared one, making it easier to protect sensitive data.

• Low Latency: Leased lines have very low latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another.

• Scalability: As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your leased line speed without any major infrastructure work.

Leased Line Disadvantages

• Higher Cost: Leased lines are a premium service and are considerably more expensive than standard broadband.

• Installation Time: Because a dedicated line needs to be physically installed from the exchange to your premises, the installation process can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days. This could be longer in rural areas where new trenches may need to be dug.

The Leased Line Installation Process

The prospect of installing a dedicated line can be daunting, but providers typically manage the infrastructure work from start to finish to make the process as smooth as possible.

The process begins with a site survey. A provider will first check your postcode to see what infrastructure is already in place, before scheduling a visit to assess the work needed to connect your business to the network.

Once you and the provider have agreed on a plan and quote, they will place the order and begin the civil works planning. This often involves obtaining permission from the local council or private landlords if necessary.

After the planning is complete, engineers will install the fibre cable, bringing it into your building to a termination point. They will install all the necessary equipment and perform final checks to ensure everything is working as expected.

Finally, the internet connection is activated, and you're ready to go. Most providers will have a technical support team on hand to help you get your network up and running smoothly.

Who is a Leased Line For?

While any modern business would benefit from the speed and reliability of a leased line, they are particularly valuable to companies that are highly dependent on fast, stable internet.

Businesses that rely on cloud services, for instance, need speedy uploads and downloads. Companies that use VoIP phone systems can also greatly benefit from a leased line, as it provides the low latency required for clear, uninterrupted voice calls.

Leased Line vs Standard Full Fibre Broadband

It's not hard to get confused by the different types of internet connections on the market for UK businesses.

A leased line provides guaranteed symmetrical speeds and a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for uptime and bug fixes. Standard broadband, on the other hand, offers variable speeds and typically has no guarantees, as your connection quality depends on how many other people are using the shared network at the same time.

Within leased lines, there are a few options, including:

• Dedicated Internet Access (DIA): A premium, dedicated full-fibre leased line.

• Ethernet over FTTP (EoFTTP): A full-fibre connection that uses an existing fibre network.

• Ethernet over FTTC (EoFTTC): An affordable alternative that uses a combination of fibre and copper.

Business Leased Line FAQs

How fast can a leased line be?

There’s a broad range. Leased lines offer speeds from 10 Mbps all the way up to 10 Gbps and beyond, with the potential for further upgrades in the future.

Is a leased line worth it for a small business?

If your small business is highly dependent on a fast, stable internet connection for its core operations, the benefits of a leased line can make it extremely valuable.

However, a business leased line is a significant investment, so depending on your budget, high-speed broadband might be a more realistic option.

If you're on the fence, the best next step is to get a free, no-obligation consultation from a provider. They can help you understand your options and find a good fit for your business needs and budget.