The Small Business Guide to Broadband and Line Rental

If you run a small business in the UK, there’s a good chance you rely heavily on your internet connection. Whether you’re sending invoices, running an online shop, hosting virtual meetings, or just keeping up with your emails, broadband can make or break your day.

In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you: what broadband and line rental mean, what you’re paying for, and how you could save money by choosing a different type of business broadband connection.

What is Broadband and Line Rental?

Simply put, broadband is your internet connection. It’s what gets you online. Line rental, on the other hand, is the fee you pay to use the physical line - whether copper or fibre optic - that brings internet and phone service into your business premises. You effectively pay the maintenance cost for that infrastructure.

Depending on the type of broadband connection you have, line rental could be essential or unnecessary.

Types of Broadband and What They Mean for Line Rental

Here’s a quick overview of the most common types of broadband connections:

• FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet): This technology utilises a combination of fibre and copper wiring. You’ll likely incur a line rental fee here.

• FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) or Full Fibre: This is pure fibre all the way to your building - no copper and no line rental.

• Leased Line: A dedicated connection just for your business. More reliable, with no line rental because it doesn’t involve copper.

• Cable Broadband: Runs on a separate network, so no line rental required.

• Mobile or Satellite Broadband: Ideal for rural areas lacking sufficient infrastructure. These connections don’t rely on copper lines, so no line rental.

Why Am I Being Charged Line Rental?

If your provider still uses the UK’s old copper telephone network, chances are you’re paying line rental - even if you don’t use a landline.

That’s because Openreach owns the copper lines that run from those green roadside boxes to your workplace. If you’re using one of these lines for your internet, you’re footing part of the bill to maintain them.

How Line Rental Charges Have Changed

We used to see broadband and line rental listed as two separate charges on our bills. That changed in October 2016, when the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) mandated that providers must now disclose the total monthly price up front.

So, even if you don’t see line rental on your bill, you’re still paying for it if your broadband requires a copper line to function.

Looking for Broadband Deals Without a Landline?

Here’s the good news: you can get broadband without line rental. Options like FTTP internet, leased lines and satellite broadband all avoid those extra copper line costs.

Choosing broadband-only means:

• No line rental fees

• Often faster speeds

• You only pay for what you use

Of course, if you still need a landline, it might still be cheaper to go for a bundled package. However, you should consider that the 2027 digital switchover means the UK’s traditional phone lines will be decommissioned. As an alternative, it's worth looking into VoIP services, which use your internet connection instead of traditional copper lines and are better suited for the digital future.

The Pros and Cons of Going Broadband-Only

Benefits:

• Cut out unnecessary line rental charges

• More modern, faster technology

• A wider choice of providers

Drawbacks:

• No landline calls unless you use VoIP (web-based calling)

• If you still need a phone line, separate services might cost more

How to Switch to Broadband Without Line Rental

Switching doesn’t have to be a hassle. The process is similar to switching any supplier of an essential business service: find a deal, check availability in your area, and make the move.

If you don’t want to spend your day comparing providers and reading fine print, we can do the legwork for you. We’ll find a package that suits your company’s needs, with or without line rental, and help make the switch as stress-free as possible.

Business Broadband vs Residential Broadband

You may wonder why business broadband and home broadband are different products. Well, commercial packages often come with extras like:

• Faster speeds (and priority during peak times)

• Dedicated customer support representatives

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with guaranteed uptime

• Static IP addresses (useful for remote workers using a VPN)

Plus, if you opt for a leased line, you effectively have your own private connection.