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Free installation
where available
Free network
monitoring
Free support and
customer service
Guaranteed
uptime
Download/Upload
Speeds up to 10Gbps
Hosted & CPE managed
firewall options available
How we Compare Dedicated Leased Lines
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A leased line is a premium form of broadband. It provides your business with dedicated internet access (DIA), which means no more sharing a connection with your neighbours. If your business depends upon a reliable and high-speed internet connection, a leased line may be the best option.
With a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth data connection, your business can rely on high uptime levels and fast speeds. The term 'leased' simply refers to the broadband access, which is rented from the Internet Service Provider (ISP).
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Customer Service
Our knowledgeable UK-based customer service and technical support team are on hand to help.
24 Hours a Day Support
When you become a leased line customer, you'll receive 24/7 support as standard.
Guaranteed Uptime
Should a technical hitch occur, you'll receive a 1-day credit for every hour you're without service.
A leased line, also referred to as dedicated internet access, gives your business a direct connection between the local exchange and your premises. This type of internet connection has a fixed bandwidth, giving you identical upload and download speeds and helping to improve connectivity. In addition to this, you won't share your internet access with any other users. This means that the bandwidth your business relies upon will be allocated only to you, so you won't be hampered during peak times.
Leased lines also feature asymmetric speeds, meaning that your download and upload speeds are the same. Concurrently, you won't notice much of a difference between how long it takes to upload files compared to downloading them.
One of the key factors of renting is the reliability and Service Level Agreement (SLAs).
With a leased line, should your service not be available, you'll be up and running again within hours rather than days, minimising the impact on your working days.
We've chosen to work with an industry-leading partner who guarantees 100% uptime as part of your SLA. Should your connection go down for a period of time, 1 day of credit will be applied to your account for every hour you are without an internet connection.
Unlike a Leased Line connection, a Business Broadband connection has more in common with home broadband. This is because you share your connection to the local exchange with others. Your broadband is delivered from the local exchange cabinet (usually contained in a green box) and onto your premises.
With business broadband, your bandwidth can vary from hour-to-hour and day-to-day. This is due to sharing access to the exchange with other users. An ADSL connection uses a copper cable, which is not capable of providing the bandwidth speeds which the fibre cables of leased options offer.
Broadband is asymmetric, which means it does not have equal download and upload speeds. With broadband, you'll generally find that the download speed is faster than the upload speed. Many modern businesses are increasingly relying on cloud services, which require reliable and also fast upload speeds in addition to fast download speeds.
Although both types of internet connection are carried through a cable, the main advantages of a leased line over standard broadband are as follows:
Dedicated internet to your premise direct from the exchange.
A private and secure connection which is exclusive to your business.
A symmetrical connection gives you equal download and upload speeds.
Service level agreement offering 100% uptime, which means no more access disruptions!
Gigabit is the next generation of internet service. Gigabit broadband is delivered via full fibre optic lines, providing speeds of 1,000Mbps, known as 1Gbps.
Gigabit access is 100 times faster than your average broadband, giving you the ability to download 100 songs or photos in just 3 seconds or an HD movie in 7 seconds!
This is great news for businesses, as 1Gb can support 100 users online from a single connection without any lag. This will be music to business owners and IT support ears, as connectivity interruption will diminish. No more jolty conference calls, a live chat or workforce grinding to a halt.
There are a number of additional benefits to renting a leased line, including the following freebies;
Network monitoring
Fully managed router
Installation
Support and UK-based customer service
ECC insurance up to £5,000 on each line (carrier dependant)
The ability to change bandwidth during quieter months, resulting in lower bills during off-peak times
They are more secure than shared broadband
You will usually be provided with a static IP address
You can also opt for a hosted and CPE-managed firewall.
We've compiled an overview to help you understand what types of internet connection are available to your business, the difference between them and how they compare to leased lines.
Fibre Ethernet
If you're looking for the best a leased line has to offer, then look no further. Fibre Ethernet is the ultimate leased line providing the best experience in performance and resilience. Guaranteed data transfer with connectivity speeds from 10Mbps up to 1Gbps, across 100% fibre optic cables. The data literally travels at the speed of light, and it is physically impossible for the data to travel any faster.
High-speed dedicated internet is enterprise-class quality, ensuring that your business won't be let down. What's more, its scalable bandwidth means it can grow with you as your business does, to give you the best service possible for your working days.
Ethernet over FTTC (EoFTTC)
Ethernet over Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) gives you business-class connectivity, without the need for local access to fibre-based cabinets.
This is generally the cheapest type of leased line option per month, as a mixture of fibre and copper cables is used. It's a cost-effective way to provide your business with a dedicated internet line, especially those which are a fair distance from the local cabinet. It's a great solution for businesses of smaller sizes that require exceptional connectivity.
With symmetrical bandwidth, your upload and download speeds are equal. Broadband speeds for EoFTTC range from 2Mbps up to 20Mbps. Typically delivered over copper using Fibre (FTTC) infrastructure.
Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM)
Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) is the next step up from EoFTTC. EFM internet transfers data using multiple copper pairs instead of fibre. Resulting in a cost-effective ethernet leased line that provides exceptional resilience and quick data delivery. If one copper cable fails, the other is designed to take over to offer a fully resilient service.
EFM Bandwidth is available from 1Mbps up to 35Mbps, which is scalable as your business grows. Your internet will offer the same download and upload speeds with its symmetrical bandwidth.
With Fibre Ethernet providing the fastest speeds out of the different types of internet connection we've listed above, the notable difference is that leased line speeds are available up to 10Gb, which is a huge increase. Quite often businesses don't know what internet speed they require, which is where we can help. By understanding your business, your current requirements and future needs, we can help find the most effective connectivity solution.
In terms of price, a dedicated internet line will be more costly than standard broadband. However, if your business relies on high-speed reliable internet with excellent upload and download speed at peak times, a leased line is likely a worthwhile investment. There are a variety of reasons to get a business leased line, including the following:
Connect a large number of users to the internet at peak times.
Transfer large amounts of data throughout the working day.
Reliable broadband with guaranteed uptime (subject to availability).
Use VoIP as part of your regular business operations
There are many reasons why businesses consider a leased line connection, instead of standard business broadband. For many businesses, slow internet speeds can become a serious hindrance. As businesses grow, more members of your staff require a faster internet connection, you may store more data in the cloud and need more bandwidth to run apps.
Many industries rely on fast data transfer speeds, such as financial services firms and digital businesses. For example, online eCommerce stores relying on CRM systems such as Salesforce, require 24/7 fast access to the cloud. Regardless of your sector, if your business relies on reliable, fast internet access, you may be a candidate for a leased line internet connection.
An internet bearer forms part of your package. It's often referred to as the silent bandwidth waiting in the background for you to use should you need it. To future-proof your business, ensure your bearer allows you to scale up your package. You will notice that fibre optic lines are often described in two sections, the line speed and the bearer speed. The line speed relates to the speed you will experience through the access, while the bearer speed is the potential speed available.
For example, if you have a 10Mb leased line and your bearer is 100Mb, you have the ability to upgrade to 100Mb. However, if your bearer is only 10Mb you would not be able to upgrade. In this instance, you would be required to purchase another lease. The most common bearer sizes available are either 100Mbps or 1Gbps, although 10Gbps bearers exist they are not widely available yet.
From £230 per month, your business can have direct internet access via point-to-point symmetric leased broadband, offering a broadband speed of 100Mb/100Mb.
Every business has different requirements and costs per month will vary depending on what you need. We've partnered with expert leased line providers to ensure that your needs are fully understood and met when taking out a new contract.
The main disadvantage of leased lines is the cost in comparison to standard broadband. However, the service that you receive with this type of internet line is far greater and offers your business a reliable service level agreement. There are a number of factors which will influence the price, so the cost may be lower than expected. For example, if your business is located close to an exchange, the price will be less than those which are situated a few miles away.
It can take up to 3 months to install a line, in comparison to regular broadband, which takes a few weeks. This is because the line needs to be physically installed. However, it may be possible to rely on mobile broadband while the work is carried out. If your business relies on a landline, you will need to also arrange a phone plan, as these are not included when leasing a line.
The installation times will vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the existing infrastructure. A site survey will provide a reasonable indication of how long the installation will take, although providing an exact date can be difficult as multiple parties are involved. For example, a new duct may need to be installed below the road surface relying on local council approval, whereas another location may already have this in place. If the infrastructure already exists, an order can be completed within just a few weeks. If you choose a service which does not use a fibre optic cable, the installation time is often much shorter.
Whether you're looking for a BT leased line, or a leased line from Colt Broadband, TalkTalk Business or Vodafone Business, it's beneficial to compare your options. A comparison service only recommends leased line providers that meet your criteria rather than simply opting straight for a BT leased line. There are many factors which you need to consider when comparing providers, such as installation support, service resilience and, of course, the price.
Your business will have a unique set of requirements, so no off-the-shelf leased line package will be right for you. A third party will have the expert knowledge needed to find the ideal package, the best speeds and the lowest price.
Because a leased line is a dedicated internet connection for your business, it's uncommon to find exact pricing for leased lines. Your provider will provide you with a tailored quote for your internet connection, ensuring it includes everything needed to meet your business's needs.
At BusinessComparison, we do our best to ensure business owners get the best deal. That's why we only work with approved partners, bringing you the best solutions for you and your business. Use our comparison service to save your business time and money.