Business broadband can suit many workplaces. A leased line may add dedicated, symmetrical capacity and contract-specific service commitments. Compare the actual service levels, installation terms and backup design rather than assuming a business label guarantees uptime.
For a starting point on local access networks, see the London fibre and provider overview then confirm the service commitments your business needs.
Write down the business dependency
List what stops when the connection fails: sales, calls, cloud access, remote support, file delivery or site security. Estimate how long the team can continue using alternatives and what a lost hour means operationally.
Then distinguish capacity needs from recovery needs. A faster shared connection might remove an upload bottleneck. A stronger repair commitment or secondary connection might be more valuable where the main concern is disruption.
Read what dedicated service means
BTnet is one example of a leased-line product described as dedicated and uncontended, with matching upload and download speeds. Its selected service bandwidth sits within the capacity of a bearer circuit. Those are product-specific terms, not a statement about every business broadband package.
When comparing quotes, ask the supplier to explain the committed bandwidth, the bearer, the handover and any permitted changes. Ensure the proposal covers the actual business address and not only a nearby postcode.
Turn a service-level agreement into questions
An SLA is useful only when you understand what it measures and what happens if a target is missed. Ask when support is available, how an incident is reported, when the clock starts, which exclusions apply and what remedy is offered.
Do not treat a service credit as equivalent to reimbursement for every business loss. Have the responsible person review the contract and record any operational assumptions that the supplier has confirmed.
- Is the quoted performance a target, a commitment or an estimate?
- Does the support window cover when the business operates?
- What starts and pauses the repair clock?
- What are the planned-maintenance arrangements?
- What is the remedy if a commitment is missed?
Design resilience beyond buying two contracts
Two retailers may use the same underlying access network. Two services may also share building entry points, power or local equipment. If resilience matters, ask about route and infrastructure diversity instead of assuming separate bills mean separate failure risks.
Plan how a backup takes over and test the applications that matter. Card terminals, VPNs, hosted telephony and inbound services may respond differently to an address or connection change. A documented manual fallback can be better than an untested automatic system.
Include the building and implementation work
For a leased office, establish who can approve cabling through common parts and arrange site access. Ask whether the installation depends on a survey, extra construction or third-party permissions. Treat dates as provisional until the supplier confirms the requirements.
Include router, firewall, support, setup and any construction charges in the comparison. Record who manages each piece after handover so a fault does not become a dispute about responsibility.
Make the smallest decision that meets the requirement
A small office may do well with an appropriate broadband package, a sound internal network and a tested backup. A business with sustained transfer needs or costly outages may justify a dedicated service.
Request like-for-like proposals using the same operational requirements. This guide is a framework for that conversation, not a live quote or a promise that a particular connection is available at your premises.
Your questions, answered.
Is all business broadband uncontended?
No. Read the specific product description. A business-branded broadband package and a dedicated leased line are different offerings.
Does a leased line remove the need for backup?
Not automatically. Consider equipment, power, building access and wider network failures as well as the primary line's service commitments.
Sources & further reading
Official information behind this guide. Links checked 29 October 2026; individual datasets retain their stated reference dates.