In short
Upgrade from broadband to a leased line when your business needs upload as fast as download, a dedicated connection, a contracted service level with service credits, or more capacity than broadband tiers offer. If the problem is Wi-Fi, security or backup rather than capacity, BT Business Broadband Pro or BT Ultra Broadband may solve it first.
Get a quote for BT Business Broadband
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
Broadband and leased lines: the short version
Business broadband is built to give a business a fast, well-supported connection at a lower cost than a dedicated circuit. Its upload speed is lower than its download, and it comes with fix targets and a minimum speed guarantee rather than an availability commitment. On BT Business Broadband that means Full Fibre tiers up to 900Mbps download and 104Mbps upload, BT's Standard Care or Prompt Care fix targets, and compensation under BT's scheme if a target is missed.
A leased line is a dedicated internet connection between your premises and the provider's network. BT describes its leased line as dedicated internet access for businesses that do not want to share their network with anyone else, with speeds up to 10Gbps. It is the same speed in both directions, and the contract carries a service level agreement with service credits. BT's leased line is BTnet, which our sister site leased-lines.uk covers in detail, including what a leased line is and a full leased line vs broadband comparison.
Neither is better in the abstract. A leased line usually costs more and takes longer to install, so the move makes sense when broadband's limits are costing you more than the difference.
Seven signs you have outgrown broadband
These are the patterns we look for when a business asks whether it is time to move:
- Upload is the bottleneck. Cloud backups, large file transfers, video production, imaging or CCTV sent off site fill the upload side of the line, even on a Full Fibre tier, and everything else slows while they run.
- You need the same speed both ways. Two-way video work, hosting services that others download from, or replicating data between sites all want symmetrical bandwidth, which broadband does not give.
- Busy-hour slowdowns you cannot plan around. Your line tests within BT's guaranteed speed, but performance at peak times is not predictable enough for the work you do.
- People connect in to you. Staff on VPNs, remote desktop users, customers reaching a hosted system or a server in the office: their download is your upload.
- You need more than a handful of static IPs. BT Business Broadband offers one static IP or a No NAT range of five, and Ultra offers none.
- Downtime costs more than a day's fix target. If the business case depends on availability commitments and service credits written into the contract, broadband care levels are not designed for that.
- Headcount and devices keep growing. A connection sized for ten people rarely suits forty, and moving up broadband tiers only raises upload so far.
One or two of these on their own can often be handled within broadband. Three or more, especially the first four, usually mean it is time to price a leased line.
Check these before you buy more bandwidth
Slow internet is not always a capacity problem. Before deciding broadband is finished, rule out the cheaper explanations:
- Is the line performing? Test over a cable at quiet and busy times using our speed test guide. If the speed is regularly at or below the minimum BT guaranteed, that is a fault to report under BT's Minimum Speed Guarantee, not a reason to upgrade.
- Is it the Wi-Fi? Poor coverage or an overloaded hub feels like slow broadband. Our business Wi-Fi guide covers Smart Hub 3 placement, Complete Wi-Fi Plus and Ultra's access points.
- Is one job crowding out the rest? A backup scheduled for lunchtime, or a camera system uploading continuously, can be rescheduled or throttled.
- Is it the line type? A business on copper or Standard Fibre may find that BT Business Full Fibre solves the problem on its own, with upload up to 104Mbps on the 900 tier.
- Is it resilience rather than speed? If the worry is the line going down, Hybrid Backup or Ultra's built-in cellular backup addresses that directly.
The steps between broadband and a leased line
BT's broadband range has several rungs before a leased line, and each solves a different problem:
| If your main problem is | Try first | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Not enough download or upload on copper or Standard Fibre | BT Business Full Fibre | Tiers from 100 to 900Mbps, with upload rising to up to 104Mbps |
| Needing more than 900Mbps download | Gigabit business broadband | BT lists Full Fibre Gigabit and 1.6 Gigabit plans at some addresses; confirmed at quote |
| Wi-Fi coverage and slow fault fixes | BT Business Broadband Pro | Smart Hub 3, Complete Wi-Fi Plus with BT's coverage guarantee, Prompt Care |
| Security and staying online | BT Ultra Broadband | Managed Cisco Meraki firewall, built-in cellular backup, Meraki access points, Prompt Care |
| Symmetrical, dedicated bandwidth with a contracted SLA | A BTnet leased line | Same speed both ways, a dedicated connection, an SLA with service credits |
BT positions Ultra as the step between Pro and its leased line: it brings a Cisco Meraki security appliance, cloud dashboard and cellular backup to a broadband line. It is still broadband, though. It runs on Standard Fibre 76 or Full Fibre up to 900Mbps, so upload is lower than download, and it has no static IP. If symmetrical bandwidth or static addressing is the reason you are looking, Ultra is not the answer. Our Ultra vs Pro comparison sets out who Ultra suits.
Not sure which tier fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right tier for your organisation, with a quote.
Broadband vs leased line: what decides it
A side-by-side view of the differences that usually settle the question. The broadband column describes BT Business Broadband, including Ultra; the leased line column describes the technology in general, with BTnet as the BT example.
| BT Business Broadband | Leased line | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | A business broadband line | A dedicated connection for your site |
| Top speed | Up to 900Mbps on the main Full Fibre tiers; Gigabit plans at some addresses | BT's leased line goes up to 10Gbps |
| Upload | Lower than download; up to 104Mbps on Full Fibre 900 | The same as download |
| Service commitments | BT's Standard Care or Prompt Care fix targets; Minimum Speed Guarantee | An SLA with service credits; see BTnet service levels |
| Backup | Hybrid Backup on Enhanced and Pro; cellular backup built into Ultra | Resilience options designed per site; see leased line resilience |
| Static IPs | One, or a No NAT range of five; none on Ultra | Static addresses come with BTnet; see IP addresses |
| Installation | BT's help says 5 to 10 working days to get you online; longer where Full Fibre needs build work | A site survey first, then longer lead times |
| Contract | Minimum term confirmed at quote | A minimum period set in the order |
| Cost | Usually lower | Usually higher; priced for your site |
Planning the move
If the signs point to a leased line, plan it early. Leased lines are installed after a site survey, and lead times depend on the work needed to reach your building. Our sister site explains leased line lead times and what affects them.
In the meantime, broadband keeps you working. Some businesses keep a broadband line once the leased line is in, as a secondary connection for backup or guest traffic. If you are part-way through a BT Business Broadband contract, check what ending it early would mean before you set a date: our contracts guide covers how BT's terms work, and we confirm the details for your account.
If you are not sure which side of the line you are on, that is a normal place to be. Measuring what you use now, and listing what is coming over the next three years, usually makes the answer clear.
Is BT Business Broadband the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
How Forever Communications helps you decide
We look at broadband and leased lines together rather than pushing one answer. We check what your address can get on BT Business Broadband, including Full Fibre and Ultra, and our sister site leased-lines.uk covers BTnet if a leased line is the better fit. Forever Group's main site also covers business connectivity more widely.
Pricing for either is confirmed at quote. Contact us and tell us what is slowing you down; we will tell you which step makes sense.
Why buy BT Business Broadband from Forever Communications
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group and an Authorised Supplier for BT. We supply BT Business Broadband to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, and we help with each step from first enquiry to go-live.
- The right connection for your address: we check whether your premises can get Full Fibre or another access type, and explain what that means for speed; see checking availability
- A plan that fits how you work: we help you compare BT Business Broadband plans, including BT Business Ultra, and decide which add-ons such as Hybrid Backup or a static IP are worth having
- A clear quote: charges, minimum term and what is included set out in writing; see what affects the price
- Installation planned with you: we explain what happens before and on the day; see BT Business Broadband installation
- Connected services in one conversation: phones with BT Cloud Voice, Wi-Fi and security, or a BTnet leased line when broadband is no longer enough
BT Business Broadband is a business service. Speeds, features, service levels and availability are BT's and are confirmed at order.
Frequently asked questions
When should a business get a leased line instead of broadband?
When it needs upload as fast as download, a dedicated connection, a contracted SLA with service credits, or more static IPs than broadband offers. If only one of these applies, a step within broadband may be enough.
Is a leased line faster than full fibre broadband?
It can be. BT's leased line goes up to 10Gbps, while BT's main Full Fibre tiers reach 900Mbps download, with Gigabit plans at some addresses. For most businesses the bigger differences are a dedicated connection, upload as fast as download and contracted service levels.
Is BT Ultra Broadband a leased line?
No. Ultra is broadband on Standard Fibre 76 or Full Fibre up to 900Mbps, with a managed Cisco Meraki security appliance, access points and cellular backup. Upload is lower than download and there is no static IP.
Can I keep broadband as a backup to a leased line?
Yes. A broadband line can sit alongside a leased line as a secondary connection. How failover works depends on the equipment and design, which we confirm at quote.
How long does a leased line take to install compared with broadband?
Longer. BT's help says broadband typically takes 5 to 10 working days to get you online, more where Full Fibre needs build work. A leased line starts with a site survey and has longer lead times; leased-lines.uk explains what affects them.
Still have a question about BT Business Broadband?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.