Compare dedicated internet costs for your business

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.

Did you know there are multiple options? We've complied an overview to help you understand what leased lines are available and the difference between them.

Fibre Ethernet

If you're looking for the best a 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 FTTC gives your 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 is 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 who require exceptional connectivity.

This is generally the cheapest type of leased line option per month, as a mixture of fibre and copper cables is used. It is 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 who require exceptional connectivity.

A symmetrical bandwidth, means that your upload and download speeds will be 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 delivery of data. If one copper cable fails, the other is designed to take over to offer a fully resilient service. 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.

Leased line speeds are available from 1Mb to 10Gb, which is a huge range to decide between. Quite often businesses don't know what internet speed they require, which is where we can help. By understanding your business, it's current requirements and future needs, we can help find the most effective solution.

In term of price, it will be a more costly option. However, if your business relies on high-quality broadband with an excellent upload and download speed at peak times, it is likely to be worth it. There are a variety of reasons why businesses look into leasing, including:

• Connecting a large number of users to the internet, especially at peak times.
• Transferring large amounts of data throughout the working day.
• Operating in the financial trading industry, where reliable broadband needs to be guaranteed.
• Using VoIP as part of the business operations regularly

As you can see there are many reasons why businesses consider leasing, instead of standard business broadband. For many businesses slow internet speeds are a gradual struggle, where the issues begin to hinder the working day. As businesses grow more staff require broadband, more data is stored in the cloud and more bandwidth is required to run apps. This will quickly become noticeable and slow internet speeds will soon see the team struggling.

There are a number of industries which rely heavily on fast data transfer, such as financial services firms and digital businesses, which rely on fast response times. For example, online eCommerce stores which rely heavily on CRM systems such as Salesforce, require 24/7 fast access to the cloud. Any business which relies heavily on strong, fast access is a potential candidate for this type of internet connection.

A 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 a direct internet access via a 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 lines providers to ensure that your needs are fully understood and met when taking out a new contract.

We're so confident that we won't be beaten on price per month that we've introduced our Price Match Guarantee. We guarantee that we'll match any like for like quotation provided. (Subject to terms and conditions)

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 service level agreement that is undoubtable. 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 installing 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 complete 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.

There are many telecoms providers across the UK, such a BT leased line, Colt Broadband, TalkTalk Business and Vodafone Business. However, a comparison service will only recommend businesses which meet their strict set of criteria, rather than simply opting straight for a leased line BT. There are many factors which you need to consider when comparing providers, such as installation support, service resilience and of course the price.

Every business will have a unique set of requirements, so not every provider will offer the best package for your business. A third-party will have the expert knowledge needed to find the ideal package, the best speeds and the lowest price.

Here at Compare Switch we like to ensure business owners are getting the best deal. That's why we only work with approved partners, who guarantee to bring you the best solution for you and your business. Use our comparison service online and we will help save you time and money. To find out more.