Published on September 22nd, 2021 | by Bibhuranjan

Leased lines Vs business broadband, what’s the difference?

When deciding what type of internet connection is best, the choice between a leased line or a business broadband connection can make a huge difference to the operational output of an organization.

What is a leased line?

A leased line uses the same fibre optic cable as fibre-optic broadband, with the key difference being that the line is assigned to one business only, whereas a typical business broadband line is shared amongst many. Leased lines benefit businesses that require very high internet speeds and a reliable connection.

A leased line offers a symmetrical internet connection, which delivers the same upload and download speeds. This differs from standard ADSL, FTTC or FTTP business broadband, which offers fast download speeds and slower upload speeds. There are several types of leased lines available, including a fibre Ethernet line and a point-to-point line (for multiple site connections at super-fast speed). Both of these lines come with an upload/download speed of up to 10Gb.

How do you set up a leased line?

Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer leased line rental to businesses, and one of the great advantages of leasing a dedicated internet line is that engineers from the ISP will usually visit the premises and manage the installation.

When an ISP supplies a managed router with the connection, this allows for improved ISP monitoring of the connection and faster issue resolution. A business can request a “wires only” fibre optic leased line, which involves connecting and configuring the equipment on the network to the termination point. For this, the business will need its own network address and network mask, which will be provided by the ISP or installing engineer, and its own firewall/router.

For businesses on a “wires only” leased line, the set-up process is different to installing a standard business broadband router and telephone line connection. Installation requires connecting the router with a network cable that is connected to the termination point. When logging in, the business can choose a static IP address, subnet address, and gateway address provided from the ISP, and the business will then be internet-ready.

What is business broadband?

Business broadband is a form of internet infrastructure, which runs at high speed, with high bandwidth, and an ‘always on’ connection. The most common types of business broadband lines are an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), fibre, wireless, cable modem, broadband over powerlines (BPL), and satellite.

These connections typically run on shared lines with multiple other business users. Shared lines reduce the speed and reliability of a connection at peak times, which can be risky for businesses that need the highest upload/download speeds to operate effectively.

Fibre-optic broadband connections can be Ethernet over Fibre to the Cabinet (EoFTTC), or Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), however, a leased line connection is the only type of broadband line that guarantees line speed and a dedicated line.

How do you set up business broadband?

Once you have signed up for a business broadband service, your ISP will provide an engineer to install the broadband on your premises or send you a set-up package through the mail. For businesses that are setting up their router themselves, there are several steps to go through.

The ADSL splitter needs to be connected to the telephone wall socket, with any telephone extensions requiring a filter. Connect your telephone to the relevant port on the ADSL splitter, connect the telephone cable to the DSL port, and plug the disconnected end of the telephone cable into the back of the router.

Once the unconnected end of the internet cable is plugged into the business desktop/laptop internet port, the power cable can be connected to the router, plugged into a power outlet and the router power button pressed. When the router has finished booting up, the flashing lights should have turned solid, and the business broadband should be ready for use.

What to look for when deciding which is better for your business

When deciding whether business broadband or a leased line is better for your business, it is sensible to confirm which is the priority for your business – hyper-fast line speed or low price? This is because a dedicated leased line can offer a connection speed of up to 10Gb, but is typically priced much higher than a business broadband connection which is shared amongst many users, with speeds up to 100Mb.

For businesses who utilize VoIP telecoms or any other service which requires a symmetrical connection with fast upload and download rates, a leased line can provide this. Equally, video calls can run well on a 100Mb business broadband connection, depending on the number of users on the line.

It is also worth checking the uptime guarantee, backup line, and technical support on offer, as well as the installation and set-up assistance available with purchase. Once a business has collated this key information, it is much easier to make a decision on a leased line or business broadband service.

Cover Image from FreePix

Tags: broadband, business broadband, ISP, Leased lines

About the Author

Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.