Business fibre is a next gen technology that brings faster, more reliable internet connections to business premises compared to the older DSL technology.
While all business fibre connections should deliver an improved service vs DSL, it is important to note that not all fibre options are equal. If you are considering a business fibre internet solution, you need to know the difference between FTTC, FTTP and Leased Lines:
FTTC: Uses a combination of fibre optic and traditional copper telephone lines
FTTP: Uses fibre optic only, right from the provider into your business premises
Leased Line: Provides you with a dedicated fibre optic line with no bandwidth sharing
Which of these business fibre options is right for you? This really comes down to your specific business needs and budgets. As with most technology investments, the more you pay, the more you get.
There are several reasons that you might need to upgrade to business fibre. If your competitors have the benefits of fibre and you don’t your business might find itself at a disadvantage. The main reasons to consider fibre optic for your business are:
Each connection type offers very different download speeds. These speeds will have a direct impact on your ability to fulfil the needs outlined above:
ADSL: 8 to 50 Mbps (large variances due to bandwidth sharing)
FTTC: 50 to 100 Mbps (distance from business premises to the cabinet dependant)
FTTP: Up to 1 Gbps (can still have variances due to bandwidth sharing)
Leased Line: 1-10 Gbps (most commonly 2 Gbps)
Increased speed: Whichever business fibre option you choose will be many times faster than a copper only connection -increasing productivity and labour cost efficiency.
Reliability: Downtime damages productivity and reputation. Fibre optic cable is not compromised by electrical interference or bad weather in the way that copper, lowering your risk of critical incidents.
Cloud access: With cloud-based apps and storage becoming an integral business tools, your colleagues need the fast upload and download speeds of a fibre internet connection to access data and apps efficiently.
More bandwidth: Businesses that use VoIP, streaming video, video conferencing and cloud-based systems benefit from having the higher bandwidths that fibre services offer.
Symmetrical speed: Some fibre internet solutions offer the same upload speed as download speed. In businesses where users are uploading and downloading heavy files while simultaneously making calls, symmetrical speed can be of benefit.
Scalability: Is your business planning to grow? A good rule of thumb is to consider 1Mbps per user. While every business has different needs, this is a good starting point for most.
Rates vary according to a variety of factors. The work involved in installation and the speed you require will have the biggest effect on pricing. This means that FTTC will be the cheapest fibre option, FTTP in the middle and a dedicated Leased Line carries the highest premiums.
100Mbps leased line costs
Service levels, speeds and reliability not only depend on the type of business fibre you choose, but also the vendor. We have compiled a list of deals suitable for 75 to 350 users with pricing for comparable service levels and speeds. These were the prices sourced at the time of writing. For real-time fibre pricing, check our AmviaSearch tool.
BT Premium Infinity Unlimited Business Fibre Optic Broadband | 76Mbps | £21.20 line rental | £35 per month
BT is offering a low-cost package with the following freebies thrown in; free line transfer, free connection and new line installation. You can also get a free a static IP address and router upon request.
Virgin Media Business Voom Fibre Option 1 Broadband | 350Mbps | £0 line rental | £30 per month (or £45 with line rental)
Virgin Media owns its own network which means they can offer a 48 hour response time on their SLA. You will have to pay for installation but there are no hidden costs or catches.
Vodafone Superfast Fibre 76 | 76Mbps | £0 line rental | £29 monthly
If you are looking for a package that includes unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobile then Vodafone is a smart option. You also receive a static IP address and 4GB monthly on a free dongle. You will have to pay an activation fee, a new router and line connection however.
Other business fibre provider prices:
TalkTalk Superpowered Fibre Complete | 76Mbps | £16.95 line rental | £21 per month
Plusnet Unlimited Business Fibre Broadband | 76Mbps | £10.50 line rental | £21.50 per month
Relish Business Broadband | 4G | 50Mbps | £0 line rental | £25 per month
XLS Max | Fibre | 76Mbps | 24-month contract | £16.95 line rental | £13 per month for 12 months, £35 thereafter
Zen Unlimited Fibre 2 Broadband | 76Mbps | Line rental: £0 | £42 per month
Toople Business Fibre XL | 80Mbps | Line rental: £8.75 for first 3 months then £17.50 per month | £19.50 per month
BT Premium Infinity | 76Mbps | £21.20 line rental | £35 per month
This is just a selection of providers rates to give you an idea of the options, most of these deals are based on FTTC -for bigger businesses, you may need to consider FTTP or a leased line service. There is a lot of competition in the business fibre market with other providers including; O2, DST, Daisy, Demo, Kinex, Aquiss, Spitfire, BOnline & Claranet.