Backup Internet Connectivity for Business Continuity

Backup connectivity is a secondary internet connection that activates automatically when your primary line fails, keeping your business online during outages. With the UK average broadband download speed at 69.4 Mbps (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024), even reliable connections can suffer faults. A backup line prevents lost revenue, missed calls, and interrupted cloud access.

Automatic failover uses an intelligent router or SD-WAN appliance to detect when your primary connection drops and switches traffic to your backup line within seconds. Most businesses experience a switchover time of under 30 seconds. Your staff and customers typically notice no interruption, as critical services such as VoIP, email, and cloud applications continue seamlessly.

The most common backup options are 4G/5G mobile broadband, a secondary fixed-line from an alternative carrier, or a dedicated leased line. A leased line typically delivers 99.99% uptime SLA (industry standard), making it ideal as a primary connection with 4G/5G as backup. AMVIA recommends using a different technology and carrier for your backup to avoid single points of failure.

A 4G/5G backup solution typically costs between £30 and £80 per month, depending on data allowances and hardware. A secondary fixed line from an alternative provider ranges from £50 to £200 per month. The cost is modest compared to downtime losses — UK businesses lost an estimated £3.7 billion to internet outages in 2023, making backup connectivity a sound investment.

Yes. Modern 4G and 5G backup connections deliver sufficient bandwidth and low enough latency to support VoIP calls, Microsoft Teams, and cloud-hosted business applications. AMVIA configures quality-of-service rules to prioritise voice and critical traffic on the backup link, ensuring call quality remains acceptable even when running on a secondary connection.