FTTP or a leased line: which does your business need?
A business internet connection can look excellent on a speed test and still be the wrong fit for the work happening in the office. A company sending large design files, running cloud applications and taking calls over the internet needs to consider more than the advertised download figure.
Two common options are full fibre broadband, usually called FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), and a leased line. Both use fibre, but they are different types of service. The better choice depends on how your business uses the connection, what an outage would cost and what level of service you need.
What is business FTTP?
FTTP brings fibre directly to the premises. It can provide fast broadband without relying on the older copper connection for the final stretch to the building.
For many businesses, it is an effective primary connection. Teams can use cloud software, hold video meetings and upload routine files on an appropriately specified FTTP service. It can also be a useful second connection where a business wants an alternative route.
FTTP is still a broadband service. Its upload and download speeds may differ, and the support commitments will depend on the package and provider. Silver Lining’s full fibre business broadband page explains the service options it offers.
What is a leased line?
A leased line is a dedicated connection for the customer rather than a standard shared broadband service. It is commonly chosen where predictable performance, substantial upload capacity and defined service commitments are important.
Leased lines are typically symmetrical: the upload and download speeds are the same. Ofcom describes a leased line as a dedicated, symmetrical and uncontended connection used to carry voice, video and data.
A leased line usually costs more and may take longer to install. Whether that cost is justified depends on the impact of poor performance or an outage on your business.
FTTP vs leased line at a glance
| Consideration | Business FTTP | Leased line |
| Type of service | Full fibre broadband | Dedicated connection |
| Upload speed | Depends on the package; often lower than download | Typically symmetrical |
| Service commitments | Vary by provider and package | Typically stronger, with a defined service agreement |
| Installation | Depends on local availability and site work | May require a survey and additional build work |
| Typical fit | General cloud use and day-to-day office connectivity | Heavy usage, critical operations or demanding upload needs |
| Cost | Usually the lower-cost option | Usually the higher-cost option |
These are service characteristics, not a substitute for comparing actual quotes. Two providers may offer different speeds, fault response terms and installation arrangements under the same broad label.
Look at uploads as well as downloads
Most broadband advertising leads with download speed. For a business, upload performance can matter just as much.
Consider what leaves your site during a normal day. Staff may upload drawings, media files or backups. A busy office may have many people on video calls while cloud applications exchange data in the background. If these activities compete for limited upload capacity, users can experience delays even when download tests look healthy.
List the applications that matter, how many people use them at once, and what those applications send upstream. This provides a better basis for choosing a circuit than the number of employees alone.
How much does downtime matter?
Imagine the connection fails at 10am on a working Tuesday. Can staff switch to mobile data and carry on, or would calls, payments and customer service stop?
For some businesses, a short interruption is inconvenient. For others, every hour offline means missed sales or an inability to serve customers. The answer affects both the primary connection and the backup plan.
A leased line can offer stronger service commitments, but it does not make a site immune to every fault. A second connection, ideally designed to avoid the same point of failure where feasible, may be more valuable than buying extra speed on a single circuit. Silver Lining offers connectivity resilience options for businesses that need a recovery route. Silver Lining Convergence
Consider the whole site, not just the circuit
An internet upgrade cannot solve every slow connection. If staff have poor Wi-Fi coverage, congested internal networking or equipment that cannot handle the new service, buying a faster circuit may make little difference at their desks.
Before deciding, check where the problem occurs. Are wired users affected as well as Wi-Fi users? Is performance poor at certain times? Are cloud applications slow while ordinary browsing works normally? Does the issue affect one office, one floor or the whole site?
These details help establish whether the answer is a new internet circuit, changes to the local network or both.
When is FTTP likely to be enough?
Business FTTP is worth considering when the available speeds suit your workload, the service terms fit your tolerance for disruption and the price leaves room for an appropriate backup connection if needed.
A small or medium-sized office using Microsoft 365, routine cloud applications and video meetings may find that a well-specified FTTP service meets its needs. The deciding factors are the actual availability at the address, upload requirement, usage pattern and support package.
If growth is expected, consider what happens when staff numbers rise or more services move online. Choose for the business you expect to run during the contract, not solely the one you have today.
When does a leased line make sense?
A leased line becomes more compelling when your business needs substantial, consistent uploads, depends heavily on its connection throughout the day or requires a more defined service agreement.
That might apply to a busy contact centre, a multi-site operation, a company moving large files continuously or an organisation whose critical systems are accessed over the internet. Silver Lining’s fibre Ethernet and leased line service is aimed at organisations with demanding connectivity requirements.
A leased line is not automatically the right answer simply because a business has grown. Measure the need and compare the full cost with a suitable FTTP and resilience arrangement.
Questions to ask before you order
When comparing proposals, ask each provider:
- What download and upload speeds will the service provide?
- What are the fault response and repair commitments?
- Is installation subject to a survey or additional construction charges?
- What equipment is included, and who manages it?
- How will the connection be monitored?
- What happens if the circuit fails?
- Could the proposed backup fail for the same reason as the primary connection?
- Clear answers make it easier to compare the service you will receive, not just its headline speed.
Choose around the work your connection supports
FTTP and leased lines both have a place in a business network. The right answer follows from your applications, upload demand, tolerance for downtime and budget.
If you are weighing up a new circuit or planning connectivity for another site, speak to Silver Lining. The team can assess the options available at your address and design a connection around the way your business works.