Several UK providers offer business broadband deals, including BT, Virgin Media and Plusnet. Choosing the right ADSL or fibre package for your business is important, so here's our guide to finding your next business broadband plan to suit your needs.
What are the benefits of business broadband?
Business broadband deals UK offer a range of benefits for businesses looking to get online, from improved speeds and customer service to security features. If your business uses the internet to communicate with customers and employees, a high-speed connection is essential.
Faster download and upload speeds are key to ensuring that you can work effectively online, whether you're hosting a website or sending large files across. Many home plans only allow a limited amount of data to be downloaded, meaning it's important to find a business package with generous download allowances that can accommodate your requirements.
Often, a business plan's download limit can be customised to give priority to particular applications you need to use, such as HD video conferencing and webinars. This can be a great way to ensure you never run out of bandwidth, and will ensure your staff stay connected no matter what's happening on the internet.
Is a leased line better?
A business broadband connection is also more reliable than a home broadband line, as it has more features built in to keep your network up and running. Even if you don't opt for a fully leased line, you can still get a much better connection. The reasons for this are multiple: but to summaise, you'll get faster connections, higher upload and download speeds, a static IP address, and more robust security measures.
If you're a small business or a larger enterprise, it's important to make sure that your business has an up-to-date business broadband connection, especially if you're using the internet for email, video calls and cloud services. A poor connection can lead to decreased productivity, reducing your profits and impacting customer satisfaction.
In fact, research by Sandisk suggests that a slow or unreliable internet connection could cost your business up to one working week per year. This means that it's crucial to choose the right kind of connection for your business needs - whether that's ADSL, cable or fibre optic.
As business users are more likely to be online at peak times, a business broadband deal should include features to improve the experience during these periods. This can be through higher upload and download speed, a better contention ratio, and the ability to prioritise business traffic during these times.
There are a wide variety of business broadband plans to choose from, so it's important to shop around and compare broadband prices for the whole market to get the best deal. It's also a good idea to try and bundle your broadband with other business services, such as phone and VoIP, to reduce the overall cost of your business plan.
What is the best broadband package for small business?
Choosing the best broadband for your business can be challenging. But there are a few things to keep in mind before you make your decision. Here are our top tips:
- Firstly, you must consider your business's growth plans and trajectory, which will help you determine the type of speed you need.
- Secondly, it is important to understand what value add services are available as these can be a great advantage for your business. These can include advanced security and prioritised support, so make sure you check these out to ensure your business gets the most from its internet connection.
- You should take note of any potential savings that can be made by bundling additional services together with your business broadband. This is particularly effective for larger businesses as it can make for a more cost-effective and efficient package.
You should also look at what upload and download speeds are offered, and if these are symmetrical then that's even better. This means that your downloads match your uploads, which can be a significant benefit for businesses that regularly need to send large files over the internet.
Once you have a good idea of what you need, use a postcode checker to find out which business broadband providers operate in your area. Once you have a list, you can then begin comparison shopping.
Getting the right business broadband for your small business is crucial to its success, so it's important to choose one that meets your company's needs. It's also worth looking for an ISP that offers flexible terms and doesn't impose punishing early termination fees.
If you want to save money on your internet bill, be sure to shop around for deals that include extra services, such as phone lines. These can be a great way to cut costs and save money over time.
It's also a good idea to look for a business internet provider that has an excellent customer service record by reading provider reviews, and one that is responsive to your needs and issues. This can make all the difference if something does go wrong with your internet connection and you need support quickly.
Do small businesses NEED specialist business broadband?
Whether you're running your own small business or are a sole trader, a fast and reliable internet connection is essential for keeping your business on the move. It's also vital for delivering better customer service and making your business more productive by accessing the latest cloud-based software and tools.
It's also important to choose an internet service provider that offers good customer support and 24/7 customer support so you can get help quickly if you have any problems with your service. Additionally, many broadband providers offer online resources that can be helpful for business owners, including tips for choosing a broadband plan.
Most modern businesses use a lot of technology in their day-to-day operations, from email to video conference calls to business software applications. All of these applications require high-speed internet to function properly.
What are the different types of broadband for businesses?
There are different types of business broadband, including ADSL, cable and fibre optic. ADSL and cable use a copper phone line to transmit data, while fibre optic is a more advanced type of broadband that uses a network of plastic or glass fibres to deliver faster speeds.
You can find out what business broadband speed you need by calculating the number of people and devices your business typically supports. This is an important factor because it can affect your bandwidth requirements and can make it harder to connect to the internet.
To determine your business's bandwidth needs, you should consider how often employees use the internet at work and what common online activities they do. You should also account for any devices they use, such as mobile phones or tablets, when calculating your bandwidth needs.
For example, if you have five employees who use the internet at work on a regular basis, you may want to look for a business broadband speed of 10-25Mbps. This is a good starting point for a small business, but if you have more than 25 employees or need to do data-intensive tasks regularly, you should invest in higher speeds.
When it comes to business broadband deals, you should try to find one that includes a range of extra addons, such as phone lines and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. This can be a great way to save money on your business's phone service, while still receiving a quality connection and support.
Can I get business broadband at home, if I WFH?
Working from home or WFH has really taken off, any many of us are looking to work full-time but from home.
A reliable internet connection is as important to the success of a business as capital and staff. It can be difficult to work without an uninterrupted connection, especially when it comes to handling customer data or running business applications like e-commerce sites and remote desktop access.
Luckily, a range of business broadband deals UK are available to cater for the needs of businesses both large and small. They're often a little more expensive than residential plans, but can deliver faster download and upload speeds, better security and dedicated business support – all of which are essential for today's businesses.
You can compare business broadband deals UK just as you would for residential ones, but it's worth taking a little more time to consider your specific requirements and how much extra you want to pay. There are a number of things to consider, including how fast you need your connection to be, whether it's needed for a wide range of activities (such as hosting websites or video conferencing) and how many people use it at any given time.
So is business broadband any faster?
The speed of your broadband will depend on the type of package you choose, but business plans typically offer higher download and upload speeds than home options - as well as priority for business users over residential customers. Some providers also offer leased lines, which can give business customers even faster speeds than standard fibre broadband.
In addition, most business broadband plans provide a static IP address, which is a fixed number that identifies you. It's a key feature for companies that use remote desktop or virtual private networks to connect employees together, or who run their own email network or server, and it can also be useful for setting up a company website or CCTV camera.
Another essential business feature that home broadband doesn't offer is dedicated 24/7 technical support, which is vital when it comes to issues such as problems with your connection or technical difficulties with your phone line. This can be a huge benefit, and is typically guaranteed on some packages.
