Business Ethernet UK 2026: Costs, Leased Lines & Dedicated Fibre Quick Answer
Business Ethernet is dedicated connectivity designed for organisations that need more consistent performance, symmetrical speeds and stronger service guarantees than standard broadband.
In UK business connectivity, terms such as:
Business Ethernet
Ethernet leased line
Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)
Fibre Ethernet
Ethernet Access Direct
often describe closely related dedicated business-connectivity products, and unlike ordinary FTTP broadband, dedicated Ethernet typically gives you:
symmetrical upload and download speeds
dedicated bandwidth
no local broadband contention
business SLA
faster fault response
scalable bandwidth
Connection Best for
FTTP business broadband
Most SMEs
100Mbps Ethernet
Smaller businesses needing guaranteed connectivity
1Gbps Ethernet
Cloud-heavy and growing businesses
10Gbps Ethernet
Large offices and data-heavy organisations
Diverse Ethernet circuits
Businesses where downtime is unacceptable
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How Do We Work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, pricing data and UK business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience.
Reviewed by: James Ward .
Last Updated: September 2026
Key Takeaways
Business Ethernet is not the same as plugging a device into a router with an Ethernet cable.
In commercial connectivity, Ethernet usually refers to dedicated fibre or Ethernet leased-line services.
Ethernet connections normally provide symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Bandwidth is dedicated rather than shared with nearby broadband users.
Business Ethernet usually includes stronger SLAs than standard broadband.
FTTP is considerably cheaper and is sufficient for many SMEs.
Ethernet becomes more attractive where downtime, upload performance or service guarantees matter.
100Mbps and 1Gbps are common business Ethernet capacities.
10Gbps and higher capacity services are available for larger organisations.
Exact pricing is highly postcode-specific and depends on fibre availability and construction requirements.
What Is Business Ethernet?
Business Ethernet is a dedicated data connection between your premises and a provider network where the connection is commonly delivered over fibre and can provide:
internet access
site-to-site connectivity
private networks
cloud connectivity
data-centre connectivity
Openreach positions Ethernet above standard business broadband for organisations that need:
dedicated bandwidth
greater resilience
higher speeds
enhanced service levels
Is Business Ethernet the Same as a Leased Line? Often, yes in practical buying terms.
Providers use several overlapping names:
Term What it usually means
Leased line
Dedicated private circuit
Dedicated Internet Access
Dedicated internet delivered over a leased circuit
Fibre Ethernet
Ethernet service delivered over fibre
Ethernet Access Direct
Dedicated Ethernet access product
Business Ethernet
Broad term for dedicated Ethernet connectivity
Always compare the actual specification rather than the marketing name.
What Is Ethernet Access Direct? Ethernet Access Direct, often shortened to EAD, is a dedicated point-to-point Ethernet service widely used in UK business networks and can connect:
your premises to an internet provider
two offices together
a branch to a data centre
a site into an MPLS or SD-WAN network
Openreach uses Ethernet infrastructure for businesses needing dedicated connectivity beyond ordinary broadband.
Business Ethernet vs FTTP Broadband This is the most important comparison for most SMEs.
Feature Business Ethernet FTTP Business Broadband
Bandwidth
Dedicated
Shared
Upload/download
Usually symmetrical
Usually asymmetric
Service level
Strong SLA
Standard business support
Fault response
Faster / contractual
Provider dependent
Installation
More complex
Usually simpler
Monthly cost
Higher
Much lower
Best for
Critical connectivity
Typical SME use
Openreach currently advertises standard business Full Fibre up to around 1Gbps download and 220Mbps upload, while Ethernet sits above it for dedicated bandwidth and enhanced SLAs.
Our View: Most SMEs Should Compare FTTP First We would not recommend a leased line simply because it is “better”.
Modern FTTP has changed the buying decision considerably, so for a small or medium-sized business using:
Microsoft 365
cloud CRM
VoIP
video meetings
EPOS
customer Wi-Fi
a good FTTP business connection may already provide enough capacity – and ethernet becomes worth the additional cost when the business needs something FTTP cannot guarantee.
When We Would Recommend Ethernet We would seriously compare dedicated Ethernet if:
one hour offline would materially affect revenue
large uploads are a core part of the business
symmetrical bandwidth is required
dozens or hundreds of users share the connection
you host infrastructure on-site
you operate a call centre
you need contractual performance guarantees
you need site-to-site private connectivity
When We Would Not Recommend Ethernet We would normally start with FTTP instead if:
you have fewer than 10 users
internet is important but not mission-critical
your workload is mostly SaaS, email and browsing
your upload needs are modest
budget is the main constraint
The fact that a business can afford a leased line does not mean it needs one.
Business Ethernet Speeds Common dedicated Ethernet speeds include:
100Mbps
200Mbps
500Mbps
1Gbps
2Gbps
10Gbps
100Gbps on specialist networks
100Mbps Ethernet A 100Mbps symmetrical circuit can be enough for a surprisingly capable business and can suit:
small professional offices
VoIP-heavy businesses
small contact teams
companies needing guaranteed bandwidth rather than huge capacity
The key benefit over ordinary broadband is not necessarily speed – it is that the 100Mbps is dedicated and symmetrical.
1Gbps Ethernet 1Gbps is one of the most common dedicated-connectivity specifications for growing businesses, so is particularly relevant to:
cloud-heavy offices
creative agencies
software companies
large file transfers
online backups
VoIP and video-heavy organisations
10Gbps Ethernet 10Gbps services are aimed at significantly heavier workloads -examples include:
large enterprises
data centres
media production
large-scale cloud infrastructure
high-volume multi-site networks
Most SMEs do not need 10Gbps simply because it is available.
Business Ethernet Costs in 2026 Ethernet pricing varies heavily by postcode.
Current market examples include:
Speed Indicative market starting price
100Mbps
From around £69/month
1Gbps
From around £129/month
10Gbps
From around £349/month
These are market-floor examples in well-served locations rather than prices every business will receive.
Direct carrier pricing can be substantially higher. Virgin Media Business, for example, currently advertises:
100Mbps DIA from £312/month
500Mbps from £332/month
1Gbps from £358/month
with dedicated symmetrical speeds and a six-hour fault response.
Why Do Ethernet Prices Vary So Much? The same 1Gbps circuit can have very different prices at two buildings a few streets apart – important factors include:
distance to provider fibre
number of carriers serving the building
city vs rural location
civil engineering required
wayleaves
contract length
bearer size
resilience
SLA
Bearer Size Explained The bearer is the maximum capacity of the installed circuit.
For example:
100Mbps service on a 1Gbps bearer
means:
you initially pay for 100Mbps bandwidth
the underlying circuit can support up to 1Gbps
future upgrades may not require a completely new physical installation
This can make sense for a growing business that expects its requirements to increase.
Ethernet Installation Costs Installation cost is one of the hardest parts of Ethernet pricing to predict before a site survey – a building already served by several carriers may be inexpensive to connect.
A rural or difficult site may require:
new ducting
street works
wayleaves
fibre construction
These can create excess construction charges.
How Long Does Business Ethernet Take to Install? Do not plan a leased-line installation like ordinary FTTP, as it frequently requires:
site survey
network planning
wayleave approval
civil engineering
fibre installation
testing
Current market guidance commonly puts installations at roughly 30-90 working days , although individual sites can be quicker or significantly longer.
We would therefore arrange temporary connectivity if a new office must be online by a fixed date.
What Is an Ethernet SLA? An SLA defines the provider’s commitments around:
availability
fault response
repair
performance
This is one of the strongest reasons to pay more for dedicated Ethernet.
Our View: Compare the SLA Before the Mbps A business choosing between:
500Mbps with stronger repair commitments
1Gbps with weaker support
could be better served by the slower circuit if downtime is the real business risk.
Once the connection is fast enough, resilience and support often become more valuable than additional bandw
Business Ethernet for VoIP Ethernet can be particularly useful for larger VoIP deployments because it provides:
symmetrical capacity
stable latency
dedicated bandwidth
stronger SLA
However, a small office does not need a leased line merely because it uses VoIP.
See our Business Broadband for VoIP guide .
Business Ethernet for Cloud Services Ethernet is particularly useful when businesses:
move large amounts of data to cloud storage
run constant backups
use hosted desktops
operate cloud-based production workflows
Symmetrical upload speed can make more operational difference than simply increasing download capacity.
Business Ethernet for Multi-Site Companies Ethernet circuits can also form part of:
WANs
SD-WAN deployments
MPLS networks
private site-to-site networks
A multi-site business may use Ethernet at major locations and lower-cost broadband at smaller branches which can be more economical than buying identical leased lines everywhere.
Ethernet Point-to-Point An Ethernet point-to-point circuit connects two locations directly rather than simply providing public internet access.
It can be useful for:
office-to-office connectivity
office-to-data-centre links
private replication
backup sites
See our Point-to-Point Leased Line guide .
Business Ethernet vs Wi-Fi These are not competing products – this is where many “Ethernet broadband” explanations become confusing.
Your leased line or Ethernet circuit connects the building to the provider, and inside the building, you might then use:
wired Ethernet
Wi-Fi
or both
A business can therefore have a dedicated Ethernet leased line and still use Wi-Fi throughout the office.
Wired Ethernet Inside Your Office For internal networking, wired Ethernet remains useful for:
desktop PCs
servers
VoIP phones
printers
access points
CCTV
But this is a LAN decision, not the same thing as buying Business Ethernet from an ISP.
Ethernet Cable Categories Common internal network cabling includes:
Cable Typical business use
Cat5e
Gigabit networking
Cat6
Gigabit networking with better headroom
Cat6a
10Gbps-capable structured cabling
For a new office installation, we would usually consider Cat6 or Cat6a rather than treating Cat7 as an automatic upgrade.
Ethernet vs EFM Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) historically used bonded copper pairs to provide more resilient business connectivity.
In 2026, we would normally view it as a legacy or specialist fallback rather than the first choice.
Full fibre availability and Ethernet pricing have improved substantially, while the UK is moving away from older copper infrastructure.
Business Ethernet Providers Depending on your postcode, providers and networks can include:
BT / Openreach
Virgin Media Business
CityFibre-based providers
Colt
Neos Networks
Gamma partners
Zayo
regional fibre networks
The best provider can change from building to building because network presence has such a large effect on price.
Our View: Do Not Buy Ethernet From a Single Quote Dedicated connectivity is one of the clearest cases where comparing several carriers can materially change the price.
A carrier that already has fibre close to your premises may quote far less than one that needs construction work.
We would therefore compare:
at least several carriers
same speed
same bearer
same contract length
same SLA
before making a decision.
Ethernet vs Leased Line vs FTTP Decision Table
Requirement We would compare
5-person office using SaaS
FTTP
Shop / café
FTTP + backup
20-person cloud-heavy office
FTTP first, Ethernet if uptime matters
Creative agency with huge uploads
Symmetrical Ethernet
Call centre
Ethernet / leased line
Mission-critical site
Ethernet + resilience
Multi-site company
Ethernet + SD-WAN / WAN
What to Ask Before Buying Business Ethernet
Is the circuit dedicated and uncontended?
Are upload and download speeds symmetrical?
What committed bandwidth are we buying?
What bearer size is installed?
What SLA applies?
What is the target fix time?
What uptime guarantee applies?
Are installation charges included?
Could excess construction charges apply?
Is a site survey required?
Is a wayleave required?
What is the contract length?
Can we upgrade bandwidth later?
Do we need a diverse backup circuit?
Which carrier actually provides the fibre?
Compare Business Ethernet Quotes
Our Verdict: Is Business Ethernet Worth It? Business Ethernet is worth the premium when your connectivity needs to be guaranteed rather than simply fast.
That distinction matters.
A modern FTTP connection can already provide hundreds of megabits or gigabit-class download speed for a fraction of the cost.
So we would not buy Ethernet purely for more Mbps.
We would pay for it when the business needs:
dedicated bandwidth
symmetrical uploads
contractual uptime
faster fault repair
predictable performance
Our recommendation:
typical SME: compare FTTP firstcloud-heavy SME: compare FTTP and 100Mbps/1Gbps Ethernetmission-critical business: compare dedicated Ethernetcannot tolerate downtime: compare diverse Ethernet circuits
Compare Leased Line & Ethernet Quotes
Frequently Asked Questions What is business Ethernet?
Business Ethernet is dedicated data connectivity, usually delivered over fibre, that provides businesses with symmetrical bandwidth and stronger service guarantees than standard broadband.
Is Ethernet the same as a leased line?
Business Ethernet is often sold as an Ethernet leased line or Dedicated Internet Access service. The exact terminology varies by provider.
How much does business Ethernet cost?
Market pricing can start from around £69/month for 100Mbps and £129/month for 1Gbps in well-served locations, but actual prices depend heavily on postcode, carrier and construction requirements.
Is Ethernet better than FTTP?
It provides stronger guarantees, dedicated capacity and symmetrical speeds, but costs more. FTTP remains the better-value option for many SMEs.
What speed Ethernet does my business need?
100Mbps may be enough for smaller businesses needing guaranteed connectivity. 1Gbps is common for growing cloud-heavy organisations, while 10Gbps is usually aimed at much larger workloads.
How long does Ethernet installation take?
Dedicated circuits often take roughly 30-90 working days to install, but complex sites can take longer.
Does business Ethernet include an SLA?
Yes, dedicated business Ethernet normally includes a provider SLA covering availability and fault response. The exact terms vary.
Can Ethernet connect two offices?
Yes. Ethernet point-to-point services can privately connect two business locations.
Can I still use Wi-Fi with an Ethernet leased line?
Yes. The Ethernet circuit provides connectivity to the premises; Wi-Fi can still distribute that connection internally.
Should a small business buy a leased line?
Only if it needs the additional guarantees. Most small businesses should compare business FTTP first because it is significantly cheaper.
Related Connectivity Guides Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
