| Feature | Business Internet (Dedicated) | Business Broadband |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Dedicated — the bandwidth is yours alone. | Shared with other users in your area. |
| Speed | Symmetrical, guaranteed (e.g. 1Gb/1Gb). | Fast downloads, slower uploads, 'up to' speeds. |
| Busy periods | No slowdown — uncontended. | Can dip when the area is busy. |
| SLA | Guaranteed uptime and fast fix times. | Business care, but best-effort. |
| Cost | Higher monthly cost. | Low monthly cost. |
| Install | Weeks (built for you). | Days. |
| Best for | Businesses where connectivity is critical. | Most offices, shops and small teams. |
Choose Business Internet (Dedicated) if…
- Downtime directly costs you money
- Heavy uploads, cloud systems, many VoIP calls
- You need contractual uptime guarantees
Choose Business Broadband if…
- You want strong speeds at a sensible price
- Brief slowdowns wouldn't hurt the business
- You'd rather add 4G/5G failover than pay for dedication
Our verdict
Most businesses are well served by good business broadband — full fibre where available — with 4G/5G failover for resilience. Step up to dedicated business internet when the connection is genuinely mission-critical: contact centres, heavy cloud users, multi-site operations, or anywhere an outage means lost revenue. We quote both side by side so the decision is a numbers one, not a guess.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'business broadband' just home broadband with a different name?
No — business packages come with business-grade support, static IP options and priority fixes. But the underlying connection is still shared, unlike a dedicated line.
What is DIA?
Dedicated Internet Access — a private, uncontended connection (usually a fibre leased line) with guaranteed symmetrical speeds and an SLA.
Can broadband handle VoIP and cloud apps?
Yes, comfortably, for most teams — especially on full fibre. Very high call volumes or heavy real-time workloads are where dedicated internet earns its keep.
What's the price difference?
Business broadband is a fraction of the cost of a dedicated line. The gap narrows as leased line prices fall, so it's always worth getting both quoted for your postcode.
Not sure which is right for you?
Tell us how your business works and we'll recommend the best fit — no hard sell, honest UK advice.