Business broadband deals for 2024

Business broadband deals can supply an office or company with a secure, reliable broadband connection. As more people will likely be using the internet in an office than in homes, this type of broadband must be fast and safe. Many providers also offer phone use in their packages.

What is business broadband?

Business broadband has to serve more people than home broadband, so it should come with a router that can connect to plenty of devices. While business broadband is often used in offices, as it’s a more secure, stable and fast connection for employees and business owners, you can also get business broadband for your home (eg if you run your company remotely).

It also makes sense to look for a broadband and phone deal for your business, especially if it requires the use of a landline. This means you’ll only pay one bill each month, and some providers offer business-specific add-ons to their phone packages, such as conference calls or multiple phone lines in one office.

What comes with a business broadband deal?

The inclusions in your plan will be unique to each provider, but some things you can expect include:

Guaranteed service: your internet connection must be stable and reliable when you use business broadband, so most providers offer a guaranteed service a 4G connection as a backup option should anything go wrong with the broadband
Faster speeds: your business will likely need to upload and download at a faster and more consistent rate than home broadband customers, so you can expect to enjoy high speeds on both fronts
Dedicated customer service: a 24-hour helpline is often available with business broadband, as well as prioritised customer service
Enhanced security: while add-ons such as anti-virus software and spyware protection are common with home broadband services, you should find these services automatically included in your business broadband package
Static IP address: most people have a dynamic IP address in their home, which means their IP address will be different every time they connect to the internet. A static IP address means that it’s always the same, which is essential for running a server, having a domain name in your email address (and your employees’ email addresses) and creating a website
Higher capacity broadband router: unsurprisingly, more people will be connecting to the router than with a home broadband plan, so it’s important that the router (or routers, if several are required) is reliable and can serve the number of people using the internet

How much does business broadband cost?

This will depend on the provider, but generally, you can expect to pay a fair bit more than the most basic home broadband packages and around the same as some of the more comprehensive home broadband plans. Unless deals and sales are running, you should prepare to spend around £60 per month for a package that includes a landline service (which you can omit with most providers), fast average download speeds and a router that connects to multiple devices.

If you need business broadband for a large office or coworking space where hundreds of employees will be connecting to the internet, it may be necessary to purchase several routers, as the router included in your plan may not have the capacity to service a large building. Most providers will offer this extra.

Which providers offer the best business broadband deals?

Most of the top UK broadband providers offer business broadband packages, and while plans vary, there are a few things you can always expect. Keep in mind that Plusnet has discontinued its business broadband service and EE no longer offers dedicated business broadband plans; however, EE is part of BT, which offers great deals.

Business packages usually comprise fibre or full fibre broadband due to its fast download speeds and reliable service (and the fact that, in the future, the whole of the UK will use fibre and full fibre, both of which are slowly being rolled out by providers).

Package name	Avg. download speeds	Avg. upload speeds	Cost	24-hour customer support?	What’s included
BT Broadband Enhanced + Phone line	910Mbps	104Mbps	£62.95/m	Yes	A Smart Hub router, a phone app for business calls, Hybrid Connect 4G backup, guest wifi, a minimum speed guarantee, malware protection and a static IP address
Sky Business Plus	500Mbps	60Mbps	£44.95/m	Yes	4G backup, advanced security, two phone lines, guest wifi, a router that connects to up to 100 devices and two digital phone lines, option to add SpeedFlex for up
Vodafone Business Pro II Full Fibre 900	910Mbps	105Mbps	£28/m for 12 months, then £56/m	Unclear	An ultra hub with wifi 6E that connects to up to 150 devices, simultaneous streaming for up to 36 users, 4G backup and a wifi booster
Virgin Media Business Voom Gig1 Bundle	1,000Mbps	100Mbps	£67/m	No, but it promises to solve an issue within 12 hours	A choice between a dynamic IP address or five static IP addresses, guest wifi, a flexible package, unlimited UK calls, 4G backup and the option to move down a speed mid-contract
TalkTalk Business Full Fibre 900	950Mbps	109Mbps	£36.95/m	Yes	A free new landline installation, 12-month contracts and the option of dedicated internet access

What are the most common types of broadband for business packages?

Full fibre broadband

As mentioned, fibre and full fibre broadband are often offered for business broadband plans, but full fibre is the best option if you want a fast, reliable connection. That’s because it’s the best type of broadband you can get, and its quick speeds and reliable service make it well suited for an office full of devices or a home office that needs to run on fast internet. However, full fibre is still a new concept and is not available to every household and company in the UK, so you’ll need to check if it’s available to you.

Broadband with 4G backup

Lots of business broadband plans come with a 4G backup guarantee, which means that if your broadband stops working, it will use 4G from the same provider to provide internet. Similarly to full fibre broadband, this isn’t an option that will work for everyone – if you’re in a remote area, you might not be able to access that provider’s 4G service.

Broadband and phone packages

Most top UK providers give you the option to bundle your business broadband with a phone line. This makes sense, as many businesses will find it necessary to operate phone lines in their companies. These package deals often include bonuses such as free UK calls or the option to use your mobile phone as your landline and connect to business calls when out and about. If you know your business isn’t likely to ever need a phone line, opting for one of these bundles isn’t recommended, as there’s no reason to pay for something you won’t use.

What should I consider when comparing broadband offers?

Many broadband providers offer similar packages for business broadband, but here are some things you should keep in mind:

Cost: this will likely be one of the factors on your mind when comparing deals. Make sure you’re only paying for what you need, and don’t add a landline service to your plan if you know it isn’t necessary for your business. Remember that if you’re registered as a company, you should be able to claim this cost back as a business expense
Phone plans and video over internet protocol (VoIP): VoIP means you can make phone calls using your broadband connection rather than your landline. This might be preferable if you don’t need physical landline phones in your office but you do want to make and receive work calls from one place
Contract length: some providers offer 12-month contracts, which is great if you’re only just setting up your business and don’t want to commit to a long contract. Other providers offer flexible terms, meaning you can adjust your download speeds partway through your contract
IP addresses: certain providers will let you choose between a dynamic or static IP address, but generally, businesses need a static IP address because this is how they create websites and host domains
Security: protection from spyware, malware and hackers is always important, even when considering home broadband packages, but for a business, it’s especially imperative because of the data you’ll want to keep secure. This is why virus protection is often a purchasable add-on for home broadband packages but is almost always included in business broadband plans

Business broadband deals FAQs

This depends on how big your office is: the general rule of thumb is that a router usually stretches to about 150 feet inside and 300 feet outside. If your office is very large, you’ll likely need more than one router so everyone in the building can connect to the internet.

Yes. It makes sense to bundle business broadband with a landline service if the provider offers it and you know you’ll use the landline. It also means you’ll pay one monthly bill for the broadband and the landline, and you can usually enjoy good deals by adding both to your basket at the same time.

Business broadband often needs faster download speeds than home broadband because more people will be connecting to the internet and uploading and downloading more than your average home broadband user. The monthly cost will also usually be higher.

There are other features that you’ll only find with business broadband, like a static IP address (rather than a dynamic one) and the option of guest wifi, which means that people visiting the business (eg customers in a cafe or restaurant) can join the network without using a password.

Hannah Holway

Energy Saving Expert

Hannah Holway is a writer with eight years of experience in writing and editing across several different categories. As a home tech expert at Independent Advisor, Hannah researches, tests and writes about broadband services and home security gadgets.

She started her career as a freelance film and culture journalist, and has written for editorial platforms such as Wonderland and Hero magazine, as well as interviewing directors, actors and musical artists. While at Wonderland, she was also Social Media Editor for the brand and Contributing Editor for the publication’s sister print titles.

In 2020 she joined New York Magazine’s The Strategist UK, reporting on evolving shopping trends and writing about everything from period pants and pens to books and the next ‘status’ candle. She then used her consumer trends knowledge and expertise in her role as Shopping Writer for Woman and Home Digital, where she oversaw a range of shopping content, writing product reviews and other features in the realm of health and fitness, beauty, fashion and homes.

Hannah has also had her academic work published in journals and presented at conferences, and she has a BA and MA in Film Studies.

Amy Reeves

Editor

Amy is a seasoned writer and editor with a special interest in home design, sustainable technology and green building methods.

She has interviewed hundreds of self-builders, extenders and renovators about their journeys towards individual, well-considered homes, as well as architects and industry experts during her five years working as Assistant Editor at Homebuilding & Renovating, part of Future plc.

Amy’s work covers topics ranging from home, interior and garden design to DIY step-by-steps, planning permission and build costs, and has been published in Period Living, Real Homes, and 25 Beautiful Homes, Homes and Gardens.

Now an Editor at the Independent Advisor, Amy manages homes-related content for the site, including solar panels, combi boilers, and windows.

Her passion for saving tired and inefficient homes also extends to her own life; Amy completed a renovation of a mid-century house in 2022 and is about to embark on an energy-efficient overhaul of a 1800s cottage in Somerset.

Business broadband deals