Business broadband packages often look great on the surface. Speeds “up to” 1 Gbps, 24/7 support, low monthly prices. But dig deeper, and many businesses find they’re not actually getting what they thought they signed up for.
In this post, we’ll break down what you’re really paying for – and what’s often missing.
“Up to” is the weasel phrase of the broadband world.
Advertised speeds are often maximums under perfect conditions – not what you’ll actually experience during work hours when your team is on video calls, uploading files, and syncing cloud tools.
Add in contention ratios, traffic shaping, and peak congestion, and your real-world speeds might be 30–50% lower than advertised.
Most broadband deals hide the fact that your upload speed is a fraction of the download. That’s fine for watching Netflix – not so great for cloud backups, VoIP calls, or large file uploads to clients.
Want symmetrical speeds? You’ll need a leased line or similar business-grade connection.
Many business broadband packages advertise “24/7 support.” But there’s a big difference between logging a ticket with a chatbot and speaking to a dedicated UK-based engineer with authority to fix the issue.
Pay attention to:
If your business broadband is contended, you’re sharing capacity with dozens (or hundreds) of others. That’s like sharing a single lift with an entire office block – fine off-peak, painful at 9am.
Uncontended connections (e.g. leased lines) offer guaranteed bandwidth, regardless of your neighbours.
Watch out for:
Always ask for a clear breakdown of what’s included – and compare it to what your business actually needs.
| Feature | Standard Business Broadband | Dedicated Leased Line |
| Download Speed | Up to 1Gbps (shared) | Up to 10Gbps (dedicated) |
| Upload Speed | Often capped at 10-50Mbps | Equal to download (symmetrical) |
| Contention | Shared with other users | 1:1 – uncontended |
| SLA | Basic (24-72 hrs+ fix) | Premium (4-5hr fix) |
| Downtime Compensation | Limited or none | Often built into contract |
| Monthly Cost | Lower | Higher, but predictable and value-aligned |
If your broadband isn’t matching your expectations – or you’re unsure what you’re actually paying for – it’s time to dig deeper.
Modern businesses deserve more than vague promises. They need guaranteed speeds, transparent pricing, and reliable service that scales with their needs.
