In short
A BT business leased line, sold by BT as BTnet, is a dedicated fibre internet connection for one business site. Bandwidth is uncontended and symmetrical, port speeds run from 2Mbps to 10Gbps, static IPv4 addresses are included, and BT's SLA covers availability, on-time delivery and network latency. Ask us for a quote.
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What a BTnet leased line gives your business
BTnet is BT's dedicated internet access service for business. Instead of sharing capacity with other users, as broadband does, your site gets its own access line into BT's network and bandwidth that is reserved for you. That is why people search for a BT dedicated leased line: the line, and the speed you buy on it, are yours alone.
- Dedicated and uncontended. BT describes BTnet as 100% uncontended, so busy periods elsewhere do not eat into your bandwidth. See contended vs uncontended.
- Symmetrical speeds. Upload matches download, which matters for video calls, cloud backup, CCTV and sending large files. See symmetrical speeds.
- 2Mbps to 10Gbps. Port speeds come in steps based on Ethernet speeds, from 2Mbps up to 10Gbps. See BTnet speeds.
- Room to grow. Bandwidth Flex lets you change speed within the capacity of your bearer, without a new line.
- Unlimited use. BT says there is no fair usage policy on BTnet, so you can use as much data as you need.
- Static IP addresses. Static IPv4 addresses come as standard, which helps with VPNs, remote access and allow-listing. See static IP addresses.
- BT's service levels. BT's terms set a 100% availability service level with service credits, plus delivery and latency commitments. See the BTnet SLA.
- Voice and cloud ready. BT says it gives voice traffic priority on BTnet and uses Direct Private Peering with major cloud providers. See what a leased line is used for.
Ways to take BTnet: three plans
BT currently offers BTnet in three main forms. The access line and bandwidth are the same idea in each; what changes is who supplies and manages the equipment at your end, and how much security is built in.
| BTnet plan | Equipment at your site | Who looks after security | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTnet wires only | Your own router or firewall, connected to BT's network terminating equipment | You (or your IT provider) | Businesses with their own IT team, an existing firewall or a custom network design |
| BTnet + Cisco router | A Cisco router supplied and fully managed by BT | You run your own firewall and security | Businesses that want the router looked after but keep control of security |
| BTnet Meraki + BTnet Security | Managed Cisco Meraki equipment | BTnet Security adds a Layer 7 firewall, malware protection, URL filtering and intrusion prevention | Businesses that want the connection and a security layer from one service |
Our BTnet leased line plans page compares them in detail, including where BT's responsibility ends in each case. With BT's Meraki equipment you can also add BTnet Wi-Fi for managed wireless across your site. Ask about BTnet Express where a quicker-to-install connection suits, and plan resilience with a second line.
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Tell us what you need and we will help you choose the right plan.
Speeds, bearers and bandwidth
Two numbers matter when you order BTnet:
- The bearer: the physical access circuit to your site, for example a 100Mbps, 1Gbps or 10Gbps Ethernet fibre bearer. It sets the ceiling.
- The port speed: the bandwidth you actually buy on that bearer, which can sit below the bearer's capacity and be flexed up or down within it.
Choosing a bigger bearer than you need today can make later upgrades a simple flex rather than a new installation. Read leased line bearers explained, then use our bandwidth sizing guide to work out what your team really needs. If you already have a line, our leased line speed test guide shows how to test it properly: BT notes that real throughput is typically 5-10% below the port speed because of network and IP overheads.
There are pages for the speeds people ask about most: 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps.
Service levels and resilience
BTnet comes with service levels set out in BT's terms rather than on the shared, no-commitment basis of ordinary broadband. In summary:
| Service level | What BT's terms cover |
|---|---|
| Availability | A 100% availability service level (excluding Wi-Fi), with credits of one day's rental per hour of downtime, capped at 10 hours a quarter |
| On-time delivery | Credits against connection charges if BT misses the Customer Committed Date, rising with the number of working days late |
| Network latency | An average round trip of 20ms or less on BT's UK core and 95ms or less transatlantic, measured over a calendar month |
The credits have conditions, deadlines and exclusions, which we explain on the BTnet SLA and leased line latency pages. If your site cannot afford to go offline, a single line is still a single point of failure. Depending on your site and set-up, BT offers three resilience options with a second access line: failover, load balancing and a lower-speed back-up line.
Need help choosing?
We will recommend what fits your organisation and explain why, in plain English.
Installation, from enquiry to go-live
A leased line is built for your site, so it takes longer than plugging in a broadband router. BT's help pages say installation can take up to 70 working days depending on the survey, and BT gives a Customer Committed Date once the survey is done.
- We talk through what you need and check availability at your address. See check BTnet availability.
- You receive a written quote, and the order is placed with BT.
- A site survey confirms the route into your building and where the equipment will go.
- Any excess construction charges or wayleave agreement needs are dealt with.
- BT confirms the Customer Committed Date and carries out the engineering work.
- The equipment is fitted and tested, you run acceptance tests, and the service goes live.
Our BTnet installation process guide covers each step, with separate pages on lead times and preparing your site.
What BTnet costs
There is no single price for a BTnet leased line, because each one is built for a particular site. The price depends on the bearer and port speed, the contract term, the plan and equipment, any security, Wi-Fi or resilience options, and whether extra construction is needed to reach you. Our BT leased line cost guide explains each factor, and BTnet contract terms sets out minimum periods and termination charges in plain words.
We do not publish prices on this site. To get a figure for your address, ask us for a quote. Our leased line quote page lists what we need from you, and questions to ask before you order helps you compare options within BTnet.
What businesses use BTnet for
A dedicated line makes the biggest difference where many people, devices or systems depend on the connection at once:
- Voice and video calls, including BT Cloud Voice, where BT gives voice traffic priority
- Microsoft 365 and cloud apps, helped by BT's Direct Private Peering
- CCTV and remote monitoring, which need steady upload
- Multi-site organisations that want consistent internet access at each site
We also explain BTnet for particular kinds of organisation, from schools and academy trusts and GP practices and clinics to law firms, manufacturing sites, retail, hotels, offices, councils and charities. Start at leased lines by sector.
How Forever Communications helps
Forever Communications is an Authorised Supplier for BT and part of Forever Group. We help you size the bandwidth, choose between wires only, a managed Cisco router or Meraki with BTnet Security, decide whether you need resilience, and understand what the survey, wayleave and lead time mean for your move-in or switch-over date. After go-live, we can help with changes such as Bandwidth Flex, moves and SLA claims.
Read why buy BTnet from Forever Communications, see how BTnet support works, or browse the BTnet FAQs and leased line glossary. If you also want a phone system, we supply BT Cloud Voice too.
When you are ready, contact us with your postcode and what you use the connection for.
New to leased lines?
If you are weighing up whether you need a leased line at all, these guides explain the basics in plain words:
More about BTnet leased lines
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Why buy BTnet from Forever Communications
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group and an Authorised Supplier for BT. We supply BTnet, BT's dedicated leased line internet service, to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, and we help with each step from first enquiry to go-live.
- The right BTnet option for you: we help you choose a speed, bearer, router and resilience option that fits how your sites actually work, from BTnet plans to BTnet speeds
- A clear quote: BTnet is priced per site, so we check availability at your address and set out what is included; see leased line cost
- Installation managed with you: we explain the survey, any wayleave or construction steps and the installation process, and keep you updated on progress
- Connected services in one conversation: phones with BT Cloud Voice, Wi-Fi, firewalls and backup lines, so the whole set-up is planned together
- Help after go-live: we can help with faults, changes and upgrades, with the support arrangements confirmed in your quote
BTnet is a business service. Service levels, lead times and features are BT's and are confirmed at order.
Frequently asked questions
What is a BT business leased line?
It is BT's dedicated internet access service for business, sold as BTnet. Your site gets its own access line into BT's network with uncontended, symmetrical bandwidth, static IPv4 addresses and service levels set out in BT's terms. See what is a BT leased line.
What speeds can BTnet provide?
BT's terms list port speeds from 2Mbps to 10Gbps, in steps based on Ethernet speeds, with the same upload and download speed. BT's plans tab shows standard speeds up to 1Gbps, with higher speeds available. See BTnet speeds.
How long does a BTnet installation take?
BT's help pages say it can take up to 70 working days, depending on the site survey. BT gives a Customer Committed Date after the survey. BTnet Express typically takes 35-40 working days where it is available. See lead times.
Does BTnet come with a router?
It can. BT offers BTnet with a fully managed Cisco router, or with managed Cisco Meraki equipment and BTnet Security. You can also choose BTnet wires only and use your own router or firewall. See BTnet plans.
How much does a BT leased line cost?
It depends on the bearer, port speed, contract term, equipment, options and the work needed to reach your site. We do not publish prices; ask us for a quote. See BT leased line cost.
Is this BT's website?
No. This site is run by Forever Communications, part of Forever Group and an Authorised Supplier for BT. We supply BTnet leased lines to businesses and organisations and help them through quote, order, installation and changes. See why buy BTnet from Forever Communications.
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