In short
BTnet Bandwidth Flex lets you change your port speed up or down within the capacity of your bearer. BT's help pages say it needs 72 hours' notice and that rental changes pro rata. BT's terms add that each flex is chargeable, runs at least five Business Days, and a flex beyond your BT equipment needs new equipment.
Get a quote for BTnet Bandwidth Flex
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
How Bandwidth Flex works
In BT's terms, a Bandwidth Flex is an increase or decrease in your bandwidth that you can request during the Minimum Term, within the limits of your access bearer. The bearer, the physical access circuit, stays the same; only the bandwidth you use on it changes.
- Up or down. You can increase speed for a busy period or reduce it when things are quieter.
- Within the bearer. The new speed must fit within your bearer's capacity and the increments BT allows for that bearer and speed combination.
- 72 hours' notice. BT's help pages say a flex needs only 72 hours' notice.
- Rental follows the speed. BT's help pages say rental changes pro rata for the period of the flex, so a reduction can lower costs in quieter months.
- No new line. Because the bearer already supports the new speed, there is no new access circuit to install.
For how bearers and port speeds relate, see leased line bearers and port speeds.
BT's conditions in plain words
BT's service schedule sets out the rules that sit behind the headline. They are worth knowing before you plan around flex:
| Condition | What BT's terms say | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Limits | Flex is subject to the size of the access bearer and the increments allowed for the bearer and bandwidth combination | You cannot flex above the bearer's capacity, and only to the speed steps BT offers on it |
| Charges | Any increase or decrease is chargeable | Ask us what a flex costs for your service before you plan regular changes |
| Minimum period per flex | Each flex operates for at least five Business Days before you can request another | Flex suits weeks and months, not day-by-day changes |
| Equipment | A flex beyond the capacity of the BT equipment at your site needs a change of equipment at the same time, and a new Minimum Term applies | A large jump may mean a new router and a new contract term |
| Termination | If you reduce bandwidth within six months before giving notice to terminate, termination charges are worked out on the rental before the reduction | Flexing down just before leaving does not reduce exit charges |
These are BT's terms; your order and contract set out exactly how they apply to your service. See BTnet contract terms for termination and minimum periods.
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right plan for your organisation, with a quote.
When flexing makes sense
Flex is most useful when demand changes in predictable blocks of weeks or months:
- Seasonal peaks: retailers before key trading periods, charities during appeals, education at the start of term
- Projects: a large data migration, a move to new cloud systems, or a period of heavy video production
- Events: conferences, exhibitions or temporary teams at a site
- Growth: stepping up as headcount grows, rather than paying for capacity you are not yet using
- Quieter periods: stepping down where a site is lightly used for a sustained stretch, so rental falls pro rata
It is less suited to brief spikes. Because each flex is chargeable and must run for at least five Business Days, it is not a way to change speed for an afternoon. If you have frequent short spikes, a higher base speed or a different resilience design such as load balancing may be a better fit.
Plan your flex room at the start
The amount of flex available to you is decided when you choose the bearer. A 100Mbps bearer cannot flex above 100Mbps. A 1Gbps bearer can carry a lower port speed and flex up to a gigabit. A 10Gbps bearer gives room up to ten gigabits.
- Estimate your peak need over the contract term, not just today. See the bandwidth sizing guide.
- Choose a bearer that covers it, so growth stays within flex.
- Check the equipment. With a managed Cisco router or BTnet Meraki, ask for the equipment's specification, which BT's terms say is available on request, since going beyond its capacity means new equipment and a new Minimum Term. With BTnet wires only, make sure your own router or firewall can handle the highest speed you may flex to.
- Agree how you will request a flex, so changes can be made in writing with notice when you need them.
See 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps for how flex works at each speed.
Is BTnet Bandwidth Flex the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Flex compared with other ways to add capacity
Flex is one of several ways to match the line to demand. Each suits a different situation:
| Option | When it fits | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth Flex up | Demand has grown, or a busy period is coming, and the bearer has room | Port speed and rental, within the same bearer |
| Bandwidth Flex down | A sustained quieter period at the site | Port speed and rental fall pro rata; BT's termination rules on recent reductions apply |
| A larger bearer | You need more than the current bearer can carry | A different access circuit, quoted separately |
| A second line | You want resilience as well as capacity | A second access line for load balancing, failover or back-up |
| Rescheduling heavy traffic | Peaks come from backups or updates at busy times | Nothing on the line: move the heavy jobs out of hours |
Often the cheapest fix is a mix: schedule backups and updates overnight, then flex only if the daytime peak is still too high. Our bandwidth sizing guide helps you see where your peak comes from.
Flexing through Forever Communications
When you buy BTnet from us, we can help you plan flex from the start and handle requests during the contract. In practice that means talking through how your use changes over the year, pricing a bearer with the right headroom, explaining what a flex will cost and how it affects your term, and passing your request to BT in writing when you need it.
Lead times for a flex follow BT's notice period, and BT's conditions apply. Ask us for a quote: contact us and tell us how your bandwidth needs change through the year.
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
Can I change the speed of my BTnet leased line?
Yes. BT's Bandwidth Flex lets you move your port speed up or down within the capacity of your bearer, subject to BT's terms and the speed steps available on that bearer.
How much notice does BTnet Bandwidth Flex need?
BT's help pages say 72 hours' notice. BT's terms add that each flex runs for at least five Business Days before another can be requested.
Does a flex change my monthly rental?
Yes. BT's help pages say rental changes pro rata for the period of the flex. BT's terms also say each flex is chargeable, so ask us what it costs for your service.
Can I flex above my bearer's speed?
No. Flex works within the bearer's capacity. Going beyond it needs a larger access line, which is why choosing a bearer with headroom matters. See leased line bearers.
Does flexing start a new contract?
Not normally. BT's terms say a new Minimum Term applies when a flex goes beyond the capacity of the BT equipment at your site and needs new equipment.
Still have a question about BTnet Bandwidth Flex?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.