In short
A leased line site survey checks how a suitable access line can reach your premises: the route from the network into the building, the entry point, the path to your comms room and where equipment will go. For BTnet, BT says the survey is the first step of any order and gives a firm lead time.
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Why every BTnet order starts with a survey
Business broadband usually runs over a line that is already there. A leased line is different: it is a dedicated access line built from BT's network to your site, so someone has to work out how it will get there.
BT's help pages say all BTnet installations are subject to a site survey, completed as the first step of any order, and that the survey gives a firm expectation of lead time. BT's terms add that BT arranges any surveys needed to confirm that a suitable access line is available to the site, and that if the survey finds additional engineering is needed, the excess construction charges process applies.
So the survey answers three practical questions: can the line reach you, what work is needed to get it there, and when can it be delivered.
Desktop survey and site survey compared
| Desktop survey | Site survey | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Before you order, as part of the quote | After you order, as the first step |
| How | A remote assessment of how complex delivery is likely to be, without a visit | Checks on the route and at your building |
| What you get | A delivery category and a predicted lead time | A firm expectation of lead time, then a Customer Committed Date |
| What it can miss | Blocked ducts, building layouts, access problems and permissions | Little, if the right people and areas are available |
| Used for | Planning and comparing options or addresses | Designing the installation and confirming the date |
The desktop survey is BT's way of giving an early indication; the site survey is what turns it into a plan. See how BTnet availability is checked for the steps before ordering.
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What the survey typically looks at
The detail varies by building, but a survey for a dedicated line usually considers:
- The route to the building. Whether existing duct and infrastructure can be used, or new work is needed in the street or on private land.
- The entry point. Where the line comes into the building and whether an existing entry can be used.
- The route inside the building. Risers, ceiling voids, floor voids and the path to your comms room, including where trunking, conduits or cable trays are needed.
- Where the equipment goes. A suitable place for the NTE and, on managed plans, BT's router or Meraki equipment, with power nearby.
- Permissions. Whether the work crosses land or common parts owned by someone else, which may need a wayleave agreement.
- Health, safety and access. Any site rules, restricted areas or hazards the engineers need to know about.
- Resilience. If you ordered a second access line, how far the two routes and entry points can be kept apart.
What to have ready for the survey
A survey goes best when the surveyor can see everything in one visit. Before the date, line up:
- A site contact who knows the building and can escort the surveyor, available in Business Hours (08:00 to 17:00 on a Business Day under BT's terms).
- Access to every area on the route: the comms room, risers, plant rooms, ceiling and floor voids, and any external areas or car parks.
- Building plans or drawings, if you have them, showing risers, existing ducts and where services enter.
- Landlord or managing agent details, especially in a multi-let building or on a business park, so consent can be requested quickly.
- Health, safety and security information in writing, including any permits to work. For older buildings this can include an asbestos register.
- A preferred equipment location, with space and a power supply, and an idea of how it will connect to your own network.
BT's terms ask you to give BT accurate and complete information about the site, including health, safety, security and environmental information, and say BT may review charges if information turns out to be incomplete or incorrect. Getting it right at survey stage protects your quote as well as your date.
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What happens after the survey
The survey outcome decides the next step:
| Outcome | Next step |
|---|---|
| A standard installation | BT gives a Customer Committed Date and plans the engineering work |
| Extra engineering within your agreed ECC limit | BT proceeds and completes the additional works as part of delivery |
| Extra engineering above your limit, or no limit in the order | BT may re-quote; you accept and work continues, or the order for that site is cancelled |
| A wayleave or landlord consent needed | The consent is requested and the related work waits for it |
| Site preparation needed | You arrange space, power, cable routes or building works before the installation visit |
BT's terms also allow for site survey charges, including excess construction charges, above the limit agreed in the order, or where none were set out in the order, subject to you agreeing a new quote. Ask about them at quote stage so you know where you stand. Our BTnet lead times page explains the committed date in detail.
Questions to ask at the survey
The survey is your best chance to understand the installation before it happens. Useful questions to ask, or to ask us to raise:
- Which route will the line take from the street to the building, and does it cross anyone else's land or common parts?
- Where will it enter the building, and is that entry point shared with other services?
- Where will the NTE and equipment go, and is there enough space, ventilation and power there?
- What preparation do we need to do before installation day: trunking, openings, cable routes or internal cabling?
- Is any extra engineering likely, and how does it compare with the ECC limit in the order?
- Is a wayleave or landlord consent needed, and who needs to sign it?
- If we ordered resilience, how far apart can the two routes and entry points be kept?
Write down the answers and share them with whoever manages your building and your IT. They are the brief for your site preparation.
Surveys for moves and second lines
The survey is not only for new connections. Under BT's terms, internal moves (within the same site) and external moves (to a new site) of BTnet are both subject to a site survey. If you are relocating a comms room or the whole office, treat the survey as the start of the move, not a formality. See moving office with BTnet.
For resilient BTnet, the survey is also where route separation is looked at. Two access lines that share a duct or an entry point can be affected by the same incident, so ask what separation is possible at your site before you rely on it.
How Forever Communications helps
Forever Communications is an Authorised Supplier for BT. We can help you get the survey right first time: what to have ready, who should be there, what to ask about routes and equipment locations, and what the results mean for your date and quote. If the survey raises excess construction or a wayleave, we explain the options in plain words before you decide.
Contact us to start a BTnet order or ask about a survey for a new site.
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
Is a site survey needed for a leased line?
Yes. BT says all BTnet installations are subject to a site survey, carried out as the first step of any order. It confirms a suitable access line can reach your site and gives a firm lead time.
What is a desktop survey?
A remote assessment, before you order, of how complex delivery to your site is likely to be. BT uses it with average installation times in your area to give a predicted lead time and a delivery category.
How long does a leased line site survey take?
It depends on the size and layout of the building and the route. Having a site contact, plans and access to every area ready means the survey can usually be completed in one visit.
What happens if the survey finds extra work?
Excess construction charges may apply. Within the limit agreed in your order, BT proceeds. Above it, or if no limit was set, BT may re-quote, and you accept or the order for that site is cancelled.
Do I need my landlord for the site survey?
Often it helps. If the route uses common areas or land the landlord owns, consent or a wayleave may be needed, so have their details ready and let them know a survey is coming.
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