In short
A leased line is used wherever a business needs fast, steady internet in both directions at once: voice and video calls, Microsoft 365 and other cloud apps, file transfer and cloud backup, CCTV and remote monitoring, linking several sites, hosting services on fixed IP addresses and guest Wi-Fi. BTnet gives dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth for all of them.
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Why businesses move to a leased line
Not long ago an office connection mostly carried email and web browsing. Today the same connection carries the phone system, every video meeting, the files people used to keep on a server, the backup, the cameras in the car park and the Wi-Fi in reception. When it slows down, almost everything slows down with it.
A leased line changes the shape of that connection rather than just its headline speed. BTnet, BT's business leased line, has three properties that matter for every use on this page:
- Dedicated and uncontended. BT describes BTnet as 100% uncontended: the bandwidth you order is yours alone, so other people's busy periods do not eat into it. See contended vs uncontended.
- Symmetrical. Upload matches download, so sending is as quick as receiving. See symmetrical internet speeds.
- Backed by BT's SLA. BT sets out service levels for availability, on-time delivery and latency, with service credits under its terms. See the BTnet SLA.
BT's help pages also say there is no fair usage policy on BTnet, so heavy uses such as backup and camera footage do not run into a data cap. Speeds run from 2Mbps to 10Gbps, so the same service can suit a small office or a large campus.
Common uses at a glance
| Use | What it needs from the connection | How BTnet helps | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice and video calls | Low, steady delay and enough bandwidth both ways for every call at peak | BT says it prioritises voice traffic on BTnet; BT's latency commitment on its UK core | VoIP and cloud calling |
| Microsoft 365 and cloud apps | Quick round trips and upload for saving and sync | BT's Direct Private Peering with cloud providers, Microsoft, Apple, Google and Amazon among them | Cloud apps |
| File transfer and cloud backup | Sustained upload, often for hours | Symmetrical bandwidth and no fair usage policy | Cloud apps |
| CCTV and remote monitoring | Continuous upload and a fixed address for remote viewing | Uncontended, symmetrical bandwidth; static IPv4 addresses as standard | CCTV |
| Several sites | Consistent internet at each site and fixed addresses for VPNs | BTnet at each site, static IPs and data centre access bearers | Multi-site |
| Hosting and remote access | Inbound access on a known address | Static IPv4 addresses included | Static IP addresses |
| Guest Wi-Fi | A separate network with capacity at busy times | BTnet Wi-Fi on managed Meraki equipment, including guest Wi-Fi | BTnet Wi-Fi |
Most sites do several of these at once, which is the real reason to size the line on peak combined use rather than any single job. Our bandwidth sizing guide shows how to add them up.
Not sure which option fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right option for your organisation, with a quote.
Voice and video calls
Calls are the use people notice first when a connection struggles. Voice needs very little bandwidth per call but is sensitive to delay, jitter and lost packets, which are exactly what a busy shared connection produces. Video meetings need far more bandwidth, and they send your camera feed as well as receiving everyone else's, so upload matters.
BT says BTnet is built with voice in mind, naming its own Cloud Voice and SIP services, and that voice traffic gets priority on its low-latency network. BT also sets a latency commitment for its UK core network in the BTnet SLA. If you are replacing old phone lines with a hosted phone system, a leased line gives the calls a dedicated foundation. Forever Communications also supplies BT Cloud Voice, so the line and the phones can be planned together. Read more in a leased line for VoIP and cloud calling.
Cloud apps, Microsoft 365 and backup
When files, email and business systems live in the cloud, your internet connection becomes your office network. Every save, sync, search and refresh is a round trip, and dozens of people make them at the same time.
BT says BTnet uses Direct Private Peering for cloud applications, naming Microsoft, Apple, Google and Amazon, so that traffic stays off the public internet. Add symmetrical bandwidth and Microsoft 365, file sync and cloud backup all have room to work in both directions. Large uploads that once ran overnight can run during the day without crowding out calls, provided the line is sized for both. See a leased line for Microsoft 365 and cloud apps.
Is BTnet the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
CCTV, building systems and remote monitoring
Cameras that record to the cloud, or that people view from elsewhere, push video up the line continuously. On a connection where upload is a fraction of download, a handful of cameras can use most of it. Building management, access control and other connected systems add more steady traffic, and often need a fixed address so they can be reached securely.
BTnet's symmetrical, uncontended bandwidth and its static IPv4 addresses suit these jobs well. Our leased line for CCTV guide explains how to size upload on your camera count and how to keep remote access secure.
Several sites, one approach
Organisations with offices, depots, stores or a data centre often want the same quality of internet access everywhere. BTnet is internet access for each site rather than a private network between sites, so sites usually connect to each other through encrypted VPNs between firewalls, using each site's static IP addresses, and reach cloud services directly.
Each site can have a different speed and plan, a head office can add resilience, and a data centre can take BTnet on a data centre access bearer. See BTnet for multi-site organisations.
Hosting, remote access and guest Wi-Fi
Static IPv4 addresses come with BTnet as standard. That makes it practical to run a VPN for home workers, host a service such as a web server or remote desktop gateway, or have suppliers allow-list your office address. Under BT's terms the IP addresses BT provides remain BT's, cannot be transferred and end when the service ends, so plan ahead if you move. See static IP addresses on BTnet.
Guest Wi-Fi is the other common use. With BTnet Meraki managed equipment you can add BTnet Wi-Fi, which uses up to five Meraki access points and supports guest Wi-Fi. BT's terms make you responsible for how your Wi-Fi and guest Wi-Fi are used: you set and secure the passwords, and you are liable for misuse under BT's acceptable use policy. If you take BTnet Security, its policy should be active on both networks.
Planning a line around what you use it for
The most useful starting point is a list of what the connection must carry, not a speed. A short planning sequence:
- List every use at the site, including the ones nobody thinks about, such as cameras, building systems, updates and guests.
- Size for the busiest hour, upload and download separately, using our bandwidth sizing guide.
- Choose a bearer with headroom, so you can use Bandwidth Flex later without a new access line.
- Pick a plan: wires only for your own firewall, a managed Cisco router, or Meraki with BTnet Security. See BTnet leased line plans.
- Decide what must keep working if the line fails and whether resilient BTnet is worth it.
- Check availability and lead time for your address. See BTnet availability.
Forever Communications is an Authorised Supplier for BT, so we can take you from that list to a BTnet quote for your address, with the speed, plan and any resilience set out. Contact us with your postcode and a rough list of what the connection carries today. Sector guides are in BTnet leased lines by sector.
Leased line uses in detail
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 leased line used for in business?
Mainly for internet access that many people and systems rely on at once: phone calls and video meetings, Microsoft 365 and cloud apps, cloud backup, CCTV, VPNs between sites and for home workers, hosted services and guest Wi-Fi.
Is a leased line good for phone calls?
Yes, if calls matter to the business. A small team can run calls well on good business broadband. A leased line makes sense when many calls run at once, when calls compete with heavy uploads, or when the phones are critical to the business. See a leased line for VoIP.
Can one leased line carry phones, internet and CCTV at the same time?
Yes. BTnet is one internet connection that all your uses share, so it needs to be sized for their combined peak in each direction. Keeping cameras, guests and staff on separate networks inside the building also helps.
Is there a data limit on BTnet?
BT's help pages say there is no fair usage policy on BTnet, so you can use as much data as you need. The limit is the port speed you order, which you can change within your bearer using Bandwidth Flex.
Does a leased line link our offices together?
Not on its own. BTnet is internet access for each site rather than a private link between them. Offices with BTnet usually connect through encrypted VPNs over the internet using their static IP addresses. See multi-site leased lines.
Is a leased line worth it for a small business?
It depends on how much the business relies on its connection. If calls and cloud systems stop when the internet slows, the dedicated bandwidth and BT's SLA are often worth it. See advantages of a leased line.
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