In short
A multi-site leased line set-up puts BTnet at each location that needs dedicated internet access, sized for that site. Sites then connect to each other and to cloud services securely over the internet, usually with VPNs between firewalls on static IP addresses. Key sites can add resilience, and data centres can take BTnet on data centre access bearers.
Get a quote for multi-site BTnet
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
How multi-site organisations use BTnet
BTnet is dedicated internet access for one site. In a multi-site organisation, each location that needs it gets its own line, sized and configured for what that site does. The sites are then joined together over the internet rather than by a private circuit between them.
That approach has become common because most traffic now goes to the internet anyway: Microsoft 365, cloud business systems, hosted phones and web services. Giving each site its own dedicated route to the internet means a branch office does not have to send all its cloud traffic through head office first.
Using BTnet everywhere also brings consistency:
- The same service terms at each site, including BT's SLA for availability, delivery and latency
- Static IPv4 addresses at every site, for VPNs and allow-listing
- A choice of plan per site: wires only into your own firewall, a managed Cisco router, or BTnet Meraki with BTnet Security
- One supplier to talk to about speeds, changes and new sites
Sizing each site for what it does
Sites rarely need the same speed. The examples below show the kind of differences to plan for; your own sites will vary.
| Site | What it might carry | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Head office or hub | Most users, the VPN hub, hosted services, calls | A bearer with headroom, and resilience if other sites depend on it |
| Branch office | Cloud apps, calls and video for a smaller team | A port speed to match, with Bandwidth Flex for growth |
| Depot, warehouse or production site | Handheld devices, business systems, CCTV, remote support | Upload for cameras; check early for anything the survey may raise, such as excess construction charges or a landlord's wayleave |
| Data centre | Servers, storage, replication, hosted applications | 1Gbps or 10Gbps data centre access bearers; you order the cross-connect |
Our bandwidth sizing guide works site by site: list what each one carries, size for its busiest hour in both directions, and choose a bearer with room to flex.
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.
Connecting sites with VPNs over the internet
With BTnet at each site, the usual way to join sites together is a site-to-site VPN: an encrypted tunnel between the firewalls or routers at each location, set up over the internet. Each site's static IP address gives the tunnels a fixed point to connect to.
Two common layouts:
- Hub and spoke. Each site connects to a central hub, often the head office or data centre. Simple to manage, but the hub carries more traffic and benefits from resilience.
- Mesh. Sites connect directly to each other. Useful when branches exchange a lot of data with each other.
Who builds and runs the VPNs depends on your plan. With wires only, your own firewall handles them. With the managed Cisco router, BT manages the router and you manage your own security, so the VPNs usually sit on your firewall. With Meraki managed equipment, ask us what can be configured for your sites. Remote workers can use the same static addresses to connect into the network. See static IP addresses on BTnet.
Leased line vs MPLS: the concept
People comparing options for several sites often meet the term MPLS. In simple terms, MPLS is a private wide area network: the provider carries traffic between your sites across its own network, separate from the internet. The alternative described on this page is dedicated internet access at each site, with encrypted VPNs joining them.
| Private WAN (MPLS) | Dedicated internet at each site (such as BTnet) with VPNs | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic between sites | Carried across the provider's private network | Carried over the internet inside encrypted tunnels |
| Internet and cloud access | Often through a central site, unless added at each site | Direct from each site |
| Who sets up links between sites | Usually the provider | You or your IT provider, on your firewalls or routers |
| Tends to suit | Most traffic flows between your own sites | Most traffic goes to cloud services and the internet |
Neither is right for everyone. This site covers BTnet, which is internet access. If your organisation mainly works in the cloud, BTnet at each site with VPNs is a common, straightforward design. If you think you need a private network between sites, tell us what you are trying to achieve and we can talk it through.
Is multi-site BTnet the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Resilience across an estate
Not every site needs the same level of protection. Start with what each site does and what an outage would cost:
- Sites others depend on, such as a head office hosting the VPN hub or a data centre, are the strongest case for a second line. BT offers failover, load balancing and a lower-speed back-up option for BTnet.
- Busy branches may justify a lower-speed back-up line that keeps calls and key systems running.
- Small sites may accept the risk and rely on the SLA, with staff able to work from another location.
Separate routes into the building and power at each site are questions for the survey. Under BT's terms, service credits on resilient services apply at the site affected. See resilient BTnet.
Rolling out BTnet across several sites
Each site is its own order, survey and installation, so a rollout is a schedule rather than a single date:
- List the sites with addresses, postcodes and what each one carries.
- Check availability and lead times. BT gives up-front lead-time predictions from a desktop survey. See BTnet availability.
- Agree speeds, plans and resilience site by site, and receive a quote.
- Order and survey. Each site is surveyed; landlords in multi-let buildings may need to sign a wayleave agreement.
- Receive dates from BT. BT sets a Customer Committed Date for each site after survey; BT's help pages say installation can take up to 70 working days, depending on the survey.
- Install, test and accept each site, then bring its VPNs and services across in a planned order.
Starting with the sites that have the longest lead times, or the biggest need, keeps the project moving. See the BTnet installation process for each step. If a site later relocates, an external move starts a new minimum period under BT's terms; see moving office with a BTnet leased line.
How we help multi-site organisations
Send us your list of sites and we can help you:
- Group sites by need and suggest a speed, bearer and plan for each
- Flag sites you rent, where the landlord may need to sign a wayleave, so that can start early
- Price resilience for the sites that matter most
- Pass on the dates BT confirms for each site, so you can plan moves and go-lives
- Add new sites, change speeds or plan moves as the organisation changes
As an Authorised Supplier for BT, Forever Communications can quote BTnet for every site in one conversation. Contact us with your addresses and we can come back site by site. If you also need phones at each site, Forever Communications supplies BT Cloud Voice too.
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 a leased line connect two offices?
BTnet provides internet access at each office rather than a private link between them. The offices then connect securely over the internet with a site-to-site VPN between their firewalls or routers, using each site's static IP address.
What is the difference between a leased line and MPLS?
A leased line such as BTnet gives a site dedicated internet access. MPLS is a private network that carries traffic between your own sites. Many cloud-first organisations use dedicated internet at each site with VPNs instead of a private network.
Do all our sites need the same speed?
No. Each site can have a different port speed, bearer and plan to suit what it does, and speeds can be changed later within the bearer using Bandwidth Flex.
Can BTnet be delivered to a data centre?
Yes. BT's terms include 1Gbps and 10Gbps data centre access bearers. BT's responsibility ends at the patch panel in the co-location room, and you order the cross-connect from the data centre provider.
How long does a multi-site rollout take?
Each site has its own survey and date. BT's help pages say installation can take up to 70 working days depending on the survey, and BT confirms a date for each site after survey, so plan the rollout as a schedule.
Can we add sites later?
Yes. Each new site is a new BTnet order with its own survey and minimum period, and it can join your VPNs once installed.
Still have a question about multi-site BTnet?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.