How to find the best UK business phone and internet packages

Just as energy smaller energy providers have gone under in recent months, the same threat stands for smaller broadband providers due to rampant inflation.

According to The Telegraph, Ofcom is in the process of talks with BT who could potentially take on “thousands” of customers as smaller suppliers go bust. Moving broadband would be the same as moving energy in that customers from a defunct company would be automatically moved to another one.

Challengers came on to the market to take advantage of ultrafast broadband speeds, but now there are concerns that with so many competitors on the market, some of the less popular ones will fail in trying to compete with BT Openreach and Virgin Media O2.

Switching broadband provider is trickier than switching other services as you may have to physically switch to a different network. With that in mind, we’ve asked the experts what you should be factored in when you choose business broadband and some of the best providers in the UK market.

Speed

Your selection of broadband should be based only on speed. In addition to being substantially faster than residential internet options, commercial broadband packages also provide more options. You may choose between ADSL, fiber, and even leased lines. Leased broadband is an alternative for businesses seeking a speedier connection without having to share capacity with anybody. Your connection will operate at the desired speed thanks to this dedicated line.

While it might be tempting to choose the fastest speeds available—some providers provide up to 900mbps or megabits per second—it is important to keep in mind that coverage may be limited. Before making a decision, most carriers provide an online tool that will let you know how excellent the coverage will be in your postcode region.

Then, you must decide between fiber and traditional broadband. Which one should you choose, though? According to Broadway Partners’ Alasdair Wright, chief marketing officer, “Small companies should be seeking to pick ultrafast, fiber internet to fulfill their daily demands. Data can be sent through fiber faster than it can over a standard copper connection. Businesses that need to download huge files, utilize cloud platforms, and switch between video calls require fast internet connections.

No matter where your organization is located, stability is also important: “While small companies have a variety of workplaces, stability and coverage should be a big priority for everyone. Businesses operating from home want to ensure their connection won’t break down during the day. Those operating from bigger offices must also ensure that coverage is maintained throughout the area. The impact of broadband on the company should also be considered; Wright advised Small Business.

He also suggested considering installation. For the least amount of interruption, quick and simple installation is desirable. For instance, fiber broadband installation just takes a few hours.

Additionally, internet speed is important. Home/office WiFi is advancing faster than ever speeds, more device compatibility than ever, and signal strength beaming straight to devices for optimal efficiency, just as mobile broadband is making its way to 5G. For maximum dependability, most new routers on fiber networks come with 6.0 as standard, according to Wright.

Also essential is cyber security. Businesses may be certain that their data is safe and not in danger of an attack or breach since fiber connections are far more secure than conventional electric transfers because their optical signals are more difficult to intercept.

How you relate

Be mindful of your connection style. Basic broadband employs the public switched telephone network (PSTN), an existing phone line infrastructure, to connect to the internet through an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL). However, BT, which owns and operates the PSTN, will stop using the system as of December 31, 2025. Therefore, choosing a broadband connection that connects utilizing fiber optic cables, such as complete fiber broadband, provides you with a future-proof service, according to Kristian Torode, director, and co-founder of Crystalline.

Static or dynamic IP

Dynamic IP addresses are the foundation of residential internet services, so you probably already know what they are. You are not given a fixed IP address with a dynamic IP address, which changes regularly. While this approach works well for smaller, simpler company activities, a fixed IP address may be required for organizations that are more sophisticated or have particular requirements. These needs include managing email, maintaining servers for websites, CCTV system operation, and remote desktop access.

Static IP addresses can have certain drawbacks, notably the increased security risk from cyberattacks. Because the IP address is static, it is considerably simpler to trace the connected machine and is a popular target for hackers. A static IP address is also more challenging to modify once issued. The benefits of converting to a fixed IP address often exceed the drawbacks for enterprises; nevertheless, this will place a greater focus on IT security and protection.

> Want to keep up-to-date with your business tech? Download this guide on digital transformation for small businesses [pdf].

Customer service

For handling the unexpected, including what to do in the case of an IT breakdown, a business continuity strategy is crucial. You must choose a phone and internet provider with a solid reputation for customer service if you want to be confident that assistance will be there when you need it.

Most corporate packages have improved support staff, and some even offer 24/7 accessibility through phone, email, and live chat features.

Consider using an SLA (Service Degree Agreement) with your selected provider if your company needs a certain level of response or if you need to set a time limit on outage intervals. This will guarantee that you can keep a connection even if their broadband experience a problem. A wise choice would be to choose a bundle that includes 4G as an automated backup, ensuring that you maintain coverage if your internet service completely fails.

Note the times when customer assistance is available. If you own a restaurant, for instance, a service provider that only provides customer support during regular business hours won’t be able to assist in an emergency.

Reviews

Although customer service is essential to any internet bundle, you also need to consider how the whole thing pans out.

Phil Foster, CEO of Love Energy Savings, says, “Read reviews before making your purchase and discover how consumers have experienced the business internet you’re contemplating.”

Torode said it’s wise to keep an eye out for awards to support service providers’ claims of excellence. It’s a good clue if they have recent honors from organizations like Uswitch, Expert Reviews, and Choose.

To examine how each company rates customer service, it’s also worthwhile to visit review websites like Trustpilot. It’s great to have a cheap internet connection, but if the provider is slow to fix a connectivity problem, it can be worthwhile to spend a little more for a higher level of service, according to Torode.

What’s the best broadband for my business?

Now that you have a better understanding of what to look for, the next step is to consider how your business type may affect your decision.

“It’s important to calculate what your usage is going to look like. If you’re a small business with just a few devices, your data needs will be significantly less than a larger office with hundreds of connected devices, which might be best suited to an unlimited data package,” said Torode.

Below are some example businesses to give you an idea of what you’ll need.

>Home-based business

A small home-based business is likely to need a stable internet connection, particularly if conference calls are a frequent occurrence. If usage is fairly low and limited to browsing and emailing, then an ADSL line is likely to be sufficient. For more frequent conference calling or if there are multiple devices used in the household, a fiber optic solution will provide a faster, more stable connection.

>Small retailer

For small retailers, salons, and shops that are only using the internet to process card transactions and send emails, an ADSL line is likely to be the most cost-effective option. If music is likely to be streamed into the shop, it is worth opting for unlimited downloads to avoid any additional charges.

>Cafe and restaurant

For cafes and restaurants, fiber optic broadband with unlimited downloads is a must-have to ensure customers can enjoy hassle-free usage of the WiFi; this is now an essential selling point as many more freelancers and remote employees opt to work from coffee shops and similar venues. This will ensure multiple people can use the internet at any time, providing both customers and staff with a reliable and fit-for-purpose solution.

>Small office

Small offices would also be wise to opt for fiber optic broadband with unlimited downloads and for those with multiple employees, additional phone lines, and a static IP address. Where growth is expected, it is also important to opt for solutions which can easily be scaled up and down as business dictates.

>Larger office

Larger offices are likely to need a leased line or ethernet solution to help service the needs of multiple users, maintain a high-speed service, and support remote servers, conference calls, and other essential business functions.

Which business broadband providers are still out there?

Now, on to the real stuff. Here’s a breakdown of business broadband providers in the UK and what their offerings look like.

Bear in mind that prices will exclude VAT and contract lengths will be 12, 18 or 24 months. Plus, the Trustpilot score for the larger companies may also cover their broader offering such as TV and phone.

Vodafone

Fibre or broadband: Broadband

Upload/download speed: Download speed up to 76mbps; 18mbps upload speed

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: Phone – Monday-Friday, 8 am-8pm, live chat – Monday- Friday 8 am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am-6 pm (these are for customers with 1-9 employees – find phone numbers and times for bigger businesses on the contact us page)

Trustpilot score: 1.3

Pricing: 24-month plans from £18.33 a month – plus 20 percent VAT.

The phone network has made something of a name for itself in the broadband world. It has a minimum speed guarantee and if that speed isn’t satisfied, you can leave your contract early with no termination fee. The service offers 14-day returns with no cancellation fee. A hub will be sent to you that you can plug in and use straight away.

Virgin Media Business

Fibre or broadband: Fibre

Upload/download speeds: Up to 1000mbps download speed; up to 50mbps upload speed

Dynamic or static IP: Either

Customer service: 24/7 telephone customer support

Trustpilot score: 1.2

Pricing:

Voom 400: £33 – up to 400mbps download speed and up to 40mbps upload speed

Voom 600: £42 – up to 600mbps download speed and up to 50mbps upload speed

Voom 800: £51 – up to 800mbps download speed and up to 50mbps upload speed

Voom Gig1: £60 – up to 1000mbps download speed and up to 50mbps upload speed

All contracts are 24 months and exclude VAT.

Virgin Media Business claims that its broadband offering is 99.9 per cent reliable and 13 times faster than BT and Sky’s widely available offerings. While the technician sets up you up, you can get online straight away with Instant Connect, powered by a 4G start-up dongle.

Plusnet

Fibre or broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Download speed of up to 76mb; upload speed of up to 19mb

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: 24/7 customer support

Trustpilot score: 1.9

Pricing:

Ultimate Business Fibre Broadband – 76mb – £22 a month

Unlimited Business Broadband – 17mb – £18 a month

Both 24-month contracts with line rental included. Extra £4.99 plus P&P for the router.

Plusnet’s package comes with new Hub Two router which the provider said is more reliable. Plusnet can also connect multiple premises so if you have more than one café, for example, you’re covered. Your contract will be reviewed after the 24-month contract period to make sure you’re on the best deal.

BT

Fibre or broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Up to 900mbps downloads; up to 104mbps uploads

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: Telephone support 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

Trustpilot score: 2.0

Pricing:

Broadband Only – £22.95 – up to 76 mbps of downloads 19mbps of uploads.
Essential – £25.95 – 900mbps, 104mbps upload, smart hub and digital phone line – basic features plus make and take landline calls on the go
Halo for business – £36.95 – up to 900mbps download, 104mbps upload.
Halo for Complete WiFi – £43.95 – up to 900mbps upload and 104mbps upload

BT has teamed up with phone provider EE to give customers wider access to services. Some hardware is available in the packages above, but you can also purchase the BT Business Hub, Complete Wi-Fi, Hybrid and Digital phone line separately.

All the packages come with minimum speed guarantee, guest WiFi, content controls and web protect. More features are included in the Essential and Halo packages.

Sky Connect

Fibre or broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Download speeds of up to 500mbps; upload speeds of up to 28mbps

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: Complaint details can be found here

Trustpilot score: 1.6

Pricing:

Essential -76mbps – £29.95
Pro – 150mbps -£24.95
Plus – 150mbps – £49.95

The contracts listed above are all for 24 months. There is also a £79 4G installation cost on the Pro and Max tiers. 9% of all UK firms have access to full-fiber.

During your contract term, Sky provides a fixed pricing package with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It comes bundled with a 4G automatic backup.

Regarding your phone, Sky offers VoiceEdge service, which, with the Pro subscription, has two lines and three-way calls, diverts calls to another number, or sends calls to someone else if you cannot pick them up.

Zen

Fibre or broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Average 67mbps download; average upload speed of 18mbps

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: Telephone support 8am-8pm Monday- Friday; 9am-5pm at weekends

Trustpilot score:4.3

Pricing:

Fast – ADSL broadband – £27 a month – phone line rental fees included in the price – free activation
Superfast FTTC (fiber to the cabinet) broadband – £41 a month – phone line rental fees are included in the price – £45 activation
Ultrafast – FTTP (fiber to the premise) and G. Fast broadband – full fiber data only prices – £38.50 a month – £40 activation

Zen’s packages are specifically made for small businesses and it offers 12-month contracts with a free static IP address. It comes with a free Fritz! Box router and it’s a Which? Recommended Provider for 2022.

TalkTalk Business

Fibre/normal broadband: Either

Download and upload speeds: Dedicated leased lines have scalable speeds up to 10gbps or up to 900mbps on full-fibre

Dynamic or static IP: Either

Customer service: Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm

Trustpilot score: 4.5

Pricing:

Standard Business Broadband from £17.95 a month

Superfast Fibre Broadband from £19.95 a month – superfast speeds of up to 75mbps

Ultrafast full fibre – up to three months free – from £23.95 a month. Speeds of 80mbps to 900mbps, £24.95 activation fee,

TalkTalk has a ‘market-leading’ service level agreement as well as offering 12 or 18-month contracts with free static or dynamic IP.

TalkTalk runs a business referral scheme where you’ll both get up to in £200 Amazon vouchers for a referral.

bOnline

Fibre/broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Up to 76mbps for downloads; up to 19mbps for uploads

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: 9am-6pm Monday-Friday; 10am-2pm Saturday

Trustpilot score: 4.5

Pricing:

Unlimited corporate internet is available for £17.95 per month (it increases to £21.95 per month after the first 12 months), with speeds of up to 24 Mbps and unlimited downloads.

Unlimited Business Fibre 76mbps costs £26.95 + VAT (reverts to £29.95 after six months) and offers download limits of no more than 76 Mbps along with line rental.

Supersaver bundle: unlimited downloads, a digital phone line with features like voicemail to email, £31.95 + VAT (price increases to £35.90 after 12 months).

Small business experts online provide a free wifi router and a price match promise. Although it utilizes the BT Openreach network, clients pay less. The costs shown above also include line rental.

If the basic packages don’t work for your requirements, you may build a custom solution from more than 50 features.

XLN

Fibre or broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Up to 76mbps

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: 8:30am-6pm Monday-Thursday; 8:30am-7pm Friday; 10am-2pm Saturday

Trustpilot score: 4.5

Pricing:

Broadband and phone – £27.95 per month – 18-month contract

Fibre broadband and phone from £29.95 per month – 18-month contract

Free public WiFi Service – from £15 per month 18-month contract – lets customers surf for free, with no set-up cost, no password sharing, simple guest registration

XLN works exclusively with small businesses and also uses BT Openreach as well as TalkTalk business networks to provide its services. Line rental, unlimited UK calls, and a free plug-and-play router (£9.99 P&P) is included in both packages.

Onebill

Fibre/normal broadband: Either

Upload/download speeds: Up to 76mbps

Dynamic or static IP: Dynamic

Customer service: Monday-Friday 8:30am-6pm; Saturday 10am-2pm

Trustpilot score: 4.4

Pricing:

Business Fibre Broadband and unlimited UK calls – £29.95 per month for 12 months. A free plug in and play super router

Broadband and unlimited calls – £27.95 per month for 12 months. Unlimited UK calls – mobile and landline, free plug in and play router.

Onebill is another provider for small businesses, promising simple fixed pricing.

Trooli

Fibre/normal broadband: Fibre

Upload/download speeds: Upload and download speeds of up to 900mbps

Dynamic or static IP: Static

Customer service: Monday-Friday 8:30am – 6pm, Saturday-Sunday and bank holidays 9am – 5pm

Trustpilot score: 3.9

Pricing:

Boost 300: Intended for home-based small companies. 300 Mbps download and upload rates. A single static IP address with the potential to grow to five. No limits on data. $50 per month.

Boost 500: Perfect for SMEs that often transmit files. 500 Mbps download and upload speeds. Large files may be downloaded and uploaded quickly. A single static IP address with the potential to grow to five. $65 per month.

Boost 900 is the best option for companies looking to maximize efficiency. All of the features of previous packages, but at the quickest speeds possible. 900 Mbps for both download and upload. With the potential to create up to five static IP addresses. $30 per month.

A company supplier with 20 years of experience is Troilo. It provides quick file transfers, unrestricted data use, and a 99.9% dependable network.

Get numerous estimates for your company’s broadband.

In conclusion, even though many different business phone and internet packages are available, knowing your company’s demands and how you will use them can help you go through the options and find the best options for your specific needs. Before choosing, don’t forget to compare estimates from other suppliers. You can also check with your networks to see whether others have had good or bad luck with your top choices.

Nathan Hill-Haimes is founder of Amvia, a privately-owned, voice, data and cloud application provider based in Sheffield, which supplies services to companies of all sizes.