What are leased lines?
Leased lines provide businesses with an exclusive internet connection between two points (whether that be between two business locations or between a business location and the provider’s data server). Leased lines use copper or fibre optic cables for their physical network to provide a secure and reliable connection.
Businesses with high data usage tasks (running a website, operating a web server, using cloud services) utilise these major benefits of a leased line connection: uncontended bandwidth and reliable connection with guaranteed SLAs.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Leased Lines
Leased lines provide multiple advantages for businesses, especially for those with high internet traffic. Running VoIP, cloud servers or websites requires a stable internet connection with consistent speed and next to no disruption, something that a broadband connection cannot guarantee.
Since leased lines come in different types: Fibre Ethernet, Ethernet over Fibre to the Cabinet (EoFTTC), and Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM)—their unique pros and cons depend on many different factors. Instead of discussing general benefits and drawbacks, we have evaluated them based on the three main types of leased lines. This approach will help you to determine which leased line best suits your business needs.
Let us break down the advantages and disadvantages of leased lines while considering these categories.
Advantages and disadvantages: At a glance
| Leased Line Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
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Fibre Ethernet |
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Ethernet over Fibre to the Cabinet (EoFTTC) |
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Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) |
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1. Fibre Ethernet
This type of leased line uses fibre optic cables to deliver consistent speeds without any data loss over large distances between the business and the service provider. The network remains uninterrupted by any nearby electromagnetic signals. It works by transmitting data in the form of light signals, hence the increased efficiency, security and reliability. This option currently provides the fastest data transfer rates of up to 10 GB in the UK.
Advantages:
- Fibre Ethernet provides the fastest speeds for a leased line connection, providing multiple options in the range of 50 Mb to 10 GB.
- It is a great choice for a long-term investment because of its scalability. You can easily upgrade your leased line connection from 50 Mb to 100 Mb and eventually 10 Gb, without any changes in the physical infrastructure.
- The uptimes, upload and download speeds and bandwidth offered by your service provider are protected by service-level agreements. This ensures minimal discrepancies between the offered and actual performance.
- An exclusive internet connection is provided with leased lines. With an uncontended connection, you don’t need to share your bandwidth with users, which gives you consistent internet speed at all times.
- There is no data usage limit with leased lines. Without any data cap, your business can use the Internet for all its operations.
Disadvantages:
- The cost of fibre ethernet installation can be expensive for some businesses. Along with the monthly and maintenance costs, the total expenses can add up quickly.
- Fibre ethernet requires lengthy installation times, ranging from 60 days to up to 4 months depending on your location in the UK.
- If your business doesn’t have extensive internet requirements, a fibre ethernet connection can be excessive and more than what you need.
2. Ethernet over Fiber to the Cabinet (EoFTTC)
This type of leased line combines copper and fibre lines for its setup. The fibre optics extend up to the street cabin after which the copper lines are installed up to the business premises. Using copper in EFM and EoFTTC helps reduce costs while still providing guaranteed performance, making them an affordable leased line option. Learn more about leased line costs & prices in 2025.
Advantages:
- More affordable option as compared to a full fibre ethernet connection.
- Most suited for medium businesses with moderate internet requirements— who cannot justify the cost of a full-fibre ethernet leased line connection but need more reliability than a broadband connection.
- The performance metrics are protected by SLAs. In case of any maintenance issue or downtime, most leased lines provide a response time of under 24 hours.
Disadvantages:
- The upload and download speeds are not equal with download speeds up to 80 Mbps and upload speeds up to 10-20 Mbps.
- Not suitable for businesses looking for symmetrical and high upload speeds.
3. Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM)
Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) uses copper telephone lines to deliver high-speed internet, with the typical data transfer speed ranging from 2Mbps – 35Mbps. The speed also remains symmetrical which makes it a suitable option for SMEs in the UK. This setup is more common in remote areas where fibre infrastructure is not yet available.
Advantages:
- EFM provides the most affordable option for leased lines. The lower price point is made possible by the use of copper lines instead of fibre.
- It provides a dedicated connection, which means the bandwidth is not shared with other users. This ensures that the internet speed remains consistent even when the network is crowded with heavy usage.
- Service providers for leased lines offer SLAs for EFM to ensure reliability.
- The setup uses multiple pairs of copper to ensure continuity in case one of the copper lines is damaged.
Disadvantages:
- Due to the limitations of a copper network, EFM offers lower speeds as compared to other leased line options.
Why should your business get a leased line connection?
A leased line connection is a great fit for businesses that require:
- Reliable Internet connection: Enjoy an exclusive connection just for your business, meaning there is no bandwidth sharing with other users.
- Minimal downtime: A dedicated internet connection results in minimal disruptions and higher reliability.
- Service level agreement: Many leased line providers offer SLAs to guarantee an uptime of 99.99%.
- Improved security: Leased lines provide a private connection that reduces the risk of cyberattacks.
- Business operations: Leased line connections offer low-latency connections, which is critical for high data usage setups such as VoIP, online gaming and financial trading.
Explore reliable leased line providers in the UK with ComparedBusiness
Whether you choose the option of a full-fibre leased line, EFM or EoFTTC, ComparedBusiness can help you connect with the top leased line providers in the UK. Just submit your requirements in less than 2 minutes and we will match you with the top service providers in the UK. You can pick and choose the best option as per your business requirements. This service comes to you at no cost.
