A slow internet connection can literally bring your business to a complete halt. If your teammates are struggling to upload files, buffering through video calls and experiencing downtime in the middle of important operations, it is time to look for a fast and reliable alternative.
While searching for fast internet speeds, you might have come across the term ‘200 Mb leased line.’ But the burning question here is: what does it really cost? In this guide, we will break down the cost of a 200 Mb leased line and compare providers so you can make a well-informed decision for your business.
What Is A 200 Mb Leased Line?
Let’s break down the term in simple words. A 200 Mb leased line differs from regular office broadband. It’s a private, symmetrical, fibre optic line that you get solely for your business.
To put it another way: regular broadband is like a public road used by you and your neighbours with traffic jams that slow everyone down. On the other hand, a leased line is a private VIP lane created purely for your company. The symmetric part is key: it means your upload speed is the same as your download speed.
So whether you’re sending big files to a client, backing up data to the cloud, or hosting video conferences, you have a full 200 Mb in both directions. This exclusive access provides stable performance, freeing you from other devices on your network.
What Is The Cost Of A 200 Mb Leased Line?
Let’s directly address your question. Given the most up-to-date UK market pricing, a 200Mb leased line cost will typically be £139 to £300 per month.
This price cap encompasses a broad range, as the final cost is not a universally applicable figure. It’s largely influenced by various factors that are tied to the specifics of your business and target area. Some businesses in urban areas are well-connected and may even find a competitive rate at the lower end of that scale; others located in more rural areas will have to pay a premium price.
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Cost Breakdown Of A 200 Mb Leased Line
Understanding the components of the 200 Mb leased line cost can enhance your comprehension of any offered quotation. Here is a detailed cost breakdown of a 200 Mb leased line:
- Monthly Service Fee: This amount is the per-month service fee for service delivery, and it will cover the cost of your dedicated bandwidth, provider support, and access to the underlying SLA.
- Initial Installation Fees: It is a one-time fee, and the range can be very wide. It can be as low as £100 or as high as £2,000. The installation cost is what it takes to do the engineering work needed to connect your premises to the network.
- Contract Length: A 36-month contract is the standard term. If you sign up for a longer 60-month contract, it will reduce the cost, but it will also mean you are locked into the service longer.
- Additional Services: Extras, such as additional static IP addresses, security upgrade packages provided, or an SLA with a faster fix-time guarantee, will increase your monthly cost.
Top 5 Providers Of 200 Mb Leased Line: A Side-By-Side Comparison
| Leased Line Providers | Typical Monthly Cost Range | Key Strengths | Contract Length |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BT Business |
£250 to £299 |
Offers wide UK coverage, a good brand reputation, and a comprehensive SLA. |
36 months |
|
Zen Internet |
£200+ |
Great customer support and transparency |
36 months |
|
TalkTalk Business |
£90 to £139 |
Competitive pricing, good choice for smaller businesses |
36 months |
|
Virgin Media Business |
£185 to £200 |
Has its own wide cable network, which leads to quicker installation |
36 months |
|
Vodafone |
£222 to £250 |
Fast, competitive rates and reliable services. Good for multilocation businesses |
36 months to 60 months |
Contact ComparedBusiness UK for detailed quotes from the top leased line providers. Comparing leased line providers on your own is difficult and time-consuming. Instead of spending hours on research and contacting each supplier individually, let our specialist service do the hard work for you.
ComparedBusiness UK will help you compare tailored quotes from providers that precisely match your business needs, saving you significant time and effort in finding the cost-effective leased line solution.
BT Business
BT owns the UK’s largest fibre network, which provided BT with the most coverage. Despite not being a cheap option, their SLAs surpass those of the industry, making them a reliable choice.
Zen Internet
For those who value customer service, Zen is generally a fantastic option. They’re a UK-based company, and they are highly recommended for their customer support as well as their technical capabilities.
TalkTalk Business
They are a relatively cheaper option and are a fantastic way of getting a leased line for less, particularly if you are an SME.
Virgin Media Business
Virgin Media operates on its own cable infrastructure. It can occasionally provide quicker installation in areas that have had Virgin installed previously. They are an alternative for customers that need quick access to a leased line.
Vodafone
One of the biggest players around the block, Vodafone offers solid, reliable services. They are cost-competitive and an excellent option for businesses with multiple locations that require a single leased line provider.
Advantages Of A 200 Mb Leased Line
There are a bunch of competitive advantages that come with investing in a 200 Mb leased line:
- Symmetrical Speed: A symmetrical upload speed of 200 Mbps is a game changer for businesses that need fast uploading to the cloud, VoIP phone systems, or sending lots of larger files. With a 200 Mb leased line, no more waiting for files to upload.
- Offers Stability: Offering an often 99% uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA), you will be able to say goodbye to the frequent downtime-related problems of standard broadband connections.
- Fixed Contention Ratio: A leased line is not shared with 30 or hundreds of other users like broadband, which means you will never experience slowdowns during peak hours, and your business performance will be rock solid.
- Security: A 200Mb leased line is much more secure than relying on a standard internet connection, where data can be intercepted as it passes over public networks. Hence, a 200 Mb leased line will protect your business from cyber threats.
- Fixed IPs: Pretty much every 200 Mb leased line provider offers fixed IPs; they are needed to host your servers and run advanced VPNs with access without the fear of working over dynamic IPs or open ports.
Disadvantages Of A 200 Mb Leased Line
A 200 Mb leased line is powerful, but not for everyone, so before we dive into more details, let’s take a look at its downsides:
- Cost: It is quite obvious that having a private leased line for your business is pricier than business broadband. So having a 200 Mb leased line for your business is a bigger operational cost.
- Extended Contract Lengths: Generally most leased line providers offer a minimum of a 36-month contract, which means you are committed for the long haul.
- Installation Can Be Complicated and Time-Taking: Installing a 200 Mb leased line requires installing new fibre cables, which can take several weeks. Also, if your building isn’t already fibre-ready, you will have to pay huge installation costs.
Why Should A UK Business Install A 200 Mb Leased Line?
You might actually need a 200 Mb leased line if your company:
- Systems rely heavily on cloud applications and storage.
- Relies on VoIP for the majority of its customers’ communications.
- Regularly uploads large amounts of data, like huge designs, architectures, and legal files.
- Endures internet slowdowns during peak hours.
- Serves industries where downtime means loss of money and reputation.
Not sure if 200 Mb is the right option for you? Read our other guides to compare leased line options: 50 Mb Leased Line, 100 Mb Leased Line, 1 Gb Leased Line and 100 Gb Leased Line.
How To Choose The Perfect 200 Mb Leased Line Provider?
Choosing the best leased line provider is more than just the price per month. Keep these points in mind while looking for a provider:
- Get A Site-Specific Quote: Give your full business postcode to comparison sites to receive site-specific pricing, as costs vary depending on location.
- Read the SLA: Please review the SLA thoroughly, ensuring you consider more than just the uptime percentage. See the guaranteed fix times and what happens if the line fails?
- Understand the Installation Process: Enquire about lead times, and make sure you obtain a firm approval for any installation charges before you sign on.
- Read Reviews: Read up on current customers’ comments and feedback on independent forums to determine the actual service quality and support response time.
- Compare Providers: Use a service provider that compares businesses, such as ComparedBusiness UK, to compare different leased line providers and find the one that fits your needs.
Compare Top Leased Line Providers Today With ComparedBusiness UK
Why waste hours reaching out to individual leased line providers when you can receive comparison quotes from many providers in one place? At ComparedBusiness UK we make it so much easier for businesses to compare and find the best leased line providers that check all the boxes for their business.
The process is simple; just fill out a few details, and we will put you in touch with top UK 200 Mb leased line providers.
In the case of just download speed, a fibre broadband connection with a speed of 200 Mbps might be similar to a 200 Mb leased line. But when it comes to upload speeds, guaranteed performance and reliability backed by an SLA 200Mb leased line are better than fibre broadband.
No, a leased line requires a significant investment in infrastructure from the provider. This is why providers almost always require at least a 36-month contract to recoup their investment.
The installation process usually ranges from 30 to 90 working days. Your location and the complexity of the required fibre connection will determine its duration.
