BT leased line cost: what affects the price of BTnet

Why there is no single BTnet price

A broadband package can have one price for everyone because it uses network that is already there and capacity that is shared. A BTnet leased line is different. It is a dedicated access line built to your building, with bandwidth reserved for your site alone, and the work to deliver it varies from one address to the next.

That is why BT, and we, quote BTnet site by site. Two businesses on the same street can receive different quotes because one building already has suitable duct and an easy route to the comms room, while the other needs new construction, a landlord's permission and a longer cable run.

You may see headline "from" figures advertised for leased lines. BT's own advertised starting figure, for example, is for the wires only plan at a modest port speed on a 1Gbps bearer, on a 60-month term, with installation subject to survey. Figures like that are a fair starting point for a conversation, but they are not a quote for your site. We do not publish prices on this site; instead we price the options that fit your needs and explain what drives each line of the quote.

The factors that shape a BTnet quote

These are the choices and site conditions that move the price. Most are decisions you make with us; a few are only confirmed by BT's survey.

The plans are explained on BTnet leased line plans, bearers on leased line bearers explained, and the add-ons on BTnet Security, BTnet Wi-Fi and resilient BTnet.

One-off charges and monthly rental

A BTnet quote usually has two kinds of charge, and it helps to look at them separately.

• Service Introduction Charges. The one-off charges for providing the service. Under BT's terms they are invoiced from the Service Start Date, and their level depends on the size of the bearer you order.
• Regular charges (rental). The recurring charge for the service at your port speed and options. Under BT's terms, charges begin on the Service Start Date and are fixed for the Minimum Period of Service unless your order says otherwise.
• Excess construction charges, if any. Charges above the standard introduction charges where reaching your site needs more engineering than normal. Your order can set an agreed limit; BT invoices up to that limit.

BT's terms also list charges that only arise in particular circumstances. Knowing them in advance avoids surprises:

• investigating a reported fault where BT finds no fault, or finds the cause is outside its responsibility (for example your own network)
• commissioning the service outside Business Hours at your request
• speeding up delivery at your request after BT has told you the Customer Committed Date
• restoring a service that has been suspended under the contract
• survey charges, including excess construction, above the limit agreed in your order

One more point in BT's terms is worth planning around: BT can invoice from the Service Start Date even if other services that rely on BTnet, such as a new phone system, are not yet ready. Line up your projects so the connection goes live when you need it.

Excess construction charges and site costs

Excess construction charges (ECC) are the item most likely to change a price after order, so they deserve a clear explanation. If BT's survey finds that more engineering is needed than the standard installation covers, such as new duct or a longer route, the extra cost is an ECC.

Under BT's terms you can agree an ECC limit in your order. If the charges come within that limit, BT carries on. If they exceed it, or no limit was set, BT can give you a new quote: you either accept it and delivery continues, or the order for that site is cancelled. If you agreed to ECC and then cancel, you pay for any extra work already carried out.

Our guide to excess construction charges goes through this in more detail, and our pages on the site survey and wayleave agreement explain the other site factors that can affect cost and timing.

Costs on your side of the line

Some costs of a leased line project sit with you rather than in BT's charges. BT's terms set out what the customer provides, and it is worth budgeting for these from the start:

• Your own router or firewall if you choose BTnet wires only, and any firewall or security you run behind a managed Cisco router
• Internal cabling between BT's equipment and your own network, and a LAN that can connect to the service
• A suitable space and power for BT's equipment: trunking, conduits or cable trays, a secure continuous power supply and back-up power
• Building work such as lifting floor or ceiling tiles, making openings, and making good afterwards
• People's time for site access during Business Hours with an escort, and a named contact for the service

See preparing your site for a BTnet installation for the full list in plain words.

How changes affect what you pay

A leased line is a long-term service, so it is worth knowing how the price behaves when your needs change.

• Changing speed. BT's help pages say you can flex bandwidth up or down within your bearer on 72 hours' notice, with rental changing pro rata for the period of the flex. BT's terms add that each flex is chargeable. See Bandwidth Flex.
• Outgrowing the equipment. If a new speed is beyond what your managed equipment can handle, the equipment changes too and a new minimum period applies.
• Adding options. BT's terms list BTnet Security as an in-life option, so it can be added during the contract on the Meraki plan, at the charges in your updated order. Ask us about adding BTnet Wi-Fi as well.
• Moving premises. An external move starts a new minimum period at the new site. See moving office with a BTnet leased line.
• Ending early. Cancellation and termination charges are set out in BT's terms. See BTnet contract terms.

This is one reason bearer choice matters: a bearer with headroom can make next year's upgrade a flex rather than a new installation.

Is a leased line worth the cost?

A leased line costs more than business broadband, and for some small sites broadband is enough. The case for BTnet rests on what the connection is worth to you rather than on the line itself:

• how many people stop working when the internet slows down or drops
• whether your phones run over the internet, for example on BT Cloud Voice
• how much you upload: cloud backup, large files, video, CCTV
• whether you need static IP addresses, VPNs or services that others connect to
• whether service levels with credits, set out in BT's terms, matter to your board or your customers

Our guides to leased line vs broadband and the advantages of a leased line set out the trade-offs honestly, including the lead time and minimum term.

How to get an accurate BTnet price

The quickest route to a figure you can plan with is to give us the details that drive it. Send us your site address and postcode and tell us what you use the connection for; if you have a view on speed, plan, resilience or term, add that too. Our leased line quote page lists everything that helps.

Forever Communications is an Authorised Supplier for BT. We check availability at your address, set out the options side by side in a written quote, and explain which parts are fixed and which depend on BT's survey. If you are still deciding what to ask, start with our leased line buying checklist.

Contact us for a BTnet quote.