In short
A leased line for offices is a dedicated, symmetrical internet connection, such as BTnet, that gives an office team steady speed for Microsoft 365, video meetings, calls and cloud backup. In multi-let buildings the landlord usually has to agree access and may sign a wayleave, so start early, and use Bandwidth Flex as headcount changes.
Get a quote for BTnet for offices
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
Why offices move to a leased line
Most offices notice the same symptoms before they move to a leased line: video freezing when several meetings run at once, slow uploads when someone sends a large file, calls breaking up at busy times, and a cloud backup that only works overnight.
These are signs of a connection that is shared, asymmetric or both. BTnet is built to avoid them:
- Uncontended. BT describes BTnet as 100% uncontended, so your speed does not depend on how busy the wider network is. See contended vs uncontended.
- Symmetrical. Upload equals download, which is what video, file sharing and backup need. See symmetrical internet speeds.
- Cloud-ready. BT says it uses Direct Private Peering to Microsoft, Apple, Google and Amazon, so traffic to them does not cross the public internet. See a leased line for Microsoft 365 and cloud apps.
- Voice-aware. BT says BTnet is optimised for voice, including BT Cloud Voice and SIP, and prioritises voice traffic. See a leased line for VoIP and cloud calling.
- Fixed addresses and no data cap. Static IPv4 addresses are included, and BT's help pages say there is no fair usage policy.
All of this comes with BT's service levels for availability, on-time delivery and latency. See the BTnet SLA.
Choosing a speed for your office
There is no reliable figure per person, because a team of designers and a team of accountants use the connection very differently. Instead, think about what happens in your busiest hour:
| Office profile | What drives the bandwidth | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Small cloud-first team | Microsoft 365, video meetings and hosted phones | A modest port speed on a bearer that leaves room to flex up |
| Growing team with lots of video | Several meetings at once, screen sharing and recordings | Upload matters as much as download; plan for growth in headcount |
| Office with servers or remote access | Staff and suppliers connecting in, hosted services | Static IP addresses, firewall capacity and resilience |
| Office with meeting rooms and visitors | Guest Wi-Fi, presentations and events | Separate guest networks; consider BTnet Wi-Fi |
| Data-heavy work | Large files, design, media or analytics | A larger bearer, such as a 1Gbps leased line |
BTnet port speeds run from 2Mbps to 10Gbps. Real throughput is typically 5 to 10% below the port speed because of network and IP overheads, as BT's terms explain. Our bandwidth sizing guide walks through the sums, and we can work them out with you.
Not sure which option fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right option for your organisation, with a quote.
Multi-let buildings, landlords and wayleaves
Most offices are rented, often in buildings shared with other tenants. That shapes the installation more than anything else:
- Landlord consent. The landlord or managing agent usually has to agree to new cabling and equipment. Where Openreach, the network that builds the access line, needs to cross private land or enter the building, the owner may need to sign a wayleave agreement. Openreach notes that a wayleave is usually ongoing and continues if the building changes hands.
- Risers and comms rooms. The site survey confirms where the line enters the building, the route to your floor and where BT's equipment will sit. Building managers may have rules about risers, out-of-hours work and contractors, so share them early.
- Your side of the boundary. BT's terms make any internal cabling between BT's equipment and yours the customer's responsibility, along with trunking, openings and power. See preparing your site for a BTnet installation.
- Extra engineering. If the building needs new ducts or other infrastructure, excess construction charges may apply, and you can set a limit in the order.
Consent can take time, so it pays to ask the landlord as soon as you decide to order.
Choosing a plan for an office
| BTnet option | What you get | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| BTnet wires only | The dedicated line on BT's network terminating equipment; you provide and run the router or firewall | Offices with an IT provider and a firewall they already manage |
| BTnet + Cisco router | A fully managed Cisco router from BT; you run your own firewall and security | Offices that want BT to look after routing |
| BTnet Meraki + BTnet Security | Managed Cisco Meraki equipment with malware protection, content filtering and intrusion detection and prevention | Offices that want security services delivered with the line, and the route to BTnet Wi-Fi |
Compare the options in more detail on BTnet leased line plans. Whichever you choose, BT's terms say BT does not guarantee security against unauthorised access, so the line is one layer of your security, not all of it.
Is BTnet for offices the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Moving office or taking new space
A leased line is not something to arrange the week before a move. BT's help pages say installation can take up to 70 working days, depending on the survey, and landlord consent can add time. As soon as you have a likely new address, ask us to check availability so the line can be planned alongside the fit-out.
If you already have BTnet, BT's terms treat a move like this:
- Internal moves, within the same site, are subject to survey and a time-related charge
- External moves, to a new site, are subject to survey and start a new minimum period at the new site
- No early termination charges apply to an external move if the first 12 months have passed, the new annual rental is the same or higher, and the new minimum period is at least as long as what remained on the old one
BT-provided IP addresses belong to BT and end with the service, so check allow-lists and VPNs as part of the move. See moving office with a BTnet leased line for the detail, and how much bandwidth you need if the move comes with a bigger team.
Business centres and serviced offices
Business centres and serviced office operators often want one strong connection for the whole building, shared by their tenants. BT's terms allow a BTnet customer to provide services to its own customers using BTnet, but that is subject to the resale terms in the contract, and the operator supports its own customers rather than BT. If that is your plan, tell us at the start so the right terms are in place.
If you are a tenant in a serviced office, the operator usually provides the connection. If you want your own dedicated line, you will need the operator's agreement for access, cabling and any wayleave, and a space for the equipment.
How Forever Communications helps offices
Forever Communications is an Authorised Supplier for BT. We supply BTnet to offices and help get the line right as the business changes:
- Size the line for your team's real working day, with a bearer that leaves room to grow
- Help with landlord, managing agent and wayleave questions before the survey
- Choose the plan that fits who runs your firewall and Wi-Fi
- Plan the line around an office move or new space, and help you follow progress as BT confirms dates
- Help after go-live with Bandwidth Flex as headcount changes, moves and SLA claims
Forever Communications also supplies BT Cloud Voice, so the office phones can move to the cloud at the same time. Contact us with your office address and team size, and ask us for a quote.
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
Do I need landlord permission for a leased line?
Usually, yes. If you rent, the landlord or managing agent normally has to agree to the work, and where the route crosses private land or enters the building the owner may need to sign a wayleave. Ask early, because consent can take time.
How long before an office move should I order a leased line?
As soon as you know the address. BT's help pages say installation can take up to 70 working days, depending on the survey, and landlord consent can add time.
Can several companies in a business centre share one BTnet line?
BT's terms allow a customer to provide services to its own customers using BTnet, subject to the resale terms in the contract, with the operator supporting its own customers. Tell us at the start if that is your plan.
Can we change our speed as the team grows?
Yes, within your bearer. BT's help pages say Bandwidth Flex needs 72 hours' notice, with rental changing pro rata. Choose a bearer with headroom so you have room to grow.
Is a leased line worth it for a small office?
It depends on how the team works. If video, hosted phones and cloud files are the whole working day, dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth can make a real difference. If use is light, business broadband may be enough. See leased line vs broadband.
Still have a question about BTnet for offices?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.