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Business Tips8 min read28 April 2026

FTTP vs Leased Line: Which Is Right for Your UK Business?

Full-fibre broadband now reaches 75% of UK postcodes. So who actually still needs a leased line? Here's our honest take.

By WhiteNWise Team

Five years ago, the case for a leased line was obvious: if you needed reliable, symmetric bandwidth, FTTP was a fantasy in most postcodes.

Today, with Openreach rolling out FTTP to 75% of UK premises and altnets like CityFibre adding millions more, the answer is more nuanced.

When FTTP is fine

Most SMEs, retailers, and service businesses are well-served by a 900Mbps FTTP connection — typically £30-60/month with no installation fees in many cases.

When you still need a leased line

Three scenarios: 1. Your business loses material money for every minute of downtime 2. You need a guaranteed upload speed (FTTP upload is often capped lower) 3. You need a 4-hour fix SLA, not a "best efforts" repair window

Leased lines cost more (£200-600+/month) but include those SLAs in the price.

Need help deciding? Our team can audit your usage and advise on the best connectivity option.

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