A leased line vs
FTTP business fibre
You're choosing between reserved capacity with a written service commitment, and a cheaper full-fibre circuit that most smaller offices can run on.
UK offices usually pick between a leased line and FTTP business fibre when they outgrow a standard broadband contract. Shared capacity, slower upload and a weaker repair promise are what you trade for a lower bill. Those three points, not the advertised download speed, decide which product belongs on the site.
Wanzo delivers both, including a leased line with FTTP standing by as failover. If your teams, cloud systems and automated workflows can share local capacity without stalling, FTTP is the sensible buy. If a slowdown or a break would stop the operation, a dedicated circuit earns the higher monthly cost. Send the address and how the connection is used, and we'll quote the option that fits.
| Factor | A leased line | FTTP business fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Shared capacity | The bandwidth you buy is yours for the contract term. Peak-time demand from the street outside does not reduce the rate available to your systems. | FTTP uses the public full-fibre network. Other customers on the same local infrastructure share capacity, so speeds can dip when the area is busy. |
| Upload speed | Upload matches download. Large files, cloud backups, VoIP and document processing leave the site at the same rate they arrive. | Most FTTP products are faster into the building than out of it. Heavy outbound work, including backups and file sends, hits that ceiling first. |
| Service cover | Wanzo leased lines include a 99.9% uptime SLA, 24/7 monitoring and a four-hour response when the circuit needs attention. | Business FTTP typically comes with a lighter contractual commitment. Faults get worked, but the written cover is weaker than a leased-line SLA. |
| Monthly cost | A leased line costs more because the capacity is reserved and the SLA is written into the contract. The figure depends on address, speed and install work. | FTTP is the lower monthly bill. That's why it wins for smaller sites and as a second circuit, provided the operation can live with shared capacity. |
| Lead time | A leased line often needs a site survey, a new fibre path and wayleave. Delivery takes longer than broadband, and not every building is an easy install. | Where Openreach or another full-fibre network already reaches the premises, FTTP is quicker to order and cheaper to install. Coverage still varies by postcode. |
| Typical role | The primary circuit for offices that run cloud systems, VoIP and automation all day, and cannot accept variable performance or a slow repair. | A practical main connection for lighter sites, and a strong backup beside a leased line. Wanzo can run both under the same monthly service. |
When A leased line is the right call
- Your people, cloud systems and VoIP need consistent bandwidth through the working day, not a burst at quiet hours.
- Large files, backups and automated document work leave the building as often as they come in, so matched upload matters.
- An outage would stop trading or client work, so you need a written SLA and a four-hour response.
When FTTP business fibre is the right call
- The site is smaller, cloud use is light, and a slower upload will not stall the day's work.
- You want a lower monthly cost, full fibre already reaches the address, and a longer repair window is acceptable.
- Add a second path beside a leased line, so failover doesn't share the same primary circuit.
What we’d recommend
Pick FTTP business fibre if the office is light on upload, can share local capacity, and can accept a weaker repair commitment. Pick a leased line if cloud systems, calls and automated work have to keep moving at the same speed all day, and a break would stop the operation. Wanzo would start with how the site uses the internet, not with the highest speed on a quote. For many UK SMEs that means a leased line as the main circuit and FTTP as failover, so you're not paying dedicated rates for a backup path. Smaller sites that only need web, email and light Microsoft 365 should stay on FTTP. We supply both and monitor them 24/7 from the same monthly relationship.
Questions people ask
Is FTTP good enough for a UK business?
FTTP business fibre is enough when the office is small, upload demand is modest and a slower repair is acceptable. Teams on email, the web and light Microsoft 365 often run well on it. It falls short when people are on video all day, when large files leave the building, or when VoIP and automated workflows need a stable path. If a slowdown would interrupt client work, a leased line is the better main circuit, with FTTP kept as failover.
Why does a leased line cost more than FTTP?
You pay for capacity that isn't sold to anyone else, matching upload, and a contractual uptime commitment. FTTP is cheaper because it uses shared full-fibre infrastructure and usually carries a lighter repair promise. The extra leased-line spend is worth it when variable speed or a longer outage would cost more than the monthly difference. It is not worth it for a small site with light cloud use. Wanzo prices both against your postcode and how the connection is used, rather than assuming every office needs a dedicated circuit.
Can I use FTTP as backup for a leased line?
Yes. A common UK setup is a leased line for daytime traffic and FTTP as the secondary path. If the primary circuit fails, traffic can move to the FTTP link. The backup should not share the same physical route if you can avoid it, or you'll lose both at once. Wanzo can design that pair, add SD-WAN to control the switch, and monitor both circuits. You keep the SLA on the main line without paying dedicated rates for the standby path.
Is a leased line faster than FTTP?
Not always. Business FTTP download speeds can look similar to a mid-range leased line, and some FTTP products are very quick into the building. A leased line wins on the speed you can rely on, because the capacity is reserved and upload matches download. Wanzo leased lines go up to 10Gbps. FTTP still depends on local sharing, and it doesn't match that outbound rate. Choose on consistency and repair cover, not on the largest number in a brochure.
Ready to talk?
Book a free, no-obligation discovery call. We'll learn about your business and show you exactly how Wanzo can help — with a bespoke proposal within 48 hours.
No commitment. No sales pressure. Just honest advice.