Business broadband deals

Fast and reliable business broadband is essential to the success of many modern businesses. And with more companies now being run from home, and video calls now just as common as in-person meetings, a good business broadband connection has never been more crucial.

If you run a business from home, or are thinking of setting one up, it's a good idea to get a business broadband connection rather than relying on just your home broadband service.

In addition to giving you a number of added benefits (which we'll go through below), home broadband isn't really designed to run a business with. In fact, some providers include it in their T&Cs that home broadband must not be used for business or professional purposes (so be sure to check yours).

If you have office space, then business broadband is a must, and both can be claimed back as business expenses on your company's taxes. This guide will explore the most important things to consider when choosing a business broadband package.

Best business broadband deals on Uswitch.com in October 2021

Static IP address for business broadband

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a numbered code that identifies every computer connected to a certain network. It then enables them to exchange information with one another over the internet.

With most home broadband connections, you're assigned a dynamic IP address. This means it changes every time you connect. However, with premium business broadband connections you are usually provided with a static IP address, which means that the identifying number always stays the same.

Static IPs enable you to access more advanced internet features that are helpful to a business, especially when running an office full of colleagues who are working together all day.

With a static IP address and you can:

• Run a server
• Build your own website
• Create an email address that sends directly to an email account of your very own domain

Which providers offer business broadband?

A lot of UK business broadband providers now offer fairly-priced, high-speed packages tailored to the needs of companies at any size.

BT Business broadband

BT Business offers standard broadband packages with superfast speeds and reliable customer service.

Its deals range from those suitable for small-to-medium enterprises with light usage needs, all the way to larger firms with dozens (or even hundreds) of connected devices in use at any one time.

Customers can also choose to add mobile broadband with free Wi-Fi minutes on selected deals. In addition to a minimum 10GB of usage allowance, BT also provides 10 email addresses with spam protection through Outlook Web Access.

Virgin Media Business broadband

Thanks to its ultrafast cable broadband network, Virgin Media Business is able to offer very high-speed and consistent broadband that's faster than most fibre connections — allowing speeds up to 1000Mbps (or 1Gbps).

Customer support is another strong selling point for Virgin Media's business broadband, with help on-hand from a dedicated, UK-based team 24/7 via a freephone number.

Other key features of Virgin Media Business Broadband include unlimited downloads and calls, as well as business-grade SLAs and wireless routers as standard on all packages.

Plusnet Business broadband

Plusnet has long been renowned for its excellent customer service, and it recently won Best Provider Customer Service at the 2021 Uswitch Awards.

The provider takes this same customer-focused approach for its Plusnet Business broadband connection, with clients benefitting from a well-informed, UK-based support team that is on call 24/7 every day of the year.

Plusnet Business broadband customers can expect a connection speed of up to 76Mbps on their fibre broadband packages, which are available with 12 or 24 month contracts.

TalkTalk Business broadband

TalkTalk Business broadband packages offer speeds of up to 76Mbps and prioritised business traffic. It's also known to have some of the most competitive prices on the market, so could be a great option if you're looking to save on overheads.

Companies also benefit from TalkTalk's wealth of industry experience, great customer service and the flexibility to customise a phone line and broadband deal to meet their needs and add extra services for a small additional charge.

Its customer support is excellent, with dedicated, UK-based specialists on call from 9am to 5pm. TalkTalk's superlative aftercare record was highlighted when it scooped a Cisco Customer Service Award for its standards of customer support.

bOnline

bOnline is a small business broadband specialist, providing three powerful and affordable connections to help equip small businesses in the digital age.

Specifically, bOnline offers broadband on a 12-month contract with speeds ranging from 18Mb to 80Mb.

Important factors when choosing business broadband

• Web hosting and email addresses: Look out for antivirus and anti-spam filtering features.
• Site creation: Sites such as EasySiteWizard help you quickly and easily set up a website for your business.
• Business Voice (VoIP): Receive an inclusive VoIP business line for incoming and outgoing calls.
• Extranet: This provides employees with one place to store and share information, which is backed up daily and password-protected.
• PC Security: Protection suites safeguard your PC from hackers and viruses when you're online and protect you from infected flash drives when you're offline.

You should also know:

• Static/fixed IP addresses can give your business a real look of professionalism. This is great if the majority of your transaction and correspondence take palce online
• The main problem with static/fixed IP addresses is that they can be vulnerable to hackers, so good internet security is an essential.