Business broadband deals

Most businesses would be lost without a good business broadband package that provides a reliable and fast connection. Business broadband allows entrepreneurs to reach a global market without ever having to leave the comfort of their own home or business premises.

If you’re thinking of setting up a business or already run one, this guide will explore a few of the issues worth considering when choosing a business broadband package.

Best business broadband deals on uSwitch.com in September 2019

Business broadband and static IPs

A static IP address is a critical part of a business broadband connection. In a nutshell, an IP address is a numerical identifier for your computer and is what enables computers to exchange information with one another over the internet.

With most home broadband connections, you are granted 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.

Get a static IP address and you can:

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

Which providers offer business broadband?

A host of UK providers now offer keenly-priced, super-fast business broadband packages tailored to the needs of companies. The top of the range BT Business Infinity broadband deal, for instance, features a headline connection speed of up to 76Mbps. TalkTalk's top-end business broadband package also provides a top speed of 76Mbps.

Other players in the business broadband sector include Plusnet Business, which is renowned for its superlative customer support, XLN Telecom, bOnline, Toople and Virgin Media Business, whose top business broadband product offers a guaranteed speed of 152Mbps.

BT Business broadband

BT Business standard business broadband packages offer super-fast connections of up to 17Mbps and a reliable service that won’t let you down. Broadband products range from those suitable for small to medium enterprises with light usage needs to larger firms who may want to opt for those that feature unlimited downloads.

Choose BT's fibre business broadband service and you'll get an even faster headline speed of 76Mbps.

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

Virgin Media Business broadband

Thanks to its highly advanced fibre optic broadband network, Virgin Media Business is able to offer fast and reliable broadband speeds that are not affected by the distance your business is located from the telephone exchange and a super fast cable service of up to 350Mbps.

Customer support is another strong selling point, 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 on their Vroom Fibre product, 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. The provider takes this same customer-focussed approach for its Plusnet Business broadband services, with clients benefiting 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, making it one of the fastest available to UK firms. Companies also benefit from years of industry experience, keen prices and the flexibility to tailor a phone line and broadband deal to meet their needs and add extra services for a small additional charge.

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.

XLN Telecom

XLN Telecom specialises in broadband and landline packages tailored to the needs of small- to medium-sized businesses. Prices compare very favourably with rival providers.

Consistently rated highly, it offers connection speeds of up to 76Mbps on its high-end fibre broadband service. Opt for its cheap package and you can expect a connection speed of up to 17Mbps.

XLN Telecom business broadband packages include award-winning customer support, and select bundles include its Secure security software, which includes antivirus, anti-spyware, abuse control and anti-spam features.

XLN Telecom was awarded Silver at the 2016 UK Customer Experience Awards and picked up the 2016 CV Magazine Achievement Award for Best SME Telecommunications Specialist – UK.

bOnline

bOnline's main focus is to accelerate businesses with fast and reliable internet access. They are small business specialists and they provide three powerful and affordable connectivity solutions to help equip small businesses in the digital age. Specifically, bOnline offer broadband on a 12-month contract with speeds ranging from 18Mb to 80Mb.

Important factors when choosing business broadband

• Web hosting and e-mail addresses: Look out for antivirus and anti-spam filtering features.
• Site creation: Suites 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.

Note: - Static/fixed IP addresses can give your business a real look of professionalism. This is great if you’re planning on doing a lot of business over the internet. - The main problem with static/fixed IP addresses is that they can be vulnerable to hackers, so good internet security is an essential.