Everyone wants to make the best choices for their business. Like almost every industry today uses the internet, picking the right broadband package is an important decision.

We’ve put together this helpful guide so that you can understand the differences between home and business broadband.

Customer Support

We all know how frustrating it can be when our broadband has connection issues, but the implication this can have for businesses that rely on their connection can be huge. In fact, UK businesses lose around £12billion per year from internet outages.[1]

Business broadband packages will often have enhanced customer support systems such as a dedicated team with priority access. These teams often have more technical training and can provide support for a wider range of issues.

Home broadband packages will still have a customer support line, although waiting times can be a bit longer. Business broadband, on the other hand, usually comes with a dedicated business customer support team whose job is to get you up and running again as soon as possible if anything happens. One way this is guaranteed is through Service Level Agreements.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

SLAs are a great feature of business broadband packages. They establish a set of standards between the provider and customer, such as guaranteed connection speeds and repair times. SLAs also outline the compensation that the business would receive if the agreement is not met by the ISP.

Having a guaranteed, quick turnaround for repairs can be vital to businesses. If your connection went down, what would happen?

• Work can’t be completed

• Poor video calls

• Clients and customers left unhappy

• Can’t process online payments

• Can’t access files

• Can’t access communication systems

… And the list goes on!

Leased line

Businesses can purchase a leased line package from some providers. It costs more than broadband, but offers some great benefits:

• Dedicated connection – you don’t share your connection with anyone else

• Symmetrical upload/download speeds – while some provides (like us) offer this on broadband packages too, lots do not.

• SLAs in hours, not days

• Upload/download speeds up to 10Gbps

Check out our blog on leased lines and how they can transform your business.

Static IP

When using home broadband, your IP address is usually dynamic. This means it changes each time you connect to the internet. You generally have to pay a little extra to get the benefits of a static IP with your home broadband.

With business broadband, however, a static IP address usually comes as standard.

A static IP address is a unique number assigned to your network. It offers more features than a dynamic IP:

• Remote working – you can access your files, programs and settings remotely

• Domain hosting – you need a static IP to host your own website

• Email server – with a static IP, you can host your own email server and have more control over your email

Business-grade router

There are also differences between home broadband and business broadband routers, and these can impact how you work.

Business-grade routers can have some great features. They can be dual band which means you can split the Wi-Fi into two networks. Automatic band steering means your employees, visitors, and customers always access the best speed by avoiding channel interference.

Business-grade routers also often feature more Wi-Fi antennas for a more reliable connection.

We love our Nokia Hyperhub router. Find out why we believe it’s the best for business.

VoIP

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make phone calls via an internet connection, rather than via a landline or mobile device. VoIP calls can be cheaper and higher-quality than landline and mobile calls (if your internet connection is reliable).

Some home broadband providers offer VoIP, but it is more common for business broadband.

Value

Today’s workplace relies on connectivity. Business packages can be more expensive than residential packages, but they deliver extra benefits to help organisations keep running at top speed.

All these extra features (dedicated support, SLAs, VoIP, static Ips, business-grade kit) can outweigh the costs for businesses.

The right provider

Whether you choose a home or business broadband package, choosing the right provider is important, especially if your organisation relies on connectivity.

Not all ISPs offer business-grade routers as standard or provide symmetrical upload/download speeds. SLAs also vary across different providers, and customer service teams aren’t all highly rated. Contract lengths and prices also vary.

We believe that broadband should have:

• Flexible package options – change your package as your business needs to change

• Great service – issues are fixed, fast

We deliver hyperfast, reliable speeds with our full fibre broadband and leased line deals so that whichever package you choose, your business will be running at top speed. We were also the first major business broadband supplier to offer the flexibility of a monthly rolling contract in the UK.

Our dedicated business support team is on-hand from 9am-9pm every day of the week. We provide a next-workday SLA (Workday comprised of Monday to Friday, 9am-5:30pm, not including Bank Holidays) on business broadband, and a 5-hour SLA on leased line packages.

Looking to find the best broadband for your business? Give us a call. 

Is business broadband better than home broadband?

Business and home broadband usually differs in terms of speed, the minimum commitment options, and some key features that are tailored to the specific needs of businesses vs residential customers.

Business broadband packages are often faster, to accommodate bandwidth-heavy activities and to support a higher number of users. They also often come with service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee service uptime and reliability, along with dedicated customer support.

However, this doesn’t necessarily make business broadband better for home or individual use, as business broadband tends to be more expensive and will come with certain features that a household/individual probably won’t need.