# Ethernet leased line or business FTTP? A connection should be chosen around the work that must continue at the busiest moment. Download speed is one input, but upload capacity, shared infrastructure and the terms behind a fault matter just as much. 12 February 2026 [Connectivity & WAN](https://netavo.com/insights) ## Compare the service behind the speed A business comparing a fast FTTP package with an Ethernet leased line can easily compare the wrong numbers. The headline rate describes capacity in a particular direction. It does not, on its own, describe how consistently that capacity is available, what happens during a fault or which part of the journey a supplier controls. FTTP means fibre reaches the premises. It does not automatically mean dedicated capacity throughout the network. Ethernet leased lines are generally bought for dedicated, symmetrical access with an agreed service rate. Ofcom describes leased lines in terms of dedicated transmission capacity and equal upstream and downstream speeds. The actual contract and service specification remain the documents to compare. Ask for the committed rate, the bearer capacity and the upload and download figures separately. A larger bearer can provide room for a later upgrade, but it does not mean that its full capacity is included today. For FTTP, check the actual product profile rather than assuming that every fibre service is asymmetric or every business product has the same repair arrangements. Also establish the boundary of the commitment. Dedicated access to a provider does not reserve capacity inside every cloud platform or across the public internet. A slow application may still be limited by its server, routing or the customer's own network. ## Put contrasting workloads through the comparison Consider two hypothetical offices with twenty people. One mainly uses email, web applications and occasional video meetings. Its largest downloads can wait, and a temporary reduction in performance is inconvenient rather than operationally critical. A suitable FTTP service may meet that workload well, provided its upload and support terms also fit. The second office uploads large design files, backs up working data and supports several simultaneous calls while receiving customer orders. The same download headline says little about its busiest period. Upload saturation can delay the packets needed by interactive applications, so a connection that feels generous during a download test may perform poorly during a backup. List concurrent activity rather than multiplying employee numbers by an arbitrary allowance. Separate sustained transfers from short bursts, and record how long each application can tolerate reduced performance. Measure both directions during representative working hours. A quiet lunchtime speed test cannot establish what happens when everyone starts a meeting or the backup job begins. For a branch that depends on central systems, the wider design matters too. Netavo provides [fibre and Ethernet connectivity](https://netavo.com/services/connectivity) across UK carriers, including Ethernet access from 100M to 10G and private WAN. The useful discussion is which access service fits each site's role within that network. ## Read the fault terms and delivery assumptions A service description should explain fault reporting, response and restoration separately. A promise to acknowledge a ticket quickly is not a promise to restore the circuit within the same period. Check operating hours, exclusions, escalation arrangements and the conditions attached to any service credits. Do not assume the word business establishes a particular commitment. Match those terms to the cost of interruption. If an hour offline stops order processing, compare resilience options as well as the primary circuit. A second line needs its own failure analysis. Two connections that share a duct, building entry or power source may fail together, regardless of their product names. Installation can also change the decision. Availability information is a starting point, while the actual route, permissions, equipment location and any construction determine the delivery work. A site move should allow time for those dependencies and for testing before the existing service is ceased. Prepare a short comparison sheet with download, upload, committed capacity, installation dependencies, fault terms and the applications that must survive an outage. Add the consequences of missing the opening date or exceeding the backup window. For [retail and multi-site organisations](https://netavo.com/sectors/retail-and-multi-site), using the same sheet across branches makes exceptions visible without insisting that every premises buys the same circuit. ## Common questions ### Is FTTP unsuitable for business use? No. Suitability depends on the product, workload and tolerance for interruption. Compare its actual upload profile, support terms and delivery conditions with the business requirement. ### Does a leased line guarantee every cloud application will be fast? No. Dedicated access addresses one part of the path. Local equipment, application servers and onward networks can still limit performance. ### Should every branch use the same access speed? No. Size each branch around concurrent demand and its role in the wider network, while keeping common standards for support, documentation and acceptance. ## Related services and sectors ### [Connectivity & WAN](https://netavo.com/services/connectivity) Fibre and Ethernet access, private WAN and resilient connectivity, from a single site to a national estate. ### [Retail & Multi-site Estates](https://netavo.com/sectors/retail-and-multi-site) Fibre, Ethernet and private networking for branches and head offices, with mobile failover and estate telephony. ## Choose connectivity around the workload Tell us about your sites, busy periods and outage tolerance so we can discuss the fibre, Ethernet and private WAN options relevant to your business. [Work with us](https://netavo.com/work-with-us) Source: https://netavo.com/insights/leased-line-vs-fttp