UK Landline and Broadband Guide for Businesses

For any UK business, getting your head around the relationship between your landline and broadband is more important than ever. Why? Because the old copper phone network we’ve relied on for decades is being retired. It used to be that you couldn't get broadband without a landline, but that's all changing with modern full-fibre and VoIP, which give you far more speed and choice.

Landline and Broadband: Breaking Down the Connection

For a long time, the link was simple: your landline and broadband shared the same physical copper wires. Think of it like a house with one main pipe delivering water for both your kitchen tap and your radiators. Everything travelled down the same route. This system is known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and those copper wires have been the backbone of UK communications for over 100 years.

When broadband first came along, services like ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) were a clever workaround. They piggybacked on these existing phone lines, sending internet data down the copper wire without cutting off your phone calls. It was a practical solution at the time, but by today's standards, it was slow.

The Big Switch to Digital

That whole system is now on its way out. The UK is in the middle of a massive project called the PSTN switch-off, which is due to be completed by the end of 2025. This isn't just a minor update; it means every business will need to move its phone service over to a digital alternative like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

The pace of change has been incredible. Back in 2007, the average UK broadband speed was a sluggish 4.6 Mbit/s, and pretty much everyone needed a landline. Today, full-fibre networks have pushed the average fixed-line download speed to a blistering 104.53 Mb—and these new connections don't need a traditional phone line at all. If you dig into the latest UK broadband statistics, you can see just how much things have improved.

Here's the most important thing to grasp: your business phone calls are essentially becoming another type of data, just like your emails or video conferences. This makes the quality and reliability of your broadband connection absolutely critical.

To help make sense of it all, here's a quick summary of the key differences between the old world and the new.

Quick Comparison of Old vs. New Connectivity

As you can see, the move to modern systems isn't just about keeping up—it's about unlocking better features, greater flexibility, and the performance your business needs to thrive.

Choosing Between Old-School Landlines and Modern VoIP

Not so long ago, picking a phone system for your business was easy. You had one option: a traditional landline. Now, you’ve got two very different technologies to consider: the classic Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the modern Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Getting to grips with how they work is the first step to making the right choice.

Here’s a simple way to think about it. A PSTN landline is a bit like the Royal Mail. It’s a dedicated, reliable system that follows a set physical path—in this case, copper wires—to deliver your call. It does one job, and it does it dependably.

VoIP, on the other hand, is more like sending an email. It cleverly converts your voice into digital packets and sends them over your existing landline and broadband connection. It’s faster, far more flexible, and can do much more than just carry your voice.

Why VoIP Is Now the Go-To for Businesses

The real differences pop up when you look at what matters to a growing business. Traditional PSTN landlines often involve hefty upfront costs for installing physical lines and buying hardware. Call charges can also be a bit of a lottery, especially when you’re ringing abroad. Need another line? That means waiting for an engineer and paying for another installation.

VoIP completely turns that idea on its head. The setup is mostly software-based, running on the broadband you already have. Call costs are significantly lower, and many plans bundle in free UK and even international minutes. Adding a new team member is as easy as a few clicks in an online portal—no engineer required.

The real game-changer with VoIP is the freedom it gives you. Your business number is no longer physically chained to a wire in your office wall. It lives in the cloud, ready to be used on a desk phone, a laptop, or a mobile app, wherever you have an internet connection.

Features That Help Your Business Grow

Beyond the savings and flexibility, VoIP packs a punch with powerful features that old PSTN systems just can't offer. It turns your phone from a simple calling device into a proper communications tool that genuinely helps your team work smarter.

• Work From Anywhere, Seamlessly: Staff can make and take calls using the main business number, whether they’re at their desk, at home, or grabbing a coffee.
• Plays Well with Other Software: You can link your phone system directly to your CRM. This means calls are logged automatically, and customer details pop up when they ring.
• Smarter Call Handling: Think intelligent call routing, digital receptionists that greet and direct callers, and even voicemails transcribed and sent straight to your email.

As you move over to VoIP, you can also start using clever add-ons like smart voicemail apps that work with your mobile. The Onsilent Smart Voicemail app for Apple devices is a great example of how these tools are getting better all the time.

To really see what’s possible, it’s worth digging deeper into how VoIP for business works in the real world. The practical advantages over an ageing phone system are clear.

Finding the Right Broadband for Your Business

When your phone system runs over the internet, your broadband connection instantly becomes the lifeblood of your entire business. It stops being just a tool for emails and web browsing and becomes the absolute foundation for every single client call, internal meeting, and sales pitch.

That’s why choosing the right type of landline and broadband service isn't just an IT decision; it's a critical business one.

A good connection really comes down to three things: raw speed, day-to-day reliability, and latency (the tiny delay as data travels back and forth). If any one of these is lacking, you'll feel it. Dropped calls, jittery video conferences, and robotic-sounding voices can quickly damage your professional image and frustrate everyone involved.

Understanding Your Broadband Options

Here in the UK, business broadband typically comes in three main flavours, each built on different technology to get you online.

• ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): This is the old-school option, running entirely on the copper phone lines that are now being phased out. It’s the slowest and least reliable choice by a long shot.
• FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet): A big improvement. With FTTC, super-fast fibre optic cables run to the green cabinet on your street. The catch? The last bit of the journey, from the cabinet to your office, still uses that old copper wire, which slows things down.
• FTTP (Fibre to the Premises): This is the gold standard. A pure fibre optic cable runs all the way into your building. The result is lightning-fast, symmetrical download and upload speeds, almost non-existent latency, and rock-solid reliability.

If there’s one thing to take away, it's this: for any business that depends on VoIP for its phone system, FTTP is the only real long-term choice. It gives you the stable, high-performance foundation you need for crystal-clear calls and dependable service.

The Real Cost of a Poor Connection

A flaky internet connection is more than just an annoyance; it has a real-world financial impact. For UK businesses, slow or unstable broadband costs the economy an eye-watering £11 billion every year.

It's a daily headache for many, with 71% of business leaders saying that poor connectivity directly harms their operations. And while things are improving, there’s still a noticeable gap between cities and more rural areas, which can put companies outside of major hubs at a disadvantage.

Making the right choice from the start is crucial. When you're looking at different providers, don't just focus on the headline speeds. Dig deeper and ask about their service level agreements (SLAs) and guaranteed uptime. Our guide on choosing a business broadband bundle can walk you through the different packages to find one that truly meets your needs.

Should You Bundle Your Business Services?

When it comes to buying your essential business services, it often boils down to a single, crucial question: should you get your landline and broadband from one supplier, or is it better to keep them separate? There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but thinking through the trade-offs is key to making the right call for your company's finances and daily operations.

Bundling your services is often pitched as the easiest option. The main draw is convenience – you get one provider, one monthly bill, and just one number to call for support. For a small business, this can seriously cut down on administrative hassle. Providers also love to throw in discounts for taking multiple services, which can lead to some welcome cost savings.

But that convenience can sometimes mask hidden costs.

The Case for Keeping Suppliers Separate

While a bundle looks neat and tidy on paper, it can force you to compromise. A provider might be brilliant at delivering top-tier business broadband but offer a pretty basic or overpriced VoIP phone system. By bundling, you could end up with a weaker service just for the sake of the deal, sacrificing important things like call quality or features you really need.

Tying yourself to one provider for everything also limits your agility. Imagine you need to ramp up your internet speed, but you're locked into a long-term contract that includes your phone service. Making that change becomes a complicated and expensive headache. Using separate, specialist suppliers gives you the freedom to pick the absolute best provider for each job.

The bottom line is this: convenience should never trump quality. If your business depends on crystal-clear phone calls and rock-solid internet, then choosing best-in-class providers for each might be the smarter, more resilient strategy in the long run.

Bundled vs. Separate Suppliers: A Business Checklist

Making this choice is all about what your business prioritises. The right path for a small start-up might be completely different from that of an established firm with a dedicated call centre. This table breaks down the main points to consider, helping you weigh the simplicity of a bundle against the performance of separate services.

Ultimately, your answers to these questions will point you in the right direction. If your team is constantly on client calls, a specialist VoIP provider will likely offer superior quality that a generic bundle can't touch. On the other hand, if you just need a reliable connection and a basic phone line, a bundle might be perfectly fine.

And if your business absolutely cannot afford any internet downtime? You might need a dedicated connection. You can find out more about how a business leased line offers guaranteed speeds and reliability, an option almost always sourced from a specialist provider.

By weighing everything up, you can build a communications setup that truly works for your business.

How to Plan Your Move to VoIP

With the old copper phone network (the PSTN) being switched off for good, moving your business phones to VoIP isn't a matter of 'if', but 'when'. Getting this transition right is all about planning. A bit of preparation turns a potentially stressful tech project into a smooth, manageable upgrade for your business.

The first step has nothing to do with technology. It’s about auditing what you have right now. Before you can look for a new system, you need a crystal-clear picture of your current setup. How many phone numbers do you have? How many physical handsets are dotted around the office? What are your average monthly call volumes and what do you currently pay? These numbers give you a solid baseline to work from.

This is also the perfect moment to think bigger. How does your team actually work? Are people often working from home or on the road? Would it be useful if your phone system could 'talk' to other tools you use, like your CRM? Figuring this out helps you find a provider that won't just replace what you have, but will actually make your business run better.

Your Step-by-Step Migration Plan

Once you've got a handle on your current setup and what you need for the future, you can put a proper action plan together. Breaking the move down into a few simple steps takes the pressure off and makes sure nothing important gets forgotten.

1. Check Your Broadband Connection: A VoIP system is only as good as the internet it runs on. Run a few speed tests and get a feel for how stable your connection is. If you're still using an older ADSL or fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) line, this is the perfect excuse to upgrade to a full-fibre (FTTP) connection. It's the only way to guarantee you have the bandwidth for consistently clear calls.

2. Choose the Right VoIP Provider: They aren't all the same. Look for a provider that specialises in business communications and has a great reputation for UK-based support. Compare their features, pricing, and how easily their system can grow with you. You want a partner that fits your business, not just a dial tone.

3. Plan the Number Porting: You absolutely want to keep your existing business number. The process of moving it from your old provider to the new one is called 'porting'. Your new provider does all the heavy lifting, but you need to work with them to schedule the switchover. A little coordination here means zero risk of customers being unable to reach you.

A common worry is losing your phone line during the switch. A good VoIP provider will manage the porting process to ensure there is absolutely no downtime, often timing the final changeover to happen outside your core business hours to avoid any disruption.

This flowchart gives a bird's-eye view of the decision-making process when picking a new provider.

It really just boils down to understanding your business needs, looking at what’s out there, and then choosing a modern, cloud-based solution that fits the bill.

Finalising the Transition

The last piece of the puzzle is your team. Even the most user-friendly phone system is new. Set aside a little time to walk everyone through the key features, like how to use the mobile app or get voicemails delivered to their email. Making sure your staff are comfortable and confident from day one is the secret to a successful launch.

By following these simple steps, you can confidently make the switch to VoIP and equip your business with a communication system that's flexible, modern, and ready for whatever comes next.

Keeping Your Business Connected and Secure

When your phone system runs entirely over the internet, your broadband connection is no longer just a convenience – it's a lifeline. Protecting this vital link is a core business function, and a standard, consumer-grade broadband package simply won’t cut it when your client calls depend on it.

This is where business-grade broadband comes into its own. These services are built from the ground up for reliability and come with something crucial: a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Think of an SLA as a written promise from your provider, guaranteeing a certain level of uptime and outlining exactly how quickly they’ll fix any problems that crop up. That guarantee is the difference between a minor blip and a costly outage.

But let's be realistic. Even the most robust connection can fail. That’s why any smart strategy needs a solid backup plan.

Building a Failsafe Connection

For most small to medium-sized businesses, the simplest and most effective backup is a 4G or 5G mobile broadband connection. Modern business routers are clever enough to automatically switch over to the mobile network the moment your primary fibre line goes down.

This automatic failover means your VoIP phones and critical cloud services stay online without anyone even noticing there was an issue. The switch is completely seamless, keeping your team productive and your customers connected. It’s a small investment that delivers priceless peace of mind.

Think of it like a reserve power generator for your communications. You hope you never have to use it, but you know your business is protected if the main supply is ever cut off.

A reliable connection is only one piece of the puzzle; it also has to be secure. Like any device connected to the internet, VoIP systems can be targets for online threats.

Essential Security for Your VoIP System

Securing your phone system doesn't mean you need to be a tech wizard. It’s mostly about practising good digital hygiene. Protecting your business communications starts with a few fundamentals that create a strong first line of defence. If you're curious about the technology that makes it all work, our guide explaining what a SIP trunk is is a great place to start.

Here are the non-negotiable security steps every business should have in place:

• Enforce Strong, Unique Passwords: This goes for every single user account and device on your network. Avoid common, easily guessed passwords and consider using a password manager to handle complex credentials.
• Activate Encryption: Check that your VoIP provider uses encryption protocols like TLS and SRTP. These act like a secure envelope, scrambling your call data so it can’t be intercepted and understood by eavesdroppers.
• Configure Your Firewall Correctly: Your firewall is your network's gatekeeper. It needs to be set up to allow legitimate VoIP traffic through while blocking any suspicious connection attempts from the outside world.

For an extra layer of defence across all your connected devices, it's worth exploring dedicated endpoint security solutions. By combining reliable broadband, a solid backup, and these fundamental security measures, you can build a communications setup that’s both resilient and secure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving away from old-school phone lines and into the world of internet-based systems can feel like a big leap. It's only natural to have a few questions. We've gathered some of the most common ones we hear from UK businesses to give you the clear, straightforward answers you need.

Can I Keep My Business Phone Number When I Switch to VoIP?

Yes, you absolutely can. Losing a number that your customers have known for years is a huge worry for many businesses, but it's completely avoidable.

The process is called number porting. Think of it like moving your mobile number to a new network – the same principle applies. Your new VoIP provider will handle all the technical bits, coordinating with your old supplier to transfer the number over. It’s a well-oiled process designed to ensure you don't miss a single call.

What Happens to Devices Using the Old Phone Line?

This is a really important one to get right. Things like security alarms, fax machines, or payment terminals often rely on that old copper phone line to function. When the line goes, they stop working.

It's crucial to check with your device suppliers before the switch happens. Many modern versions of these devices are already designed to work over the internet, or can be easily upgraded. A quick call beforehand can save you a massive headache on changeover day.

Do I Still Need a Physical Landline for Fibre Broadband?

This all comes down to the specific type of fibre connection you have. Knowing the difference is key.

• Full Fibre (FTTP): With a Fibre to the Premises connection, you do not need a phone line. A brand new fibre optic cable runs straight to your building, delivering your internet completely independently of the old copper network.
• Partial Fibre (FTTC): With Fibre to the Cabinet, you still need the copper phone line for the last part of the journey. The fibre optic cable runs to the green cabinet on your street, but the connection from there to your office uses the existing copper wire.

As the UK network gets upgraded, FTTP is quickly becoming the new standard, meaning your broadband and phone line will be two completely separate things.

Ready to modernise your business communications with a reliable IT partner? HGC IT Solutions provides expert guidance and managed services to ensure your transition to VoIP and fibre broadband is seamless and secure. Discover our managed IT services today.