By the Maincoms engineering team, Cosham, Portsmouth. Updated 17 October 2026.
In short: SoGEA suits small offices where full fibre is not yet available. Full fibre (FTTP) suits most small and medium businesses. A leased line suits sites that need the same speed in both directions, no sharing with other users and fast repairs. Whichever you choose, add a 4G or 5G backup.
Choosing a business connection used to mean picking the fastest broadband your street could get. With the copper phone network closing and more of your phones, payments and software running over the internet, it is worth a little more thought.
Almost every UK business will end up on one of three options.
SoGEA
SoGEA is fibre to the street cabinet, then copper to your building, without a phone line attached. It is the direct replacement for FTTC broadband and works in most places that do not yet have full fibre.
It suits small offices and shops with a handful of users. Speeds depend on your distance from the cabinet, so ask for an estimate for your address rather than relying on the headline figure.
Full fibre (FTTP)
Full fibre runs fibre all the way into the building. It is faster and more consistent than SoGEA, and widely available across Hampshire and the South Coast.
It suits most small and medium businesses. Check the upload speed as well as the download: hosted phone calls, video meetings and cloud backups all depend on it.
Leased lines
A leased line is a dedicated fibre connection used only by your business. Speeds are the same in both directions, there is no contention with neighbouring users, and repairs are covered by a much faster fix time.
It suits larger offices, sites with many staff on calls at once, and any business that cannot work without its connection. Installation takes longer, typically several weeks, so plan ahead.
Three questions to ask any provider
- What is the repair time, and is it in the contract? A residential-style service may take days to fix. Business services should state a target.
- Is a static IP address included? Many phone systems, CCTV and remote access tools need one.
- What happens when it goes down? Which brings us to the most important point.
Always have a backup
Every connection fails eventually, usually because of road works or a fault outside your control. A 4G or 5G backup router switches over automatically, so calls, card payments and cloud software keep working while the main line is repaired. For most businesses it costs far less than a day without a connection.
We supply SoGEA, full fibre, leased lines and 5G, with managed routers and automatic failover. See business internet or ask us what is available at your address.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full fibre and a leased line?
Full fibre (FTTP) is a shared broadband service, usually faster to download than upload. A leased line is a dedicated connection used only by your business, with the same speed in both directions and a much faster repair commitment.
Do we still need a phone line for business broadband?
No. SoGEA and full fibre are delivered without a phone line, and calls are made over the internet using a hosted phone system or SIP trunks.
How long does a leased line take to install?
Typically several weeks, and longer where new fibre or road works are needed. Order well before you need it, especially if you are moving premises.
How much bandwidth do internet phone calls need?
Each call uses roughly 100 kbps in each direction. Upload speed matters as much as download, so check both when sizing a connection for your team.