Last updated: 27 September 2026
A leased line is a dedicated, uncontended fibre connection with the same upload and download speed and a guaranteed repair time. FTTC (fibre to the cabinet, now usually sold as SoGEA) is shared broadband that runs over copper for the last part of the journey. It is cheaper, but speeds vary and repairs take longer.
Key differences
- Speed: leased lines run from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, with matching upload speeds. FTTC typically offers up to 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, depending on distance from the cabinet.
- Reliability: a leased line is not shared with neighbours, so speeds stay consistent at busy times.
- Repairs: leased lines come with an SLA, often a fix within 5 to 7 hours. Broadband repairs are best-effort and can take days.
- Cost and install: FTTC is low-cost and quick to install. Leased lines cost more per month and can take 30 to 90 days to install.
What about full fibre (FTTP)?
Full fibre broadband now offers speeds up to 1 Gbps or more at a fraction of the cost of a leased line, and is a good middle option where available. It is still shared and without a fast-fix SLA. Read the benefits of FTTP.
Which should we choose?
- FTTC or FTTP: smaller offices, light cloud use, where a short outage is manageable. Add a 4G/5G backup for resilience.
- Leased line: larger teams, heavy cloud and video use, VoIP phone systems, or where downtime costs real money.
With the PSTN switch-off deadline approaching, now is a good time to review your connection. ABCOM supplies business broadband and leased lines across Sussex.
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How ABCOM can help
Talk to a real person at our Burgess Hill office. We are an NCSC Assured Service Provider and have supported Sussex businesses since 1996.