Best business broadband 2023: The UK's top business providers rated

Dan Howdle | July 3rd, 2023

For the most part, the most best and most widely available business broadband providers are those same names you'll be familiar with from the world of home broadband, though there are one or two exceptions. You're no doubt going to be familiar with TalkTalk, Sky, Vodafone and BT, but perhaps not so with XLN Telecom, for example.

Business providers have different specialities

Depending on they type of small or home business you're looking to get hooked up, you're going to want to find a provider that specialises in that one aspect. Because each provider does actually tend to focus on one aspect to differentiate itself from the competition, while there is also one or two all-rounders who may be Jack of all trades, but by the same token are also master of none. So we've picked the best provider for each category of business need.

Best business broadband deal for June 2023

Before we get into which business providers are best at what, here's our pick of the best business broadband deal this month:

TalkTalk Business Simply Business Fibre

76Mbps, £21.95p/m

TalkTalk Business is one of those all-rounders we talked about in the intro. But it's also got one of the cheapest and fastest business broadband deals on right now. The main selling point here is the price, the fact that as a business deal you'll get full 7-day customer support, and you can have either dynamic or static IP addresses (the latter is important to some type of business). There's a paltry £9.95 set-up fee which covers the postage of your router, and the contract length is 24 months. You won't get a lot of whizzy extras and the router is fairly bog-standard, but you won't be paying much either.

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Best business broadband providers in 2023

We've picked our favourite business broadband providers in a number of different categories, aimed at helping you find the right provider for you, depending on what exactly is most important to you and your business.

Best overall provider

BT Business

So what has BT Business got going for it that makes it our top pick? Well, you may be surprised that the answer isn't earth-shattering speed or a list of service extras the strike through the very heart of its competitors. No, the benefits of BT Business broadband are rather more subtle than that. For one, it's available to everyone. No matter where you are, you're going to be able to get a BT Business broadband deal. For another, BT Business customer service is second to none, and its router is exceptional. And you'll even get a digital phone handset thrown in too.

In terms of features it's not exactly lightweight either. BT Business brings you a minium speed guarantee, easy to set up guest wifi, a host of security features including content controls and Web Protect, and you'll be able to make and receive calls via the included phone line. It is a PAYG deal, though, so if your business makes a lot of calls out, you may want to consider Sky Business (this is their speciality), or adding an anytime calls package to your BT deal.

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Best business broadband wifi

Vodafone Business

Every business provider is attempting some sort of angle or unique selling point, and for Vodafone, it's all about wifi and uninterrupted service. With any of Vodafone's Business Pro fibre packages, you'll get round the clock support for one thing, but it's less likely you'll ever need it, since Vodafone will also give you a Super WiFi Mesh booster, which guarantees you wifi reception in every corner of your home or business.

To top that off, your Vodafone business router will also come with a Vodafone mobile network SIM card that takes over data duties if there are any interruptions in your service. Vodafone calls this 'Broadband Back-up', and we reckon anyone who'd every had any sort of broadband connection will know that's going to come in handy at some point, especially if your business is the type that'll start loving money when you're not online.

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Best business provider for calls

Sky Business

Sky Business broadband deals are a bit more expensive than most of the others on this page, broadly speaking. However, that'll be because of Sky's primarily focus. You see Sky, unlike most others, has decided to make landline calling its primary selling point. Its deals offer two digital landline numbers – ideal if you need more than one line – and include three-way calling ability and a host of calling services like voicemail, call transfer and call forwarding.

You'll also get free anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles. Sky's router is excellent, its installation seamless and its £12 set-up cost minimal. LIke other providers here in this round-up, you'll be locked in for two years, but you won't find any business provider offering a shorter contract than that. If you need a shorter contract, perhaps a home broadband deal would better suit, but then you won't get any of those juicy business extras.

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Best specialist business broadband

XLN Telecom

XLN is unique in this roundup in that it's the only provider here that doesn't offer any home broadband deals, instead electing to be a 100% business-focused provider. And that's good for a few different reasons. For one, business is their expertise. XLN's 700,000+ customers are all businesses, so when it comes to experience, there won't be a problem the provider cannot deal with swiftly and simply.

And it's been around for a long time now. Since its establishment in 2002, a mission to provide tailored services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), XLN Telecom has become a trusted name in the industry. The company focuses on delivering cost-effective and reliable solutions, including business broadband, phone lines and mobile services. XLN understands the unique needs and challenges faced by small businesses and aims to provide them with the essential communication tools to thrive in a competitive market.

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Choosing a broadband deal for your small business

When selecting a business broadband deal, it's important to keep the following factors in mind:

1. Speed: Assess your internet usage needs and choose a broadband package that offers sufficient speed and bandwidth for your business requirements. Consider factors such as the number of users, the nature of your online activities, and the need for reliable connectivity

2. Reliability and uptime: Look for a broadband provider that has a reputation for reliable service and minimal downtime. Check customer reviews and ratings to gauge the provider's track record in terms of network stability and performance

3. Customer support: Ensure that the broadband provider offers robust customer support options, including responsive helplines, online chat, and email support. Prompt and efficient customer support is crucial for addressing any technical issues or concerns that may arise

4. Contract terms and pricing: Carefully review the terms and conditions of the contract, including any minimum contract duration, early termination fees, and pricing structures. Consider whether the package offers value for money and aligns with your budget constraints

5. Additional features and services: Explore any additional features or services offered by the broadband provider, such as security options, domain hosting, or email accounts. These extra features can add value to your business operations and enhance your online presence

6. Flexibility and scalability: Consider the scalability of the broadband package. Will it accommodate your business's growth and increasing bandwidth requirements? Look for packages that offer flexibility to upgrade or downgrade as needed without incurring excessive costs

7. Reviews and recommendations: Seek out reviews and recommendations from, oh we don't know, experts like us! Their experiences can provide valuable insights into the quality and suitability of different broadband providers