How to Switch Business Broadband Without Downtime
Switching broadband providers makes many business owners nervous — and for good reason. An afternoon offline can mean missed orders, dropped calls and frustrated customers. With a little planning, though, you can move to a faster or cheaper connection without losing a minute of uptime.
Check what's actually available at your address
Before comparing prices, find out which technologies are available at your premises. Full-fibre (FTTP), part-fibre (FTTC), cable and dedicated leased lines all behave differently in terms of speed, contention and installation lead time.
A leased line, for example, gives you a guaranteed, uncontended connection but usually needs a longer installation window. A full-fibre business package can often be provisioned more quickly. Knowing your options up front avoids ordering something that can't be delivered.
Order the new line before cancelling the old one
The single most important rule for zero downtime is overlap. Keep your existing connection live until the new one is installed and tested. Only then schedule the cancellation of the old service.
- Confirm the installation date for the new line in writing
- Keep the old contract running until the new line is proven stable
- Test speeds and any failover before switching staff and devices over
- Cancel the old line only once everything is working
Plan the cutover for a quiet period
Even with overlap, there's a moment where you move devices, phones and payment terminals onto the new connection. Schedule that for an evening, weekend or your quietest trading hour so any hiccups have minimal impact.
If your phone system or card machines run over the internet, test them specifically after the cutover — not just web browsing.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my phone number when I switch broadband?
Not if you plan it. If your phones run over the internet (VoIP), your numbers are independent of the broadband line and can be ported separately. We coordinate both so nothing is lost.
How long does a business broadband switch take?
It depends on the technology. A like-for-like fibre switch can be quick, while a new leased line installation typically needs several weeks for survey and provisioning.
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