Stay Online, Stay Productive: Why Reliable Internet—and a Backup—Is Essential for Today’s Business

In today’s business world, downtime isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive. From VoIP phones and Microsoft 365 to cloud-based CRMs and client video calls, modern SMEs depend on the internet more than ever. Which means relying on a single internet connection is like driving without a spare tyre: fine until it isn’t.

Let’s explore the types of internet connections available and why having a resilient, failover-ready setup is critical for continuity.

💡 The Problem with a Single Internet Connection

Even with the best ISPs, connections can—and do—go down. This could be due to:

• Local outages (roadworks, cabinet faults)

• ISP infrastructure issues

• Power cuts at local exchanges

• Router or equipment failure

If your business grinds to a halt when the internet drops, so do sales, communication, and service.

🧠 The Four Main Options

🥉 1. Single Line (FTTC or FTTP)

This is the most basic setup. One internet line, one point of failure.

• ✅ Cost-effective

• ❌ No resilience—if it drops, you’re offline

• ❌ Not suitable for cloud-reliant or VoIP-heavy businesses

🥈 2. Fixed + Fixed Failover

Here, you have two separate broadband connections—ideally from different ISPs—plugged into a dual-WAN router that can automatically failover.

• ✅ Strong resilience against most outages

• ✅ Consistent speed

• ✅ Good for VoIP, Microsoft 365, Teams, CRMs

• ❌ Higher ongoing costs (two fixed lines)

🥈 3. Fixed + Mobile Failover (4G/5G)

One fixed line, backed up by a mobile data router. The mobile connection kicks in automatically if the main line drops.

• ✅ Cost-effective resilience

• ✅ Flexible—works even if there’s a local infrastructure outage

• ✅ Quick to deploy

• ❌ Mobile signal can vary

• ❌ Speeds and latency may not suit all workloads

Many businesses start here—it’s a smart middle ground, and a great option where a second fixed line isn’t available or budget is tight.

🥇 4. Ethernet Leased Line

The gold standard. A business-grade, dedicated fibre line with symmetrical speeds and robust service guarantees.

• ✅ Up to 1Gbps upload and download

• ✅ Guaranteed bandwidth (no contention)

• ✅ SLAs with 4–6 hour fix times

• ✅ Extremely reliable

• ❌ Higher cost, but often worth it for critical operations

Often combined with a 4G/5G failover for complete resilience.

🛠️ Hardware That Makes It Work

Whatever setup you choose, you’ll need the right router. Dual-WAN routers like the Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro, DrayTek Vigor, or Cisco Meraki can detect failures and automatically switch to the backup line—seamlessly. Add in:

• POE switches for neat, powered access points

• UPS backup for routers and switches

• External 4G/5G antennas if signal is weak

✅ Summary: Four Tiers of Connectivity

Tier	Description	Ideal For
🥉 Single FTTC/FTTP Line	Basic, no resilience	Very small teams, low reliance on cloud
🥈 Fixed + Second Fixed Line	Strong resilience	SMEs needing guaranteed uptime
🥈 Fixed + Mobile (4G/5G) Failover	Cost-effective backup	Most SMEs using VoIP or cloud tools
🥇 Leased Line + Mobile Failover	Enterprise-grade	Critical operations, no tolerance for downtime

Final Word

If your business can’t afford to be offline, it can’t afford to rely on a single connection. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to upgrade to a leased line, there’s a solution to fit your needs—and your budget.

We can help assess what’s available at your location and design the right setup to keep your business connected, always.