Is business broadband better than residential?

7 March 2024
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Discovering what you need to ensure operations run efficiently and smoothly is part and parcel of being a business owner. 

However, if you’re about to commence a period of growth, you might be wondering: Is business broadband better than residential broadband

The answer to this question is that it depends on your circumstances, as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every business.

There’s no denying that business broadband is significantly more advanced than residential broadband. For instance, it provides a symmetric service (same upload and download speeds) and a guarantee of minimum speeds at peak times within the service level agreement.

That said, let’s break down business and residential broadband to understand better which package is right for you.

What Is The Difference Between Home & Business Broadband?

There is a range of differences between home and business broadband that you’ll need to consider when weighing which is the right choice for you.

These include, but are not limited to:

  1. Price
  2. Tech and customer support
  3. Added features
  4. Upload and download speeds 
  5. Security  

1. Price

A small difference between home and business broadband is the price.

While there isn’t much difference in price, home broadband packages are sometimes marginally cheaper as they’re generally less sophisticated and may offer fewer features. 

Additionally, VAT is often included in the headline price of a residential package.

However, the small additional cost for a business service that includes enhanced tech support, added security and reliability is often a no-brainer for business owners.

Worker using business broadband
There’s no denying that business broadband is significantly more advanced than residential broadband.

2. Tech & Customer Support

A key difference between home and business broadband is tech and customer support.

As a loyal customer, you want to know that your business is being taken care of and your tech support needs are being met.

Oftentimes, home broadband packages offer customer support only during working hours during the week. 

At Ogi, we provide customer support during weekends for residential customers. We offer market-leading managed IT services, with local support based right here in South Wales, 24/7 if you need it. 

We proactively monitor, manage and maintain the service ourselves, so if there’s ever a problem, we’ll often fix it before you even notice. And if you need our help, our expert team is based just around the corner.  

Visit our website or contact a member of our team to learn more. 

3. Added Features 

A key difference between business broadband and residential broadband is the added features that come with each package.

At home, people are generally streaming (downloading) films, music, or games, so while home broadband packages come with some features, they tend to be more basic and geared toward leisure, as they’re not specifically designed for running a business. 

With business broadband you can choose significantly more sophisticated features, such as static IP addresses that allow you to set up a private server to service guarantees.

Considering that 73% of consumers will switch to a competitor after multiple bad experiences, the consumer is right to demand access to quick support. If no internet means your business stops, you can’t afford to wait.

With a service guarantee, customers can be assured of support if something goes wrong or the speed you receive drops below a minimum level. 

Worker researching whether business broadband is better than residential
At Ogi, we provide customer support during weekends for residential customers. We offer market-leading managed IT services, with local support based right here in South Wales, 24/7 if you need it.

4. Upload & Download Speeds

Today, most businesses use Cloud services such as video conferencing or Microsoft 365, so a fast, symmetric service is increasingly necessary for everyday work. 

As competition has never been fiercer, having a reliable and high-speed internet connection enables your business to remain responsive and flexible. 

Basic home broadband packages, on the other hand, aren’t designed for multiple business devices to be connected simultaneously. With team members on video calls while others access Cloud services, a slow connection can reduce efficiency and team productivity.

Ogi will power up your business with our dedicated bespoke network whilst our core business packages go from 300Mbps to 900Mbps. Want to go faster? Ogi also offers the capability to provide 2Gbps to 10Gbps symmetrical speeds for the very first time in Wales.

These services are revolutionary and a real cost-efficient alternative to traditional leased lines, which are often the only viable alternative to slower and less reliable non-symmetric Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) services from Openreach.

What’s more, Ogi Pro can help you shape your IT desk, covering not just incredibly fast internet but everything you need to run things day-to-day with complete confidence. Visit our website today for your broadband needs.  

5. Security 

Lastly, a key difference is that business broadband packages come with more advanced security options and measures in comparison to home broadband.

In terms of cyber security, business broadband offers a platform to build a defence and protect client data against cyber attacks that disrupt normal operations.

Alternatively, although home broadband packages come with standard security features like all broadband packages do, these are significantly less robust to protect sensitive business data.

Staff members testing if business broadband is better than home broadband
With business broadband you can choose significantly more sophisticated features, such as static IP addresses that allow you to set up a private server to service guarantees.

Business Broadband Vs Home Broadband: Which Is Better?

In general, business broadband is more advanced than residential broadband and is specifically geared towards running a business smoothly and efficiently.

Growing businesses that don’t want poor connectivity to hold them back will always choose business broadband packages because of the enhanced service and options to add sophisticated features and a higher degree of security.

Residential broadband simply wouldn’t suffice for a serious business that relies on ultrafast speeds for everyday working.

While home broadband can be beneficial when you’re first starting out, you will likely outgrow it as your business expands and your needs grow.

How We Can Help

At Ogi, we pride ourselves on giving our customers the best broadband experience possible. 

Check out whether you can join the full fibre revolution today with our postcode checker.

Written by Jemima for Ogi

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