In short: Leased line installation runs from order to site survey, then any wayleaves and civil works, termination equipment, router set-up and testing. It takes longer than broadband. For BTnet, BT confirms a customer committed date once the survey is complete, or an expected date where excess construction charges apply. Good site preparation is the best way to avoid delays.
Why leased lines take longer than broadband
Broadband usually uses lines already in the ground: an engineer connects your premises to an existing network. A leased line such as BTnet or BT Ethernet is a dedicated fibre circuit to your building. Someone has to plan the route, check whether duct and fibre exist all the way, get permission for any work on private land, and install equipment inside your premises.
So we do not quote a standard number of days. BT itself says BTnet set-up is subject to survey, and that is how we set expectations too. What we can do is start early, prepare your site properly and chase every step.
The installation stages
- Quote and address check. We confirm the exact address, postcode and the point in the building where the line should land. BT also needs to know what the connection is for.
- Order. Once you sign, the order is placed with BT. You will be asked for a site contact who can arrange access.
- Site survey. An engineer checks the route from the street into your building and to your comms room. They also check for existing duct and where equipment will go. They note any construction needed.
- Customer committed date. For BTnet, BT confirms a customer committed date once the survey is complete. Where excess construction charges apply, or the job is particularly complex, BT may give an expected completion date instead.
- Wayleaves and permissions. If the work crosses land or a building you do not own, the landlord or freeholder must agree to it in writing. This is a common cause of delay.
- Civil works. Where needed, duct is laid or cleared in the street or on site, and fibre is pulled through. Street works may also need local authority permits.
- Termination equipment. The fibre is terminated on network equipment in your comms room. This needs space and power.
- Router or managed equipment. On managed plans, BT installs and configures the router or Cisco Meraki equipment. With wires only, your IT team connects its own firewall.
- Testing and handover. The circuit is tested, and you move services across. Under its SLA, BT counts BTnet as delivered once it has supplied the dedicated circuit and, on managed plans, the configured equipment.
Excess construction charges explained
Excess construction charges (ECCs) cover building work beyond a standard installation, such as new duct or a longer fibre run to reach your premises. They are identified at survey, not when you first get a quote. You see them and can decide before work goes ahead.
Things that make ECCs more likely:
- Premises a long way from the nearest fibre-ready duct, such as rural sites or new business parks.
- Blocked or collapsed duct that has to be dug out.
- Long private access roads, car parks or shared land between the street and your building.
- Multi-tenant buildings where the riser or entry duct is full.
ECCs are not unusual and do not always mean the job is unaffordable. Sometimes a different entry point, a nearby site or an alternative access type, such as Ethernet over SoGEA or FTTP, avoids them. We talk through the options with you.
How to prepare your site
Delays often come from access and permissions rather than engineering. Before the survey:
- Identify the landlord or managing agent and warn them that a wayleave may be needed. Have the contact details ready.
- Choose the comms room or cabinet where the line will terminate. It needs wall or rack space, ventilation and nearby mains power sockets.
- Name a site contact who can give engineers access, including to risers, ceilings and car parks.
- Share floor plans and any building rules about drilling, asbestos surveys or out-of-hours working.
- Decide on the edge device. Will you use your own firewall (BTnet wires only) or BT's managed router or BTnet Meraki? Your IT team will need IP addressing and configuration details ready for go-live.
- Plan cut-over. Agree when phones, VPNs and DNS move to the new line, and when the old service ends.
Staying connected while you wait
If you need internet before the leased line is live, especially when moving into new premises, plan an interim connection:
- Business broadband with Hybrid Backup. BT business broadband installs faster than a leased line. On packages with Hybrid Backup, the backup runs on the EE Business 4G network, so you can be online over 4G while the broadband line itself is connected. Once the leased line arrives, the broadband can stay on as a secondary path.
- EE Business mobile broadband for a small team for a few weeks. See BT business mobile.
- Cloud phones. Numbers on BT Cloud Voice work over any connection, so calls do not depend on the leased line date.
If you are relocating, read moving premises with BT Business, and order the leased line as early as you can.
How we manage your installation
As a BT Business Partner, Forever Communications Ltd places the order with BT and manages the installation through to handover. We prepare you for the survey, follow up wayleaves and dates, explain any excess construction charges in plain English and keep you updated at each milestone. We also coordinate the router, firewall and voice cut-over so go-live is uneventful.
If BT misses a customer committed date, its BTnet SLA provides on-time delivery credits against the connection charge. A claim has to be made within 28 days of the missed date, and we help you make it. To get the process started, contact us with your site address.
Why buy BT through Forever Communications
Forever Communications Ltd is a BT Business Partner, supplying BT Business connectivity, voice and mobile services to UK organisations. You get BT's network with a named team who knows your account.
- Impartial advice on the right BT product for each site, from Essential, Enhanced, Pro and Ultra business broadband to BTnet and BT Ethernet
- One point of contact for availability checks, orders, installations, moves, upgrades, faults and renewals
- Ready for the PSTN switch-off: digital phone lines, SoGEA, BT Cloud Voice, BT Cloud Phone and Digital Voice for Business, with your numbers kept where possible
- Multi-site and sector know-how for schools, GP surgeries, retailers, hospitality venues and growing offices
- Mobile and security too: EE Business mobiles from BT Group, Hybrid Backup on the EE Business 4G network, and BT security options alongside our wider Cyber Essentials help
We sell to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer or home products.
Want a BT Business quote for your sites?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
How long does a leased line installation take?
It varies by site, and it always takes longer than broadband because the circuit has to be surveyed and sometimes built. For BTnet, BT confirms a customer committed date once the survey is complete. We do not quote a figure before then, because it would only be a guess.
What is a wayleave for a leased line?
A wayleave is written permission from a landowner or landlord for a network operator to install and maintain equipment, such as cable or duct, on their property. If your building is leased or shared, the landlord's agreement is usually needed before work can start.
What are excess construction charges?
Excess construction charges cover building work beyond a standard installation, such as new duct or extra fibre to reach your premises. They are identified at survey, and you can review them before work goes ahead.
Can I get internet while waiting for my leased line?
Yes. BT business broadband installs faster than a leased line, and packages with Hybrid Backup can get you online over the EE Business 4G network while the broadband line is connected. Once the leased line is live, the broadband can stay on as a backup.
Do I need to be on site for the installation?
Someone needs to give engineers access for the survey and the installation visits, including to comms rooms and risers. A named site contact who knows the building speeds things up considerably.