In short: Retail broadband from BT keeps card payments, tills and stock systems online. Enhanced includes Hybrid Backup, which switches to the EE Business 4G network if the line fails, and Ultra has 4G backup built in. Free guest Wi-Fi stays separate from payment systems, and chains get BT's multi-site portal with one BT Business Partner as contact.
Keeping card payments up
Many card terminals and EPOS systems take payments over the internet, through your broadband or Wi-Fi, or over a mobile SIM. If the broadband goes down, so does every payment that relies on it.
The simplest protection is Hybrid Backup, included on BT's Enhanced package and available as an option on Pro. A small backup device works alongside the BT Business Smart Hub, and if your fixed line fails your connection switches to the EE Business 4G network automatically, so card payments and cloud tills keep running while BT fixes the fault. BT Business Ultra has its own 4G backup on the EE Business network too.
A few practical tips:
- Connect tills and payment terminals to the business network, never the guest Wi-Fi.
- Check with your payment provider how your terminals connect, and whether they have a mobile SIM fallback of their own.
- Put the hub and terminals on a power supply that won't be switched off at closing time, so overnight updates and alarms keep working.
- If a payment outage would be very costly, consider Pro for Prompt Care, where BT aims to fix faults by the end of the next working day.
Card terminals, alarms and the PSTN switch-off
BT Group plans to retire the PSTN by 31 January 2027. Older card terminals that dial out over a phone line, intruder and fire alarm diallers, and some door entry systems still rely on copper lines. They need moving to IP or mobile connections before the line is switched over.
- List everything plugged into a phone socket at each shop: phones, card terminals, alarms, franking and fax.
- Ask each supplier whether the device works over broadband or mobile, and what change is needed.
- Move phone numbers to a digital service, such as a BT digital phone line or cloud voice.
- Test alarms and terminals after the switch, before you rely on them.
Read our PSTN switch-off guide, and for alarm lines see alarm and special lines. Remember that digital lines don't work in a power cut.
Guest Wi-Fi for shoppers
Free guest Wi-Fi helps shoppers check prices, use loyalty apps and pay by phone. BT includes guest Wi-Fi on all its business broadband products, running as a separate network from your business Wi-Fi, so customers never share a network with your tills. On the Essential, Enhanced and Pro packages, BT's terms limit hub guest Wi-Fi to 13 users at a time, so a busy store may need managed access points instead.
Content Controls can restrict the kinds of website people reach on your connection (BT ships them switched off, so they must be turned on). For larger stores, Complete Wi-Fi Plus (standard on Pro, or an add-on) extends coverage across the main building, and BT Business Ultra includes up to three Cisco Meraki access points, with content filtering that can block more than 70 categories of website. Compare the options on BT business Wi-Fi.
Rolling out across many shops
Chains need consistency: the same package, the same set-up and the same support at every site. BT offers multi-site broadband with a self-service portal for ordering lines and troubleshooting, and as your BT Business Partner we coordinate orders, installs and changes across the estate.
| Size of estate | Typical BT set-up |
|---|---|
| One to a few shops | Enhanced at each shop (Hybrid Backup included), or Pro with Hybrid Backup added, plus guest Wi-Fi |
| Security-conscious stores | BT Business Ultra, with a Meraki firewall managed from one cloud dashboard |
| Head office plus branches | BTnet at head office, broadband with backup in each store |
| Large chains | Ethernet, IP Connect UK or BT Managed SD-WAN between sites; see multi-site connectivity |
Opening or relocating a shop? Give plenty of notice, because some connections need a survey; our moving premises guide explains the timings.
Phones and mobiles for retail teams
With a cloud phone system, calls are routed in the cloud, so a call to one branch can be answered by another or by head office. BT Cloud Voice suits chains where each user has their own features, while BT Cloud Phone is BT's plug-and-play option for small teams where everyone needs the same set-up. See all the options on business phone systems.
Area managers and field staff can use EE Business mobiles, and broadband and mobiles from one BT Business Partner means one point of contact for both. See BT business mobile or our sister company's EE Business pages.
How we help retailers
Forever Communications Ltd checks every shop address, recommends the right package for each, moves your numbers and coordinates installs so stores open on time. After go-live we stay your single point of contact for faults, moves and renewals.
Payment security matters too: keep tills on a protected network, and see our sister sites for firewalls and Cyber Essentials. Contact us and ask us for a quote for one shop or the whole estate.
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
What happens to card payments if my shop broadband goes down?
Terminals that rely on your broadband stop taking payments unless there is a backup. BT's Hybrid Backup, included on Enhanced and available as an option on Pro, switches to the EE Business 4G network automatically, so payments can carry on while the fault is fixed.
Will my card machine work after the PSTN switch-off?
Card terminals that use broadband, Wi-Fi or a mobile SIM are not affected. Older terminals that dial over a phone line need replacing or reconfiguring before the PSTN closes, which BT Group plans for 31 January 2027 at the latest. Check with your payment provider.
Should customers and tills share the same Wi-Fi?
No. Keep tills and card terminals on your business network and give customers the guest Wi-Fi. BT's free guest Wi-Fi runs separately from your business Wi-Fi.
Can BT supply broadband to all our shops on one contract?
BT offers multi-site broadband with a self-service portal for ordering and troubleshooting. As a BT Business Partner, we coordinate orders and installs across your estate and act as your single point of contact.