Congratulations! You’ve made the clever decision to invest in a dedicated leased line for your UK business. You’re about to experience unparalleled internet speed, reliability, and security – a true game-changer for digital operations.
However, simply plugging in your new leased line isn’t enough to unlock its full potential – think of it like buying a powerful new sports car but only driving it on a muddy track; you need the right road to truly appreciate its performance.
Your internal network (everything from your routers and switches to your Wi-Fi access points and cabling) acts as that crucial road, and if you’re aiming for seamless cloud adoption, efficient hybrid working, or the smooth operation of bandwidth-hungry applications, optimising your internal infrastructure is non-negotiable.
Why Internal Network Optimisation is Crucial
Without optimising your internal network, you’ll encounter bottlenecks that prevent your new leased line from delivering its promised performance – so look out for:
- Slow wi-Fi – even with a gigabit leased line, poor Wi-Fi coverage or outdated access points will throttle speeds for wireless devices.
- Internal cngestion – older switches or improperly configured networks can become choke points.
- Security vulnerabilities – a high-speed connection without robust internal security measures can be an open door for cyber threats.
- Application performance issues – VoIP calls might suffer, or cloud applications might feel sluggish due to internal network inefficiencies.
The goal is to create an end-to-end high-performance pipeline, ensuring data flows effortlessly from your leased line to every user and device in your business!
Areas for Internal Network Optimisation
1. Router and Firewall
Your leased line will terminate at a Network Termination Unit (NTU) at your premises, and this then connects to your primary router/firewall. This device is the gateway to your entire internal network and the public internet.
- Ensure your router is capable of handling the speeds of your new leased line (such as 1Gbps or 10Gbps). Consumer-grade routers simply won’t suffice here, so look for business-grade routers with strong processing power and sufficient throughput.
- Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): With high-speed internet comes increased exposure to cyber threats and a NGFW offers advanced features like intrusion prevention, deep packet inspection, and application-aware filtering, crucial for protecting your valuable business data.
- Quality of Service (QoS): Configure QoS on your router to prioritise critical traffic over less time-sensitive data as this ensures consistent performance for your most vital business functions.
2. Network switching
Once data leaves your router, it travels through your network switches to various devices.
- Gigabit ethernet switches: All your switches should support Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) at minimum. For higher-speed leased lines you should consider upgrading your core switches to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports to avoid bottlenecks.
- Managed switches: Managed switches offer greater control, allowing you to create Virtual Local Area Networks (or VLANs) for network segmentation which enhances both security and performance.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE): For powering IP phones, Wi-Fi access points, and security cameras without separate power cables, PoE-enabled switches simplify deployment and cabling.
3. Modernising your Wi-Fi
Even if your office is primarily wired, robust Wi-Fi is essential for mobile devices, laptops, and guest access.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) or Wi-Fi 6E Access Points: Upgrade from older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) technology because these offer you significantly faster speeds, better performance in high-density environments (many connected devices), and improved power efficiency.
- Strategic placement: Conduct a professional Wi-Fi survey to identify optimal access point placement, so you can minimise your dead spots.
- Centralised management: For larger offices, a centralised Wi-Fi management system (often cloud-based) allows for easy configuration, monitoring etc.
- Guest networks: Implement a separate, isolated guest Wi-Fi network to maintain security for your main business network.
4. Cabling Infrastructures
Often overlooked, your physical cabling is the literal backbone of your network, so:
- Ensure all your network cabling is at least Cat5e, and for 1Gbps speeds, Cat5e is generally sufficient over typical office distances.
- For future-proofing or if you anticipate upgrading to 10Gbps internal networking, invest in Cat6 or Cat6a cabling (Cat6a is specifically designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet over longer distances).
- Use certified network installers for any new cabling work, as poorly installed or damaged cables can severely degrade network performance.
5. SD-WAN and Network Monitoring
For multi-site businesses or those with complex application requirements, consider:
- Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN):
- Network monitoring tools
Working with UK Leased Line Providers & IT Consultants
Many UK leased line providers now offer comprehensive packages that extend beyond just the fibre connection, and they may offer:
- Managed routers and firewalls- The provider supplies and manages your router and firewall, including security updates and configuration.
- Managed wi-Fi- Installation and ongoing management of your Wi-Fi access points.
- SD-WAN solutions- Integrated SD-WAN as part of their connectivity offering.
- IT consultancy- Some providers or their partners can offer full network design and optimisation services.
Your Roadmap to a Fully Optimised Network
- Before installation, assess your existing routers, switches, Wi-Fi access points, and cabling.
- How many users? What critical applications? Are you using VoIP? Cloud services? Do you have remote workers? This informs your hardware choices.
- Speak to your chosen leased line provider or an independent IT consultant because they can provide a professional network assessment and recommendations tailored to your business.
- Factor in the cost of new hardware and professional installation alongside your leased line expenditure (remember, it’s an investment that pays dividends in performance and reliability!)
- Coordinate with your leased line provider and your IT team/consultant to ensure a smooth transition.
- Once installed, rigorously test your network’s performance. Implement monitoring tools to track bandwidth usage, latency, and identify any ongoing issues.
| UK Provider | Relevance for Internal Network Optimisation |
| Offers comprehensive managed services alongside leased lines, including managed routers, firewalls (Cisco Meraki), and Wi-Fi solutions (BTnet Wi-Fi). They have extensive experience integrating leased lines with internal networks for businesses of all sizes. |
| Provides leased lines with options for managed routers and security services, as their focus on high-speed fibre means they understand the need for robust internal networks to match. |
| Often very competitive on leased line pricing, and offers managed router and SD-WAN services. We think that they are well-placed to assist SMEs in optimising their networks for cloud services and remote working, providing tailored solutions to ensure the leased line’s performance isn’t wasted. |
| As a wholesale network provider, CityFibre’s partners (ISPs) typically offer managed routers, firewalls, and other internal network optimisation services. Their brand-new fibre infrastructure ensures the “road” to your building is top-tier, making internal optimisation even more impactful. |
Service Types for Internal Network Optimisation
Local/Regional ISPs | Many smaller, independent ISPs excel in offering personalised service and often combine leased line provision with extensive IT consultancy. They can conduct site surveys, recommend and install appropriate hardware (switches, WAPs), and manage your entire internal network – look for those who explicitly offer “managed IT services” or “network design.” |
Dedicated IT Consultancies/MSPs | Independent IT consultancies or Managed Service Providers (MSPs) often specialise in network design and optimisation. we think they are an excellent option if your chosen leased line provider doesn’t offer comprehensive internal network services or if you prefer a separate expert. |
Cabling Specialists | For significant infrastructure changes or new office fit-outs, professional data cabling companies are essential, because they ensure your Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a cabling is installed to standard, tested, and certified, guaranteeing optimal data flow. |
Hardware Vendors (like Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti, HPE Aruba, Zyxel, TP-Link Business) | These companies manufacture the business-grade routers, firewalls, switches, and Wi-Fi access points you’ll need. While you won’t buy a leased line directly from them, their products are crucial for building a high-performance internal network, and many ISPs and IT consultancies will install and configure equipment from these vendors. Ourtakeaway: don’t scrimp on quality here! |
We think that a new leased line is a powerful tool for your UK business, and if you take the time to properly optimise your internal network, you’ll ensure that every bit of that speed, reliability, and security is delivered directly to your users and applications, truly empowering your digital operations.
Ready to get the most from your leased line?