Leased Line Installation Guide: What UK Businesses Should Expect

For UK businesses investing in dedicated connectivity, a leased line is often the gold standard, thanks to symmetrical speeds, uncontended bandwidth, and enterprise-grade slas, leased lines provide the stability modern organisations demand.

But before enjoying seamless connectivity, businesses must go through the leased line installation process. This can feel daunting for those unfamiliar with telecoms. In this leased line setup guide, we’ll walk through timelines, wayleave permissions, site surveys, and typical challenges, so you know exactly what to expect from day one.

Step 1: Pre-Order Considerations

Before ordering a leased line, you need to assess:

• Your bandwidth requirements -Do you need 100Mbps, 1Gbps, or higher?
• Your desired contract length -Most providers offer 36-month deals, sometimes with free installation.
• Your budget as costs vary by speed and location, typically £200–£700 per month.

We think that it’s also worth comparing UK leased line providers to find the right mix of price, SLA, and support.

Step 2: The Site Survey

Once you’ve placed your order, the provider arranges a site survey, which involves engineers visiting your premises to assess:

• The entry point where fibre will enter the building.
• The route fibre will take from the nearest exchange or cabinet.
• Any civil engineering work required (e.g. Digging up pavements).
• Internal cabling needs inside your office.

The survey determines whether standard installation is possible or if Excess Construction Charges (eccs) apply.

Step 3: Wayleave Permissions

If fibre needs to cross land or property owned by third parties, your provider must obtain a wayleave agreement-legal permission to install and maintain the cable.

• Who grants it? Landlords, local councils, or neighbouring property owners.
• Why does it matter? Without wayleave, installation can be delayed indefinitely.
• Tip: If you rent, involve your landlord early to avoid hold-ups.

Wayleave is often the biggest cause of leased line installation delays in the UK.

Step 4: Installation Timeline

Leased line installation is more complex than plugging in broadband and currently, typical timelines are:

💡 Note: While many installations take around 45–90 working days, keep in mind that projects involving wayleave or complex civil works can extend beyond 3–4 months.

Step 5: The Setup

Once fibre is installed, engineers will:

• Connect the leased line to your premises.
• Install a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) router (if included in the package).
• Test connectivity, ensuring speeds and slas match the contract.
• Handover documentation for your IT team.

From here, your business enjoys dedicated, symmetrical, uncontended connectivity with guaranteed uptime.

Common Installation Challenges

While the process is straightforward in theory, you should beware of potential hurdles:

1. Wayleave delays- Legal negotiations can stall projects for months.
2. Excess construction Charges (eccs) – If new ducting or digging is required, costs can increase.
3. Infrastructure limitations – Rural areas may lack nearby fibre routes, extending build times.
4. Building access – Shared offices or restricted entry points can complicate internal cabling.

Working with an experienced provider can help navigate these challenges smoothly.

UK Providers Offering Leased Line Installations

Preparing Your Business for a Smooth Installation

To minimise delays you should do the following:

• Check tenancy agreements for wayleave clauses.
• Engage landlords early to secure permissions.
• Plan internal cabling ahead of the engineer visit.
• Choose longer contracts to offset installation costs.
• Consider backup connectivity (4G/5G) during the installation phase.

Our Final Thoughts

Installing a leased line is more complex than ordering standard broadband, but the result is a business-grade, uncontended connection that supports growth, hybrid work, and cloud adoption – highly worth it in our humble opinion!

By understanding the steps (i.e. site survey, wayleave, installation, and setup) then you can plan ahead, manage expectations, and ensure your business transitions smoothly.

There’s no doubt about it, leased lines remain the most reliable and future-proof connectivity option for UK businesses, and with the right provider, the installation process can be managed efficiently, delivering long-term value and peace of mind.