Business Internet Guide

Business Fibre vs Enterprise Ethernet: Which Level Does Your Business Need?

Both deliver fast, reliable internet for business. The difference is in the level of guarantee, the type of connection, and the cost. This guide helps you work out which one fits your situation.

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Business fibre is a reserved lane on a highway. Enterprise ethernet is a private road built just for you. Both get you there, but one guarantees no traffic.

Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureBusiness FibreEnterprise Ethernet
Connection TypeShared infrastructure with business priorityDedicated point-to-point fibre
SpeedSymmetrical up to 1000/1000 MbpsSymmetrical up to 10Gbps
BandwidthPrioritised but sharedUncontended (exclusively yours)
Uptime SLA99.95%99.95% guaranteed with financial backing
Fault ResponseStandard business SLAEnhanced: 12hr, 8hr, or 4hr fix
Peak-Time ImpactMinimal with business prioritisationNone (dedicated line)
Monthly CostFrom $199.95/mo (ex GST)From approximately $299-399/mo
Installation3-5 business daysLonger (site qualification required)
ContractFlexible optionsTypically 36 months (often with $0 install)
AvailabilityWide coverage~900,000 businesses in 304 zones

Understanding Each Option

Business fibre is the right fit for most small to medium businesses in Melbourne. It works well when your team needs fast, symmetrical speeds for cloud software, VoIP, and video calls, and you want guaranteed uptime with a dedicated account manager.

If a few hours of response time on faults is acceptable rather than minutes, and you prefer flexibility on contract terms rather than a 36-month commitment, business fibre delivers everything you need.

For offices with 5 to 50 staff running standard business applications, business fibre provides consistent performance at a reasonable price point between $200 and $500 per month.

Enterprise ethernet becomes necessary when the cost of downtime exceeds the cost of the connection. If your business runs almost entirely on cloud-based systems and the internet going down means work stops completely, a dedicated line makes financial sense.

Businesses that need guaranteed speeds rather than fast speeds most of the time, require a 4-hour fault fix window because every hour offline costs real money, or run latency-sensitive applications like real-time data processing benefit most from enterprise ethernet.

Call centres, high-volume VoIP environments, and businesses with regulatory or compliance requirements mandating dedicated infrastructure are typical enterprise ethernet customers. It scales up to 10Gbps for businesses that need speeds above 1Gbps.

Business fibre SLAs define uptime targets and general response commitments. If something goes wrong, you get priority support and a dedicated contact who knows your account.

Enterprise ethernet SLAs go further with specific fault resolution timeframes. Bronze provides a 12-hour fault fix, Silver provides an 8-hour fault fix, and Gold provides a 4-hour fault fix.

The 4-hour fix means that from the moment a fault is reported, the provider commits to having it resolved within four hours. For a business that loses thousands per hour of downtime, that commitment is worth the price difference.

A Common Misconception

Some businesses assume they need enterprise ethernet when business fibre would serve them well. If your business has fewer than 20 staff, does not run latency-sensitive applications, and can tolerate a standard fault response time, business fibre gives you the performance you need without overcommitting on cost or contract length.

Conversely, some businesses stay on standard NBN when they should have upgraded to business fibre years ago. If slow internet is costing you productivity, the monthly price difference pays for itself quickly.

We offer both business fibre and enterprise ethernet. Talk to us about your setup and we will assess your current usage, check what is available at your address, and recommend the option that fits.

Send Enquiry Form CALL US: 1300 293 266

Frequently Asked Questions

Enterprise ethernet is a dedicated point-to-point fibre connection between your premises and the network. Unlike business fibre which shares infrastructure with other users, enterprise ethernet provides uncontended bandwidth exclusively for your business. This means guaranteed speeds, the highest level of reliability, and enhanced fault resolution SLAs.

No. Business fibre runs over shared infrastructure with business-grade prioritisation. Enterprise ethernet provides a dedicated, uncontended connection. Think of business fibre as a reserved lane on a highway, and enterprise ethernet as a private road built just for you. Both deliver symmetrical speeds and SLAs, but enterprise ethernet offers guaranteed performance and faster fault resolution.

Enterprise ethernet pricing starts from approximately $299 to $399 per month, depending on speed and SLA tier. Many providers offer $0 installation on 36-month contracts after a site qualification check. The actual cost depends on your location, required bandwidth, and chosen SLA tier.

Enterprise ethernet is available to approximately 900,000 businesses across 304 Business Fibre Zones in Australia, including many regional areas. Availability depends on your specific address and proximity to fibre infrastructure. We can check your address and confirm eligibility.

Enterprise ethernet typically offers three SLA tiers: Bronze with a 12-hour fault fix commitment, Silver with an 8-hour fault fix, and Gold with a 4-hour fault fix. Higher tiers cost more but provide faster resolution when issues occur. Business fibre includes standard SLA response times without these tiered commitments.

For most VoIP deployments, business fibre provides sufficient performance. Enterprise ethernet is recommended for high-volume call centres or environments where VoIP quality is directly tied to revenue. If your business has a standard phone system with under 20 handsets, business fibre handles VoIP calls reliably.

Enterprise ethernet installation involves a site qualification check first to confirm fibre availability and plan the connection route. Installation typically takes longer than business fibre because it involves running a dedicated fibre link to your premises. Many providers offer $0 installation on 36-month contracts to offset the higher setup cost.

Talk to us about your setup. We will assess your current usage, check what is available at your address, and recommend the option that fits, not the one that costs the most.

Send Enquiry Form CALL US: 1300 293 266