Ready for 10 Gig Leased Lines? | Supplier Synergy

Introduction

10 Gigabit leased lines have become dramatically cheaper in the past two years. Many suppliers now pitch them as a simple speed upgrade — more bandwidth for less money.
But there’s a catch: your business might not be ready to use that extra capacity.

Before you sign an order, it’s worth asking one simple question: can your cabling, firewalls and switches actually handle 10 Gig?

The 10 Gig Temptation

Connectivity pricing has fallen fast, and 10 Gig circuits now appear on many business quotes.
They promise faster uploads, better cloud performance, and future-proofing — but that headline price only tells half the story.

A leased line is just the pipe into your building. If the internal network can’t carry 10 Gig end-to-end, much of that investment goes to waste.

Read more about pricing in 10 Gb Leased Line Cost UK.

Cabling: the Hidden Limiter

Many offices still run on Cat 5e cabling, which tops out around one gigabit. Even Cat 6 struggles with longer runs.
To move to true 10 Gig speeds, you’ll need Cat 6a or fibre backbones.

That upgrade can involve new trunking, patch panels, and terminations — costs often higher than the leased line itself if they’re not budgeted.

When reviewing your network layout, consider engaging structured Cabling Services (to be created) for a site assessment.

Firewalls and Switches: the Bottlenecks Nobody Mentions

Network equipment is often the silent constraint.

• Firewalls: many SME devices quote “10 Gb throughput” but only achieve 3–5 Gb once security features (IPS, SSL inspection) are active.

• Switches: older models may only have 1 Gb uplinks between floors or server racks.

• Routers: even if WAN ports are 10 Gb-capable, the CPU may not keep pace under full load.

Replacing this layer can quickly turn a cheap connectivity upgrade into a full-blown infrastructure refresh.

Linked page: IT Support Birmingham

Business-Level Considerations

Faster circuits create knock-on effects across operations:

• Power and cooling: 10 Gb switches and firewalls run hotter and draw more power.

• Rack space: you might need additional modules or fibre patching gear.

• Backup windows: faster links shorten off-site backup time, but can stress legacy NAS units.

• ROI: does your day-to-day workload genuinely justify 10 Gb, or would a resilient 1 Gb dual circuit deliver better value?

A Smarter Upgrade Path

The best approach is staged and evidence-based:

1. Audit existing infrastructure – catalogue cabling, switch uplinks and firewall specs.

2. Model utilisation – review bandwidth peaks over the past year.

3. Plan upgrades in sequence – cabling first, then core switching, then firewalls.

4. Benchmark suppliers – compare connection options and SLAs before committing.

Supplier Synergy can coordinate this process independently, ensuring every component — from circuit to cable — matches your business goals.

Read more about our approach in IT Supplier Management.

Conclusion

10 Gig leased lines are no longer expensive, but that doesn’t make them simple.
Without compatible cabling, switching and firewalls, your business could pay for speeds it never sees.

Before upgrading, take a holistic look at the entire network — not just the connection into the building. Independent advice can save thousands and prevent avoidable downtime.