True cost of 10G broadband upgrade

Let’s start with the numbers we see in the UK market for businesses in 2026.

• 1Gb broadband deals can be found for under £50 per month
• 1Gb uncontended leased lines with symmetrical speeds are usually priced around £300 per month, but can be well under £200 with a bit of research
• 10Gb uncontended leased lines with symmetrical speeds are available from around £600 per month and can be slightly lower in some cases

So, when an internet service provider representative calls an existing customer and offers 10× more bandwidth for the price of two 1Gb lines, it often sounds very attractive. The benefits of uncontended speeds, cloud performance, LAN-speed internet access, and futureproofing all come into play.

With all of that in mind, many businesses opt for the upgrade. Shortly afterwards, they begin to realise that the network bottleneck does not disappear—it simply moves closer to the end user. Questions quickly start to arise:

1. How do I connect my 1Gb-capable firewall to a 10Gb internet provider router?
a. Can my current firewall handle these speeds?
b. Can I get away with simply adding SFP+ (10Gb) transceivers?
c. Do I need a new firewall?

2. If the firewall can handle it, can my switches and inter-switch connections support 10Gb, or ideally 40Gb+?
How many SFP+ and QSFP transceivers, and which cables, are required?

3. What about Wi-Fi access points?
a. Do I need to upgrade from Wi-Fi 5/6/6E to Wi-Fi 7?
b. How many end-user devices can realistically benefit from higher speeds anyway?

Our Recommendations

1. In most cases, if you are running a next-generation firewall with security services enabled, you will likely need to upgrade the firewall. Look at the latest-generation models from your vendor of choice. Some solid options include Palo Alto PA-3420, FortiGate 120G or 200G, Sophos XGS 3100, and SonicWall NSA 4800.
Cost: Approximately £5,000 over three years but often exceeding £30,000 once additional security licences and high-availability options are included.

2. In many environments, existing switches can continue to serve with minor change. For example, adding more 10–40Gb transceivers and aggregating links at a new switch or even directly on the firewall. This can extend the lifespan of a small network before a full refresh is required.

3. A full switching refresh is best considered in conjunction with a Wi-Fi network upgrade. However, Wi-Fi 7 access points are still relatively expensive, and availability remains limited across many vendors. Wi-Fi 6E continues to be a solid and practical option. Vendors such as Cisco Meraki, Fortinet, SonicWall, Ubiquiti, and others offer strong wired and wireless solutions.

Taking all the above into account, the true cost of upgrading internet connectivity to 10Gb often exceeds £10,000 in equipment alone, before implementation and advanced licensing. Costs rise further with a full network refresh, with an office of around 200 users often reaching well into the high tens of thousands of pounds.

If your network is smaller, or if you plan to remain on 1Gb, look at our blog: New Office Network: Out of the Box.

If you would like to discuss your options and gain clarity, please contact us.