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School Broadband

Ultrafast and high-performing connectivity for your school

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Our Internet Connectivity

ultrafast business broadband range of internet connections compared from exa
DarkLight
Leased Line
GPON
Rural Fibre
FTTP
GFast
FTTC
DSL
DfE Compliant
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes*
table no
table no
table no
Symmetrical speeds
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes
table no
table no
table no
table no
Download speeds
300Mbps 500Mbps
1Gbps
100Mbps
200Mbps 300Mbps 500Mbps
1Gbps
100Mbps
200Mbps
100Mbps
500Mbps
1Gbps
330Mbps
1Gbps
300Mbps
80Mbps
24Mbps
Upload speeds
300Mbps 500Mbps
1Gbps
100Mbps
200Mbps 300Mbps 500Mbps
1Gbps
100Mbps
200Mbps
100Mbps
500Mbps
1Gbps
50Mbps
115 Mbps
50Mbps
20Mbps
1.5Mbps
Guaranteed speeds
table yes
table yes
table no
table no
table yes
Based on distance from cabinet
Based on distance from cabinet
Based on distance from cabinet
Contention ratio**
1:1
1:1
8:1
10:1
Uncongested
Uncongested
Uncongested
Uncongested
Minimum install time
45 working days
45 working days
45 working days
45 working days
10 working days
10 working days
10 working days
10 working days
Full fibre
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes
table no
table no
table no
Temporary speed upgrades
table yes
table no
table no
table no
table no
table no
table no
table no
Free Standard Installation (with RFL)
table no
table yes
table yes
table yes
table yes
table no
table yes
table yes
SLA
Resolution time of 8 hours
Resolution time of 8 hours
Target resolution time of 24 hours
Resolution time of 24 hours
Target resolution time of 40 hours
Target resolution time of 40 hours
Target resolution time of 40 hours
Target resolution time of 40 hours
Minimum contract term***
3 year
1 year
3 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
1 year
Annual prices from
£3,500
£2,200
£1,980
£1,670
£2,350
£2,500
£2,500
£2,500

*Compliant for Primary schools
**Our team operating procedure is to trigger a capacity upgrade should our network see normal peak utilisation reaching 70%.
***Minimum contract term three years with RFL.

All prices and services are subject to availability. DarkLight and Leased Line connections may incur excess construction charges (ECCs) and be subject to extended lead times following a survey.

Updated DfE Guidelines

The DfE has set out new digital standards for schools and colleges which specifies the minimum requirements for internet connectivity type, speed and resilience. 

To make it easier for you to ensure your school is meeting the standards, we’ve created a handy checklist that covers everything you need to know. 

Download our DfE broadband internet standards checklist

EXALogo title “It’s always up, it’s always fast.”
L.D, Student, Lawnswood School

Type of organisation: Secondary School

Number of users:  1500

Services supplied by Exa

Connectivity: DarkLight

Backup line: FTTP

Content filtering: SurfProtect

Hosting: Domain & Web

Router for Life

Giving you peace of mind, our Router for Life solution guarantees you have the correct hardware for your connection, whilst also ensuring you will never need to purchase a router for your Exa connection again.

Providing remote support for your router, our fully managed service gives you on-going additional technical assistance and ensures your equipment is always up-to-date. 

Download our RFL flyer

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Is DarkLight connectivity best suited to you?

Dark fibre is perfect if you are looking for a potentially limitless, ultrafast connection with complete flexibility and control.

If you fully rely on the internet, a dark fibre connection could be the best option for you.

Is Leased Line connectivity best suited to you?

Leased Lines are best suited to you if you have high bandwidth requirements and need a reliable, uncontended service.

It is ideal for you if you regularly carry out large uploads and downloads, use cloud based services and a VoIP telephone system as well as video conferencing, for everyday communication.

Is GPON connectivity best suited to you?

GPON is a great choice for you if you need gigabit speeds but don’t need them to be symmetrical. It is becoming more widely available across the UK but may not be immediately available to you yet.

Is Rural Fibre connectivity best suited to you?

If you want to make the move to full fibre, but are based in a rural area, this option is for you.

Is FTTP connectivity best suited to you?

If you have a number of users who use cloud-based applications to upload and download data on a daily basis, but don’t transfer large amounts of data, FTTP might be your best option.

Is Gfast connectivity best suited to you?

If your line cannot support a minimum of 100Mbps, this connection is not for you. Gfast must meet the speed as a minimum. 

If your line meets this need, and you’re looking for an ultrafast, consistent and reliable connection without the hassle and upheaval of construction work – this could be a good fit.

It’s worth noting that Gfast is a stop gap to FTTP, and is not a technology that is likely to be around for a long time.

Is FTTC connectivity best suited to you?

If you need more bandwidth but don’t really need a guaranteed speed, FTTC could be for you. It is widely available throughout the UK, making it suitable as a main connection. As this connection provides higher speeds than ADSL, it is also a good option for a back up to a leased line.

As with ADSL, once the PSTN is turned off in 2025/26, FTTC will become virtually obsolete and at the very least you will require FTTP to remain connected.

Is DSL connectivity best suited to you?

DSL connections offer very limited bandwidth so it might be right for you if you typically use the internet for less data-intensive tasks. If you’re sending emails, browsing the web, downloading very small files and working with small amounts of data – you should be fine with DSL.

It is worth noting connections based on copper wire, like DSL, will be switched off in the UK by Openreach, with a phased approach due to begin at the end of 2025. If you don’t have a fibre connection at the moment, you’ll need to upgrade this as well as move to a VoIP telephone system.

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Email: helpdesk@exa.net.uk
Phone: 0345 145 1234

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Tuesday: 8am – 6pm
Wednesday: 8am – 6pm
Thursday: 8am – 6pm
Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 10am – 4pm