Home and business ISP Zen Internet has today become the latest provider to launch an Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) service, which provides a dedicated internet connection and symmetrical speed (same download and upload rate) options from 1Mbps to 10Mbps for business customers.

EFM is delivered through multiple copper pairs (telephone lines) and acts as a more affordable leased line alternative. This also means that it can be provided over BT's existing national UK network and is usually available at less than 3km from your local exchange.


Zen's EFM product can be provided within 30 working days, which the ISP claims to be half the time of a traditional Ethernet service. It also reportedly comes with a "business class" Service Level Agreement (SLA) and 24/7 access to UK based technical support and customer service. There's also a 7 hour target restore time and a 4 hour onsite hardware support time.