Security & resilience
Resilience: backup lines, failover and power
One connection is a single point of failure. The DfE standard asks colleges in England for a second connection of a different type, automatic failover and redundant power. Here is what that means, and what Janet and Jisc’s managed router offer.
On this page
At a glance
- DfE backup standard (England, target 2030): multiple connections of different service types, automatic failover between routers, and redundant power on core equipment.
- DfE’s examples: a leased line with FTTP, or FTTP with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.
- Janet’s backbone is “fully resilient”; local resilience can be added with an extra connection, at extra cost.
- Jisc’s managed router resilience options — dual power, dual chassis, resilient circuits — cost extra.
Why a second line
The DfE’s broadband core standard for schools and colleges in England includes a backup broadband connection, to avoid a single point of failure. It is guidance, with a 2030 target: put resilience in alongside a new connection, or as soon as possible after it is installed.
In practice the standard means:
- multiple connections of different service types — the DfE’s examples are a leased line with FTTP, or FTTP with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite;
- multiple routers set up for automatic failover;
- redundant power on core active network equipment.
The switching standard adds that core switches should be on at least one UPS, and critical core switches should have two power supplies, two management modules and two connections to other critical infrastructure.
What Janet gives you
Jisc says Janet’s backbone is “fully resilient”, and that local resilience can be added with an additional connection, which comes with the same security services. In the FE and HE membership catalogues, additional bandwidth or resilience connections are extra, and VAT is payable.
Jisc’s managed router service offers resilience options — dual power, dual chassis and resilient circuits — at extra cost. Its hardware support is same business day (4 hours + 1), subject to site access.
Power and the phone line switch-off
As copper phone lines are switched off, more services depend on the router. The DfE’s PSTN guidance for the education estate says to check router power and provide a UPS or battery backup — see the PSTN switch-off.
How fast should the main line be?
For FE colleges in England, the DfE broadband standard asks for capacity for 1Gbps download and upload. For a rough figure from your own numbers, try the bandwidth estimator.
Suppliers who say they provide connectivity are in our supplier directory.
Sources
Checked 25 October 2026. We wrote this guide from these sources, in our own words:
- DfE: Broadband internet core standard (gov.uk)
- DfE: Network switching core standard (gov.uk)
- Jisc: Janet IP connection (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Managed router service (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Catalogue of services for further education (jisc.ac.uk)
- DfE: Prepare your education estate for the PSTN and ISDN switch-off (gov.uk)
Broadband for Education is an independent guide. It is not a broker or a supplier, and it is not owned by, or connected to, Jisc, any network provider, framework or government body. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.