Focus Group vs TalkTalk Business
Focus Group edges ahead on breadth, but TalkTalk Business leads on Trustpilot ratings.
Independently scored · last reviewed June 2026
Focus Group and TalkTalk Business are both credible, established UK B2B technology providers, but they're built around different strengths. TalkTalk Business (originally Opal Telecom, founded 1995) has over three decades of connectivity heritage and a Trustpilot score of 4.8 from more than 20,000 reviews. That's genuinely rare for a UK telco. It owns deep Ethernet and leased-line capability and serves a mix of SMEs, enterprise clients and around 350 channel resellers. Focus Group (founded 2003, headquartered in West Sussex) takes a broader approach: connectivity, telephony, IT, cyber security, mobile and business energy all under one account. The energy piece is a meaningful differentiator if your business wants to consolidate utility and technology suppliers with a single relationship. Backed by Hg capital at a roughly $1 billion valuation, Focus Group has financial stability and buying power that most independents can't match. The choice largely comes down to whether you need that breadth or want a proven connectivity-first provider.
Side by side
| Metric | Focus Group | TalkTalk Business |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 91 ✓ | 77 |
| Categories covered | 4
| 3
|
| Trustpilot | 4.2 | 4.8 ✓ |
| Breadth of service | 98 ✓ | 62 |
| Value for money | 74 ✓ | 68 |
| Support & service | 82 | 82 |
| Reliability | 85 ✓ | 84 |
| Reputation | 80 | 80 |
| Founded | 2003 | 1995 (as Opal Telecom; rebranded TalkTalk Business 2011; demerged 2023, fully separated Feb 2026) |
| Head office | Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK | Salford, Greater Manchester, UK |
Category by category
TalkTalk Business has a longer track record in Ethernet and leased-line connectivity, and its managed network heritage gives it the edge here. Focus Group is a capable rival, but connectivity is where TalkTalk Business is most at home.
Both offer hosted voice and UC. Focus Group's broader platform and single-supplier model give it a slight advantage for businesses bundling telephony with other services.
Focus Group operates as a fuller MSP, covering cloud, endpoint and cyber alongside managed networking. TalkTalk Business's IT and security offering is primarily network-centric.
Focus Group offers business energy; TalkTalk Business doesn't. Straightforward win for Focus Group.
Which should you choose?
Pick Focus Group if you want a single UK supplier to handle connectivity, telephony, IT, cyber and business energy under one account. Particularly relevant if you're an SME or mid-market business that wants to reduce vendor sprawl and have a managed account relationship.
Full Focus Group review →Pick TalkTalk Business if your primary need is connectivity or managed networking (leased lines, SD-WAN, Ethernet) and you value a provider with 30-plus years of network heritage, a large enterprise client base, and a Trustpilot track record that most telcos would kill for.
Full TalkTalk Business review →Focus Group is the overall pick at Compare Business Costs, scoring 91 against TalkTalk Business's 77. The main reason is breadth: adding business energy to a comms, connectivity and IT stack that few UK independents can match puts it ahead on points. TalkTalk Business is still the stronger choice if connectivity is your main priority, and its 4.8 Trustpilot rating from over 20,000 reviews is a meaningful signal of customer satisfaction that Focus Group's 4.2 from 3,000 reviews doesn't yet match.
FAQs
Can I switch from TalkTalk Business to Focus Group mid-contract?
Switching mid-contract typically means paying an early-termination charge on any existing TalkTalk Business agreement. Focus Group can often migrate services, including number porting, but get a written transfer plan and clarify who covers any overlap period before you commit.
Which provider is better suited to a smaller business with fewer than 20 staff?
Both serve SMEs. TalkTalk Business's connectivity-led model works well for smaller businesses with straightforward broadband or leased-line needs. Focus Group becomes more compelling once a small business also wants IT support, cyber cover or energy management bundled in. Consolidation saves admin even at small scale.
Does TalkTalk Business still own its own network after the 2024 restructure?
No. TalkTalk Business's underlying wholesale national network was separated into PXC in 2024, so TalkTalk Business now relies on PXC as a wholesale carrier rather than owning the full infrastructure itself. That adds a supplier dependency that wasn't there before, though service delivery and SLAs remain with TalkTalk Business.