Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a straightforward solution for making calls over the internet. VoIP has seen a significant expansion in popularity over recent years, and is now seen as a fantastic money-saving alternative to traditional landlines.
Unlike standard telephony, which use circuit switching to transmit calls, VoIP uses packet switching. In packet switching, data is divided into small packets which are transported through an IP network.
In order to choose the best internet service for VoIP, you need to consider internet speed carefully, as speed is crucial to your communication efforts.
The Higher the Upload Speed, the Better
When choosing a business internet service for VoIP, often the higher the upload speed, the better your connection will be. Typically, only broadband internet connections will be able to offer clarity during calls, the lowest speed you will need for VoIP calls will be between 90 and 156 kbps per concurrent call (budget 100k for most modern phone systems).
Although speed isn’t the only thing that guarantees good results from your VoIP provider, it is very important. Other issues that you might need to consider include the latency, quality of service and other factors that might impact your connection. In other words, you’ll need to examine how much of your bandwidth might be used up by other things. Anyone who comments that your connection will be ideal for VoIP looking at speed by itself may be doing a disservice to your business.
Fibre Internet is the way forward
Though you will need to test multiple different capabilities to ascertain which VoIP provider is best for your VoIP needs, it can help to get a general idea of what your abilities will be depending on the speed of your uploading opportunities. Generally speaking, avoid ADSL2+ connections, try to go for fibre broadband (Fibre to the Cabinet technology) or a fibre leased line (Fibre to the Property).
Choosing your VoIP Provider
Remember not all VoIP providers and internet service providers are the same. The key ingredient for good quality VoIP is fibre based internet. Get the internet speed right and VoIP tends to fall into place relatively easily with minimal hassle.
See our full list of SIP Trunk Providers in the UK
