VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is the increasingly popular method of receiving and placing phone calls over the internet. Both landline and mobile phones can be called through VoIP, making it a reliable communication method. Installing a VoIP phone system offers many advantages for businesses, including lower ongoing costs, easier portability, and higher levels of reliability and flexibility.
However, suppose you’re a business looking into VoIP for the first time. In that case, it can be challenging to understand the set of installation requirements needed to maximise the efficiency of your VoIP system. The correct requirements include choosing the most suitable network speed for VoIP systems within a business capacity. Read this article for advice if you’re wondering how to allocate the correct network speed for business VoIP.
What is the minimum recommended bandwidth speed for business VoIP?
In general, it is recommended that businesses invest in a business broadband package that provides them with a minimum internet speed of 90 – 100 kilobits per second (kbps) per VoIP-enabled device. So, for example, ten employees with VoIP-enabled devices requires 10,000 kilobits, or 1Mbps, worth of bandwidth.
Of course, something important to remember is that your workplace will use up more than the bandwidth required for your VoIP handsets. Because of this, you should expect to invest in more than the kbps necessary to ensure your VoIP integration does not infringe upon other online components of your business, such as desktops with wi-fi capabilities.
Upload and download speeds – what should you prioritise?
While the download speed is often more heavily advertised by internet service providers (ISPs), when investing in a network speed for your business’s VoIP system, the upload and download speeds are equally important.
You need to make sure that the ISP you use offers reliable download and upload speeds if you want to ensure your VoIP calls are clear and reliable. To maintain high quality quality sound, it is recommended that you invest in more than the necessary network speeds as much as your budget will allow.
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How do you check the network speed for your VoIP system?
Once you’ve invested in and installed a new network for your business’s VoIP system, you need to ensure that it reaches the advertised speeds. The simplest way to do so is by using an online internet speed checker. You can run a speed test in around 30 seconds on Google; all that is required is a live connection to the internet at the time of checking.
The results of this check can inform you as to whether or not your network speed is meeting the required upload and download speeds for reliable VoIP usage.
Aside from the recommended 90-100 kbps, VoIP systems require no “right” or “wrong” network speed. It all comes down to the individual budget that your company can set aside for the network. However, a general rule to keep in mind is that the more kbps you have available per VoIP device, the better.
