Fibre Broadband With VoIP

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Making calls on a home phone has become a deeply rooted routine for most people. A landline number is most likely to be used for emergency calls, to receive calls from authorities and even for leaving a voicemail.

However, in modern times, these phones are not the best option out there anymore. They have muffled audio, are hard to use and on top of that, are expensive.

That is why more people are now switching their old landline numbers for a brand new VoIP phone coupled with a great internet provider.

So we'll talk about why you need fibre broadband with VoIP and how to use it in your daily routine.

What Is VoIP and How Does It Work?

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VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a device that can convert your voice to a digital file, compress it, and send it over the Internet. It is, basically, a digital alternative for your usual phone line that can get jammed, have problems with connection and transmit the voice with major interference.

If you make a phone call using a broadband connection and a VoIP service provider, the conversation will be divided into small packs of data. These packs of data will then be transmitted anywhere in the world in a matter of milliseconds.

It doesn't matter what type of Internet connection you have. It can be WiFi, an Ethernet cable or even data. What really matters is to have a charged mobile phone and a great internet speed.

What Are the Advantages of VoIP?

A VoIP phone is better than a landline phone in all the aspects you can think of, but the most important one is the fact that you're not bound to a specific desk with an analog telephone adaptor sitting there. You can answer calls from wherever you want, without the need of sitting in a given place all the time.

Another major advantage of a VoIP system is its low cost. Many businesses and private consumers can lower their phone bills by over 60% just by using a VoIP service. Why? Because VoIPs don't require the same infrastructure as landline phones. Their hardware is cheaper and they don't need hundreds of kilometres of copper wires to facilitate voice calls.

We're not even talking about the fact that a VoIP phone line assures the highest quality of voice calling you can ever receive. No more muffled or fuzzy audio, just a clear voice.

Also, VoIP phones are much more secure than regular landline phones. Assuming that your VoIP service provider will encrypt the calls you make, getting some information out of them will be a lot harder compared to regular landline phones.

For businesses, many VoIP service providers offer premium call features like medical alarm, voice service, an auto attendant and a call queue.

What Internet Service Should I Choose for VoIP?

It doesn't really matter which type of internet technology you use with VoIP. You can use WiFi, Ethernet, mobile data or any other type of high-speed connection you can find.

However, the crucial term here is "high-speed connection". Unfortunately, if you have an old copper cable in your house, it's time to get consent from your neighbours and change it to a fibre cable.

The best and only scenario that will work here is a fibre cable. Fibre cable is capable of delivering much faster speeds than the old copper phone network while being much cheaper and more accessible. They are made out of thin glass strands and can provide you with a speed of up to 1 GB/second.

What Broadband Speed Do I Need for VoIP?

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Generally, to achieve a voice call of great quality, a minimum speed of 90 – 100 kbps is required. However, there are some details you might want to consider before purchasing the modem or signing the contract with the internet company.

When we talk about VoIP systems, the most important thing is the upload speed. However, many internet providers offer low upload speeds in comparison to download speeds, which can be a problem. So, before purchasing the package, make sure to get a comprehensive answer about the minimum and maximum upload speed you'll get.

Keep in mind that a minimum speed of 90 – 100 kbps is required for one device. So, if you have three or four VoIP devices in your house, the speed needed will be 400 kbps. Also, don't forget that your VoIP devices are not the only ones that are using the broadband connection.

If we're talking about a business, the numbers will be much higher. Usually, internet service providers have packages with speeds up to 2 Gbps just for business usage, not for private houses. These will be a lot more expensive than the usual packages, but you will need them as VoIP devices won't be the only technology that will need an internet connection.

What VoIP Equipment Do I Need?

If you already have a great broadband connection and you decide that you want VoIP services to improve your voice calling experience, you might want to know what equipment you need to change your analog telephone adaptor.

There are two options available, which are hard phones and softphones.

If you need a home phone that won't leave the desk in your house, a hardware VoIP phone is the way to go. It looks just like your regular landline phone, with the only difference being the broadband connection.

However, if you need to carry it around, a softphone will do the trick. A softphone is a software-based VoIP that can be installed on your computer or mobile device. From there, you can use it just like your regular mobile device.

Many VoIP service providers allow you to bring your hardware. However, don't hesitate to ask about it the first time you talk to a sales representative. You don't want to throw money away and buy a hardware phone you will never use.

Is VoIP Better Than Landline?

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Yes. The combination of a high-speed broadband connection and a VoIP device will always be more lucrative than a landline number.

VoIP services are cheaper, more qualitative and offer more features than regular landline phone companies. On top of that, the security offered by VoIP services is much higher than regular phone lines.

IP phone systems have built-in security to prevent anyone from tapping your calls. They usually have end-to-end encryption, different types of security protocols and safe data centres. All these details can be of use to high-ranking business managers and CEOs that don't want to be the target of corporate espionage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WiFi Work With VoIP?

Yes. Just make sure that your wireless connection has enough power and speed for the VoIP phone and you'll be good. However, if you have a desk VoIP at your office or your house, it might be a better idea to purchase an Ethernet cable just for the VoIP device.

A WiFi connection loses its speed and power with every new device connected. For example, if you connect 5 devices to a router that can normally give up to 300 Mbps, it will only give you a speed of 200 Mbps.

An Ethernet cable however will always supply the same speed without major interference. Therefore, you'll always have the best quality to make national and international calls.

Can I Use a VoIP Device With Mobile Data?

Yes, you can. If you have a 4G connection, the average upload speed in New Zealand will be around 10 Mbps, which will be more than enough to make a phone call using a VoIP service.

However, if you can't get 4G and are using 3G instead, you might encounter some problems with the connection and the quality of the sound.

Can I Use VoIP on My Home Broadband?

Yes, you can. Home broadband, especially if we're talking about fibre optics, can give you enough speed to use not one but 10 VoIP devices in your home.

However, you should keep in mind that it only depends on what package you have, what devices that are using the Internet you have and how much speed can your broadband provide.

Wrapping up

In a nutshell, a fibre broadband connection coupled with a VoIP phone can easily change your perspective towards home phones and how qualitatively they work. It's truly a miracle that in some houses you can still find landline phones that are using the old copper network system.

VoIP devices are simply better than landline phones in every aspect of the game, from quality of sound to price. So, if you still don't have one in your home, you might want to consider purchasing it.