Because of the tremendous cost and productivity benefits that VoIP provides. Nearly 40% of small businesses have said goodbye to their traditional, hardwired plain old telephone services (POTS) and hello to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
If you’re like most small business owners, you rely significantly on the phone for communication. Therefore, it’s vital that it’s reliable. VoIP uses data packets to digitally transmit voice over the internet and works very well if the network is correctly configured.
Because audio travels over the same lines as data and is vulnerable to changes in data transmissions. In other words, Internet slowdowns and low bandwidth can decrease call quality. This is frequently linked to underperforming or limited networking equipment. To clarify, Consider the other apps that compete for bandwidth when assessing VoIP solutions: web, video, email, file transfers, and so on. Above all, To make high-quality VoIP calls, you need the necessary connection and network infrastructure.
What should you do now that you’ve made the decision to switch? One of the first questions to consider is whether your network can handle a VoIP implementation. moreover, Let’s look at some approaches to get your network ready.
Examine your WAN connection
To ensure optimal VoIP outcomes, you must allocate the appropriate amount of bandwidth, which requires knowing what you require. On the other hand, The amount of bandwidth required is determined by the number of VoIP customers (phones) and the number of simultaneous calls you wish to make. In addition to your maximum call volume. It’s a good idea to figure out whether other network apps eat up some of your available bandwidth. Run a throughput test on a site like Speedtest to discover your bandwidth.
Let’s talk about connectivity now. Forget about DSL. Meanwhile, A coax cable or fiber T1 line connection is substantially faster. When it comes to VoIP, SMBs should opt for a business-level internet provider with adequate throughput. Check your VoIP service’s criteria to establish the minimum download and upload speeds for VoIP lines. subsequently, A quicker internet connection will improve the quality and number of lines on a VoIP system.
75 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 150 Mbps are the current minimum corporate internet options. Likewise, 75 Mbps should plenty for a small business with 20 or fewer connections. Failure to account for bandwidth needs will severely limit the reliability of your VoIP system and place a strain on your network infrastructure.
Examine your network infrastructure and replace any obsolete hardware
For VoIP, speed alone does not guarantee excellent results. The network’s backbone is critical, and outdated network infrastructure is one of the most significant obstacles to VoIP success. Before you cutover, get to know your network and make sure it’s ready. You risk dealing with headaches down the future if you don’t have a firm grip on your network infrastructure.
According to research, many small businesses use outdated networking equipment. What is the age of your switch? Is your network ready for gigabit speeds? For example, the switch’s speed isn’t the sole issue; reliability is also an issue.
I understand that most small businesses don’t have the financial resources to upgrade their entire network infrastructure – and you don’t have to. Consider upgrading particular network-critical equipment, such as routing and switching equipment. If you decide to replace something, don’t cut corners. Low-quality. Underperforming equipment will cost you money in the long term (remember those headaches?) and lower the quality of your calls. Your VoIP deployment’s success or failure is largely determined by the equipment you use.
With a VLAN, you may prioritize, separate, and segment VoIP communications
When many services are running on a network. It might affect the performance of applications that require more bandwidth or priority, such as video conferencing or VoIP. Dedicate bandwidth for voice by segmenting the network with a virtual local area network for the optimum quality of service (QoS). VLANs allow you to prioritize data traffic for applications that are sensitive to network delays. Resulting in improved performance and QoS with no dropped calls, latency, or jitter.
Invest in a business-class router with QoS features and couple it with a managed or smart switch that delivers other critical features we’ll discuss later. Create a VLAN with its own DHCP range and apply it to specified ports on the switch, giving VoIP ports high priority. Look for switches with gigabit ports and high throughput, as well as auto-configurations that adjust to QoS for each phone.
With PoE+, go large
PoE, step aside; PoE+ is the new sheriff in town. Let’s start with the basics of VoIP power requirements before we get into why the latter is superior. Power over Ethernet was first developed for VoIP devices. Simply defined, PoE allows you to supply power to a device over the same data or voice cable that supplies data. This enables any PoE-enabled devices, such as VoIP phone systems, to get power in a simple, safe, and efficient manner.
A PoE VoIP system, unlike a typical phone system. Relies on electrical power from a network switch to keep working after a power or internet outage. VoIP will not work if the switch loses power. With UPS backup power, this is readily rectified.
PoE
PoE is available in most business-class smart and managed switches, but only a few SMB networking manufacturers include it in their switches today. PoE+ switches offer up to 30 watts per port, a bigger power budget than ordinary PoE switches, and more device possibilities. Some VoIP phones, particularly those with cameras or video displays, use more power than others. Linksys, for example, offers a PoE+ gigabit managed switch with two combination ports that has 28 ports. This implies a company can power up to 24 clients or peripherals and use combo ports to connect switches through Ethernet or fiber connections.
What kind of power do you require? Check the maximum power wattage your phones require and the switch’s minimum power budget; phone or other powered device usage in the office must be less than the switch’s budget. Also, make plans for the future: Purchasing a larger switch (with more ports) and one with a higher PoE budget will allow you to add devices as needed in the future.
A simple PoE computation is as follows: The minimum PoE budget of the switch is equal to the maximum PoE consumption of the peripheral (camera, VoIP phone, or other client device) multiplied by the number of devices connected.
Obtaining high-quality VoIP services
A suitable connection and substantial bandwidth are required for a VoIP rollout, as well as the appropriate networking equipment with a battery backup to protect the workplace in the event of a power outage. If your organization relies on communication and you’re transitioning to VoIP, make sure your network architecture is adequately optimized for VoIP.
