One of the key things you’ll have seen about cloud telephone systems time and time again is that they operate through broadband internet connections. That means you need a reliable connection to effectively use your cloud phone system and all its included features.
As cloud phone systems are scalable to the number of users needed, you may not need to have the very latest in fibre-optic broadband, depending on how and what your phone system is used for. What is required is a reliable internet connection to activate VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) as a minimum.
Find out more about the ideal internet speed needed for your cloud telephone system to work effectively, support your business, and deliver a great customer experience.
Internet Speed Recommendations
For VoIP, a key feature of any cloud phone system, to work effectively, the minimum recommended internet speed is between 5-25 Mbps of download speed. Mbps, or Megabits per second, is a typical way of measuring internet speed. Then more megabits, the more bandwidth you have, which means faster download speeds and smoother VoIP calls.
In the UK, the average broadband speed is 79.1 Mbps (as of March 2022), but this varies between regions, and requires having up to date routers and other hardware to ensure a fast speed. Most home broadband sits around the 10-20 Mbps mark, so perfectly suitable for VoIP calls.
Businesses can typically access much faster broadband connections than what’s available domestically. This is usually due to there being a need for more users on one network, as well as file sharing, video conferencing, and running business software which all take up bandwidth.
For a business with around 20 employees, using the internet in an average way (not streaming or sharing large video files, for example), your internet speed needs to be around 300 Mbps. This is obviously much higher than home connections, but then you don’t have 20 people using your home broadband at any one time typically.
If your business runs lots of video calls, file sharing, backups, and other cloud applications, opt for 1Gb (Gigabit) for maximum efficiency. This is one of the fastest business broadband speeds available and should serve almost any need, including running VoIP calls and other cloud phone software features.
Always speak to your broadband provider if you feel you’re not able to operate efficiently on your current internet speeds, or if you’re planning an upgrade to cloud phone systems. They can advise you on a suitable package so you can run VoIP and cloud phones smoothly with minimal disruption to service.
Business Broadband Connectivity
Businesses can access a wider range of broadband types and speeds than domestic services. The next generation of business broadband is SoGEA broadband. SoGEA, or Single Order Generic Ethernet Access, runs without the need for a traditional wired phone line to operate. Not only does this make SoGEA futureproof (in light of the upcoming ISDN switch off), but it also brings costs down without compromising on internet speed or reliability. You can also equip SoGEA with a mobile connectivity back up, useful for times when your main broadband connection goes down unexpectedly.
Fibre optic broadband is also the other main choice for business internet. This super-fast connectivity option is up to 5x faster than traditional broadband (ADSL) lines. It’s a great option for businesses who want to run cloud phones and other cloud software with speed, reliability and productivity in mind. Fibre optic is also a great choice for businesses with hybrid working models, and you don’t necessarily need a full new installation, it’s possible to upgrade existing lines to be fibre optic.
Business who currently use or are preparing to switch to cloud phone systems need to ensure they have reliable, fast broadband to help them get the most from the services. As cloud phone systems are often hosted virtually, use streaming services or rely on data transfer to work, a reliable and fast broadband connection means no lag, no jitter, and super smooth working practices every day.
Efficient Broadband for Cloud Phone Systems
Cloud phone systems have the power to transform how businesses operate. Whether you have a hybrid or remote working model, deal with local or international calls, host video conferences, share data and documents, or connect with your favourite cloud apps, all of this requires an effective internet connection to work.
As practices increasingly shift to the cloud and hosted IP as opposed to physical wires and connections, the importance of having fast and reliable broadband will only become more apparent. Opting for business dedicated broadband, including options like SoGEA and fibre-optic, means your business will be ahead of the game and able to adopt new technologies faster. Cloud phones can easily be integrated into your business operating model, bringing all the benefits of VoIP, video calling, device handover, automated menus, call recording and more to your business.
Contact the experts at Enconvo today and see how switching your broadband can transform your business and bring in a new era of cloud phone systems.
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