Traditional landline phone systems are on their way out. Telkom is phasing out copper lines, and businesses are discovering that Voice over IP (VoIP) offers more features at a lower cost.
What Is VoIP?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) lets you make phone calls over your internet connection instead of traditional phone lines. Your calls travel as data packets, just like email or web traffic. For businesses in Bedfordview and the East Rand, this means significantly lower phone bills and access to features that would cost thousands on traditional systems.
Why Businesses Are Switching
Lower Costs
VoIP calls are typically much cheaper than traditional phone calls, especially for long-distance and international calls. Many providers offer unlimited local calling for a flat monthly fee. For a typical 15-person business, switching to VoIP saves R2,000–R5,000 per month compared to traditional Telkom lines.
More Features
VoIP systems include features that cost extra on traditional systems:
- Auto-attendant (press 1 for sales, press 2 for support)
- Call forwarding and routing
- Voicemail-to-email
- Call recording
- Video calling and conferencing
- Mobile app (take your office number anywhere)
Flexibility
Add or remove lines instantly. Work from anywhere with the mobile app. Scale up without installing new phone cables. This flexibility is especially valuable for businesses with remote or hybrid teams — your staff can use their office number from home as easily as from their desk.
Choosing a VoIP Provider
Consider these factors:
- **Call quality** — Test voice quality over your internet connection
- **Reliability** — Look for 99.9% uptime guarantees
- **Support** — Local support is important for quick issue resolution
- **Integration** — Does it work with Microsoft Teams, CRM systems?
- **Backup** — What happens if your internet goes down?
Internet Requirements
VoIP needs a stable internet connection. For a business with 10 concurrent calls, you need at least 1 Mbps upload speed for voice. Consider:
- A dedicated VLAN for voice traffic
- Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router
- A backup internet connection (4G/5G failover)
- A UPS for your network equipment
When setting up VoIP for remote workers, security becomes critical. Our remote work security guide covers how to protect voice traffic and ensure your team can make and receive calls securely from anywhere.
Migration Tips
- Test VoIP alongside your existing system first
- Train staff on new features before switching
- Port your existing numbers (you can keep them)
- Keep a backup plan for internet outages—a 4G failover router is essential
VoIP FAQ
Q: Can I keep my existing phone numbers?
A: Yes. Number portability means you can transfer your existing business numbers to your new VoIP provider. The process typically takes 2–5 business days and your service continues uninterrupted.
Q: What happens to my phone system during loadshedding?
A: This is a critical consideration for SA businesses. Your VoIP phones need power and internet. We recommend a UPS for your fibre ONT, router, and network switch, plus a battery backup for your VoIP handsets. With proper planning, your phones can stay operational even during extended loadshedding.
Thinking about switching to VoIP? CT Bedfordview can help you choose, set up, and manage a business phone system. Contact us for a consultation.