As the telecommunications industry continues to move toward Voice over IP and cloud-based phone system technology, companies of all sizes are contemplating if virtual communications make sense for their business.  

The benefits of a cloud telephone system are appetizing- HD sound, low-cost communications, no licensing or warranty fees, automatic software updates, inherently unified communications, and web-based admin management.

Yet, what’s the point to these benefits if every phone call has static, latency, or a dropped connection?  If your network isn’t ready for VoIP- then this is your reality.  Too many VoIP Providers focus on their features and price and never talk to you about your network prior to your phone system installation.  BIG mistake.

To avoid a phone service disaster, here are some tips to ensuring your network is VoIP ready:

1. Purchase a Firewall-  Believe it or not, PC viruses WILL bog down the network and have a direct effect on the quality of phone calls. 

1. Internet- upgrade to high speed, business class internet.  A 10-person company should have at least 20 Mbps upload speeds.  Follow up with a Broadband speed test to make sure you are receiving speeds close to what you are paying for.  Type “Broadband speed test” into your browser and choose a free version for testing. 

1. Cabling- Cat5e (or higher) is required for all voice devices on the premise LAN.

1. QoS Router- On converged networks, a QoS router should be the primary internet access device for all voice and data traffic. This provides the best possible QoS (Quality of Service) because voice traffic gets prioritized and forwarded to the voice LAN segment as soon as it’s received from the WAN.

1.  24-Hour Network Assessment Testing Tool-   Don’t cheap out when it comes to assessing your network.  We recommend using a 24-hour network assessment testing device to gather stats on data spikes, Carrier HOPS, packet loss, concurrent calling threshold, etc.  This tool should provide your future VoIP provider with the statistics they will need to determine if your network is ready for VoIP.  

When you are ready to discuss if a virtual phone system makes sense for your business, please contact ACC Telecom.  ACC Telecom is a cloud-based phone system provider in Columbia, MD and can assist you with any questions or concerns, as well as offers true 24-hour network assessments.  Visit https://acctelecom.com or call 410-995-0101 for more information.