NBN & VoIP
What is NBN and VoIP?
Essentially, the letters NBN and VoIP are acronyms that stand for national broadband network (NBN) and voice over internet protocol (VoIP). NBN is an ongoing government initiative to bring high-speed, reliable broadband to homes and businesses across Australia. As the name suggests, VoIP is a way for businesses and residential users to make calls using the NBN. This network can be contrasted with a landline, which uses an analog method to complete the same action.
VoIP is not a new idea, but the methods, technologies and requirements surrounding it have changed since it was first created. The first usage of a VoIP service was in the 90’s, and was created to make international calls more efficient and less expensive. Today, there are many other usages of the service, and the phone call quality is far superior than when it was first used over 20 years ago. An internet business phone system, depending on the service, has many benefits for those who use them.
Benefits of VoIP
When used correctly, a VoIP phone holds many benefits to communicating within the workplace, to clients or customers. Its main purpose as a telecommunication technology is more valuable than ever before in an increasingly remote professional world. Here are some of the most notable benefits of VoIP for your team and the company:
Hardware and software versions are available
Depending on your professional and business needs, there are hardware and software versions of VoIP available. New hardware may be necessary if the existing one needs to be replaced or updated. Your network may need to be adjusted to suit a VoIP service. A professional will be able to let you know where you stand and what does and doesn’t need to be changed.
Integrations are available
As a business, a seamless communication integration can make all the difference in creating efficiency in the workplace. Meeting operations like Microsoft Teams can have VoIP services added to the service to streamline meeting and voice services. Certain connectivity issues related to integration and service connections can be resolved easily through the NBN provider technology.
Better remote work
As the professional world transitions into an increasingly remote workplace, VoIP can provide a variety of applicable solutions. Whether your team is working completely remotely or if the office is converting to a hybrid workplace, VoIP offers a way for at-home workers to receive calls to a “work phone” Instead of taking calls from a personal landline or the employee’s own mobile phone, a VoIP provider can connect calls to a specific number, in this case, a work number.
This is especially helpful for companies that rely heavily on phone communication internally and externally. From a team that works closely but are physically distant to those who take many customer service phone calls a day, the benefits that a VoIP plan can bring to a business are extremely valuable. The flexibility that VoIP, with an NBN connection, gives to remote workers is particularly important. The platform can offer those who work at home the option to use the company phone number and name.
VoIP Requirements
In order to get VoIP, there are specific requirements that must be considered. Let’s take a closer look at some of these requirements.
Use existing infrastructure
A professional will be able to tell you what is possible with your existing equipment and whether you need new wiring or new handsets installed. Most of the time, it would be replaced or repaired if the existing infrastructure is too old or doesn’t work well in the first place.
Additionally, you won’t need any adapters for existing infrastructure. In typical circumstances, Biztech will be able to use what is already there to connect the NBN. Not only is this more simple, but it can minimise upfront costs. In remote locations connections may be done via existing landline connections or via wireless internet towers setup by NBN. Even if there is not one, a satellite broadband connection can be made.
Timelines
The timeline for when businesses need to connect to the NBN and have their VoIP platform usable varies, depending on several factors including location, infrastructure and business needs. As the government initiative continues, your certified installation expert will be updating customers as new information arises.
What else to know in preparation
The timeline for when businesses need to connect to the NBN and have their VoIP platform usable varies, depending on several factors including location, infrastructure and business needs. As the government initiative continues, your certified installation expert will be updating customers as new information arises.
- How many numbers and lines must be connected?
- Will international calls or meeting connections be needed?
- Where will the connection be used?
- Will you need additional add-ons?
If you are renting a shared office space, typically any phone services provided as part of the shared office space belong to the owner of the shared office space. This means that you are unable to take these numbers with you when transitioning to a VoIP platform.
Knowing what you need before the VoIP service connection is made and speaking with a professional about your options can help you find ideal solutions.
What to know about NBN connections
There are many different kinds of national broadband network connections to fit different requirements and location restrictions. Regardless of your unique circumstances, our connections are future-proof because they can adjust easily to the new technology as it begins to roll out. Here are some examples:
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
One of the more popular kinds of connections, FTTP will give people the fastest speeds because it goes right to the user. It is named “fibre to the premises” because it works by using a fibre optic line that runs from a local fibre node directly into the desired premises. FTTP requires a device to access the NBN connection to be installed inside of a building.
Fibre to the node (FTTN)
This is another popular NBN connection known as “fibre to the node.” FTTN creates the connection by running through a network box nearby, which is also known as a node, hence the name. This is the method used when copper wiring is reused for the last leg of the connection. Speeds may vary depending on the length of copper wiring used to connect you to the node.
Fibre to the curb (FTTC)
Fibre to the Curb is used in select areas. This technology has a fibre connection run just outside the premises. From there the last part of the connection uses the internal copper wiring of the building to serve the internet connection.
How Biztech can help with the transition
Whether it’s now or a while later, your business will join the rest of Australia in using the telecommunications service. While your team will have to adjust to the new technology, you will find that it holds many benefits for your business; congruence being one of them. While this may seem like a lot of information initially, Biztech is here to help with the transition to and installation of the VoIP NBN service.
We encourage you to ask questions and learn more about VoIP or which NBN connection method would work the best for your business needs. It is extremely beneficial to closely work with a knowledgeable professional to make sure that you are getting the most out of the connection.