Make informed choices in your transition from ISDN systems to VoIP before ISDN services begin their disconnections from September 2019.
Whether you are required to make the transition to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as part of the disconnection of ISDN services, or you have already started this transition to reap the benefits of new technologies, it is essential to make informed choices and avoid the pitfalls of misinformation…
What is VoIP and SIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), put simply, delivers your phone services over your data network connection (which may also be your Internet connection), allowing you to make calls anytime and anywhere from a client device. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the internet standard for use by Voice over IP systems.
VoIP systems running SIP can be based either on premise or from a hosted cloud service, using your data network connection to carry voice data between you and your customers and suppliers.
Learn more about our Diamond Cloud (DCloud) Voice Solutions.
What will replace ISDN?
There are a few options available to you on what and how you replace your current ISDN service, largely dependent on what services are available to your organisation. These options vary due to factors like your location, your preferred provider and whether you choose cloud or on-premise solutions for your data and voice.
Most organisations still connected via ISDN use it for voice systems. ISDN voice systems are being replaced by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Using VoIP, voice calls become Internet data traffic like any other data - including emails, websites and video streaming.
What do I need to look for to select the right VoIP solution?
Here are our top six recommendations:
1. Voice Quality
Where ISDN has guaranteed quality thresholds, low-cost Internet services have no guarantees. You can be competing for your share of bandwidth with other Internet users sharing your provider’s infrastructure.
VoIP is real-time and therefore cannot suffer sub-standard Internet performance without a frustrating drop in quality or garbled voices.
To ensure a smooth transition from ISDN to VoIP you need advice on getting the right connection for your organisation’s needs.
2. Quality of Service (QoS)
Using QoS configurations on your Internet connection allows you to give time-sensitive applications like VoIP priority over non real-time applications like email.
QoS will prioritise your VoIP traffic behind the scenes, giving you less risk of interruptions of your voice service by other traffic. This can mean running all your services on the one converged connection.
QoS however can only help to a point – too much traffic will reduce its effectiveness. When the data traffic is too much for QoS, it’s time to look at either a dedicated connection for VoIP or a faster connection if you continue to run a converged Internet service.
3. Private Data Network versus an Internet connection
A key decision for the success of your transformation from ISDN to VoIP is on whether you should connect a private data connection to your SIP provider or run your VoIP “over the top” of your existing Internet.
For businesses with low call volumes an Internet-based solution may be sufficient, but for most businesses the lower-risk option is to keep your calls off the Internet.
By having your voice data connection and SIP service provided by the same provider, your call data remains on “private” data networks, without having to exit out and over the Internet, where service levels are never guaranteed and the risks for disruption are greater.
As an example, Diamond provides SIP trunks through our Diamond Internet and Networks (DNet) voice network connections, allowing you to access your voice services directly from your on premises PBX or DCloud server without having to traverse the Internet.
Learn more about Diamond Internet and Networks (DNet)
4. Number Porting
Do you want to keep your business phone numbers?
Retaining your organisations phone numbers when transitioning to VoIP is a key consideration. This is known as number porting, where you keep your existing numbers when changing providers, ensuring minimal disruption to your business.
You’ll need to declare your intention to keep your phone numbers early in the conversation, as different options are required in the ordering of new services to include number porting.
5. Fax
With the introduction of Internet-based technologies, the humble fax is disappearing from our workplaces.
However, for some businesses, the fax is still an important part of operations and several cloud-based Fax services have emerged to meet this need.
Review our guide on what to do with your fax.
6. Do I have to use NBN services?
No. For business-class Internet services, there is a range of options, with business-grade services supplied by NBN being only one of these.
While NBN services can do the job under limited circumstances, a business-grade fibre service provides the best results for both performance and reliability.
Diamond IT has our own Internet and private data network service known as DNet.
Contact our expert team of Carrier Service Solution specialists for more information on finding the right solution for your business.
Diamond IT can help you transition to VoIP
Our Business Technology Managers and Technical Consultants are experts on transitioning to VoIP.
We have experience in what works best from helping many of our existing customers through this process.
We have regularly been able to find cost savings for our customers, due to our specialisation in analysing complex carrier services and plans.
Register for our Webinar about what this transition will mean for your business and how technologies such as VoIP and SIP can be beneficial to your company.
