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How much bandwidth is needed for VoIP

Every business has the primary objective of satisfying its customers or clients, and effective communication plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.
In recent years, many businesses have switched from traditional phone systems to VoIP phone systems, which utilize cloud telephony technology.
Compared to traditional phone lines, VoIP provides businesses with a comprehensive communication system that includes advanced features and a more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution. As a result, VoIP is the most optimal and preferred solution for all kinds of businesses.
However, it is essential to understand the basic requirements of VoIP before purchasing from VoIP service providers. Since VoIP relies entirely on internet connectivity to make and receive calls, SMS, and video meetings, it is crucial to determine how much bandwidth is required to ensure clear VoIP calls.
Therefore, it is important to research thoroughly and gain a complete understanding of VoIP's fundamental requirements before selecting a VoIP solution provider.

The bandwidth requirement for VoIP: What is it and why is it important?

The bandwidth requirement for VoIP refers to the amount of internet bandwidth necessary for making and receiving high-quality VoIP calls. It is important to understand this requirement because VoIP relies on internet connectivity, and inadequate bandwidth can lead to poor call quality, call drops, and other issues that can negatively impact communication.
Having sufficient bandwidth is crucial for VoIP to function correctly, as the internet connection needs to be stable and have enough bandwidth to handle the voice data transmission.
The amount of bandwidth required for VoIP depends on various factors, such as the number of concurrent calls, the audio codec used, and the quality of the audio that needs to be transmitted.
It is important to assess the bandwidth requirements of VoIP before implementing it in a business setting to ensure that the necessary bandwidth is available to make high-quality calls.

To calculate the bandwidth requirements for VoIP, you need to gather some basic information, such as the number of concurrent calls being made. Typically, VoIP requires around 80 to 100 kbps per call.
For instance, if your business has 10 employees making 10 concurrent calls, the minimum bandwidth required for clear voice calls would be around 1 Mbps to 1.5 Mbps.
It's important to note that this requirement is only applicable to VoIP calls and doesn't cover other activities like background browsing.
Codecs are a critical factor in determining the necessary bandwidth for VoIP calls. A codec is a program that converts your voice into digital signals that are transmitted over the internet to the receiver.
Essentially, codecs optimize the size of call files, which results in better call quality. Therefore, it's essential to know what codec your Cloud Telephony Provider is using, as codecs play a major role in the quality of your VoIP call.
To help you understand the impact of codecs on VoIP call quality, here's a table that outlines some of the most commonly used codecs:

Codec	Bit rate per second	Average bandwidth usage	Quality
G.711	64 kbps	80 kbps	works excellent in low bandwidth
G.729	8 kbps	24 kbps	works well with low bandwidth
G.728	16 kbps	32 kbps	Provides toll voice quality over lower bandwidths
G.722	48-64 kbps	80 kbps	Excellent but requires more bandwidth

As you can see, different codecs require different amounts of bandwidth, and they can significantly impact the quality of your VoIP calls. Therefore, it's crucial to select a codec that provides the best possible call quality within the available bandwidth.
TeleCMI utilizes the G.711 codec in its cloud telephony solutions to ensure exceptional call quality, even in scenarios with limited bandwidth.

As we discussed earlier, it is crucial to consider certain factors before implementing VoIP services for your business. With the advancements in communication technology, particularly the 5G network, internet speed has improved significantly (up to 10 times faster), making it possible to meet even the most basic bandwidth requirements. Leveraging 5G technology for your VoIP communication ensures high call quality from anywhere and at any time.
If your business is in the process of implementing a VoIP phone system, you may consider TeleCMI as your VoIP provider. With our free trial, you can test the call quality of our VoIP service and experience the benefits first-hand.