VoIP requires 100 Kbps per concurrent call. Success depends on optimal capacity, QoS prioritisation, and expert optimisation ensuring crystal-clear business communications.
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VoIP requires surprisingly modest bandwidth when properly configured—typically just 100 Kbps per concurrent call. The real secret isn't buying maximum capacity; it's choosing the right codec, implementing quality-of-service (QoS) prioritisation, and ensuring your network infrastructure supports professional communications without dropouts or delays.
To discover your exact bandwidth needs, try our VoIP Cost Savings Calculator.
It depends on your codec—the compression technology that encodes voice into data packets.
Each codec offers different trade-offs between audio quality and bandwidth consumption:
Bottom line: Budget 100 Kbps per concurrent call as a conservative rule-of-thumb. This includes network overhead and provides buffer for real-world fluctuations.
It's not about total staff—it's about concurrent calls during peak periods.
Most businesses find only 30–50% of employees talk simultaneously during peak hours. Here's the planning framework:
Add your data requirements on top. If your business needs 10 Mbps for email, cloud, and file transfers, plus 2 Mbps for VoIP, you need 12 Mbps total minimum (15–20 Mbps recommended) for comfortable performance without quality drops.
This is where most businesses make a critical mistake. Consumer broadband offers asymmetrical speeds—often 10:1 download-to-upload ratios.
The problem:
Why it matters: VoIP traffic flows both directions. Incoming calls need download capacity; outgoing calls need upload. Video conferencing, cloud syncing, and file transfers also demand upload bandwidth. When upload is bottlenecked, call quality deteriorates, video freezes, and team productivity suffers.
Choose business-grade broadband with symmetrical or near-symmetrical upload/download ratios.
QoS ensures VoIP packets get priority over other internet traffic—even when your connection approaches capacity.
Modern business routers recognise VoIP automatically and prioritise it when configured correctly. Proper QoS often improves perceived call quality more than simply buying extra bandwidth.
Three critical metrics determine whether your calls sound professional or choppy:
Latency (Delay): Voice packets should reach recipients in under 150 milliseconds. Higher latency creates awkward pauses—disrupting client conversations and frustrating remote teams. Fibre delivers sub-50ms latency; satellite or distant connections may exceed optimal thresholds.
Jitter (Timing Variation): Inconsistent packet delivery timing causes robotic or distorted audio. Stable, predictable networks deliver superior quality compared to variable conditions creating acoustic artefacts.
Packet Loss (Missing Data): Even 1–2% packet loss causes missing syllables or dropped words. Business-grade internet typically provides lower packet loss rates than consumer services—a vital difference when every word matters for professional credibility.
Real-world usage data reveals hidden issues theoretical calculations miss:
A pilot with one department identifies bottlenecks before they disrupt your entire business. Network monitoring during pilot provides accurate data for informed bandwidth investment decisions.
Consumer Broadband:
Business Broadband:
Start with a bandwidth assessment. Work with an expert provider to:
Don't guess—measure and optimise based on real data.
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Problem: Many businesses buy broadband based on download speed alone, ignoring upload capacity and QoS prioritisation.
Agitation: This leads to dropped calls during peak hours, choppy audio in client meetings, and frustrated remote teams unable to communicate seamlessly.
Solution: Proper VoIP bandwidth planning—modest 100 Kbps per concurrent call with business-grade broadband, QoS prioritisation, and expert configuration—ensures crystal-clear communications that build client trust and team productivity.
Q1: Can I use consumer broadband for business VoIP?
Technically yes, but it's risky. Upload bottlenecks, lack of QoS, and shared bandwidth create quality issues. Business broadband with proper QoS delivers reliability and clarity your clients expect.
Q2: How do I know my bandwidth is adequate?
Monitor your network during peak call volumes. If audio quality drops, calls disconnect, or latency exceeds 150ms, upgrade your connectivity and QoS configuration.
Q3: Does fibre always deliver better VoIP quality than cable or ADSL?
Fibre typically provides superior latency and consistency, but any business-grade connection with QoS prioritisation can support excellent VoIP quality. The key is consistent performance and low packet loss.
Q4: What's the best codec for UK businesses?
G.711 is the gold standard for call quality; G.729 offers bandwidth savings without noticeable quality loss. Most modern systems switch codecs automatically based on network conditions.
Q5: Can 1 Mbps upload support professional VoIP?
Technically yes for a few concurrent calls, but it's risky with file transfers and cloud sync competing for upload capacity. Aim for 3+ Mbps upload for comfortable business operations.
Don't leave call quality to chance. AMVIA's UK-based specialists assess your actual communication patterns, recommend optimal bandwidth allocation, and configure your network for crystal-clear professional quality.
Get Your Free Bandwidth Assessment—direct expert support, no voicemail, guaranteed UK response.
Call 0333 733 8050 now. Discover how the right connectivity partner ensures every call builds client relationships instead of damaging credibility.
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