What Internet Speed Do I Need for Business VoIP?
A clear, direct answer to this question — written for UK business owners and IT decision-makers.
Direct Answer
Each VoIP call uses approximately 85–100 Kbps. A 10-person business making 5 simultaneous calls needs at least 500 Kbps dedicated to voice — but the more important factor is latency and jitter, not raw speed. VoIP requires latency below 150ms and jitter below 30ms for acceptable quality. A leased line with QoS configured is the recommended connectivity for business-grade VoIP performance.
Key Points
What you need to know.
The Short Answer
31% of UK businesses have switched to VoIP as of 2025 — the fastest adoption rate of any business communication technology in recent history.
For UK Businesses
The PSTN will be switched off by 31 January 2027. Over two-thirds of UK landlines have already been upgraded to VoIP.
Cost Considerations
VoIP systems can reduce communication costs by up to 75%. Small businesses typically see 25–50% lower costs than traditional telephony.
Next Steps
About 1 in 5 business leaders say they have lost business due to poor communication.
Quick Comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
The PSTN switch-off is scheduled for January 2027. Around 2.4 million UK businesses still operate on PSTN or ISDN lines. FTTC broadband that relies on PSTN copper lines will also cease to function. Businesses must migrate to IP-based telephony and connectivity before the deadline.
Yes, when paired with adequate connectivity. Modern VoIP systems on leased lines or FTTP deliver HD voice quality with latency under 9ms. 97% of UK workers say communication impacts their daily task efficiency. VoIP outperforms traditional telephony on features, cost, and flexibility.
Direct Routing connects your Microsoft Teams environment to the PSTN via a certified Session Border Controller, enabling external calls from Teams. It provides more flexibility and often lower per-minute costs than Microsoft Calling Plans. It is ideal for businesses already using Microsoft 365.
Cloud-hosted VoIP typically costs £8-£25 per user per month depending on features. This includes calls, voicemail, mobile apps, and call recording. Most businesses save 40-60% compared to traditional PSTN costs. Microsoft Teams calling plans offer another option within the M365 ecosystem.
VoIP transmits voice calls over your internet connection instead of traditional phone lines. It requires stable broadband or a leased line. Businesses typically save 40-60% on call costs compared to traditional telephony. Over 4.9 million UK businesses now use VoIP.
Need More Detail?
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Related Questions
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AMVIA's cloud telephony service — fully managed VoIP for UK businesses with connectivity guidance included.
Leased Lines
A leased line with QoS is the recommended connectivity for business VoIP — guaranteed bandwidth and low latency.
Leased Line vs Broadband
Why a leased line outperforms broadband for VoIP-heavy businesses.