What broadband speed do I need for a business VoIP phone system?

VoIP requires surprisingly little bandwidth. Most UK business broadband connections can comfortably handle a hosted VoIP phone system.

Bandwidth requirements per call:

• One VoIP call uses approximately 80–100 kbps (kilobits per second) in each direction
• 10 simultaneous calls require roughly 1 Mbps upload and 1 Mbps download
• HD voice calls use slightly more – around 128 kbps per call
• Video calls require 1–2 Mbps per participant

What matters more than raw speed:

• Latency – the delay between speaking and being heard. Under 150ms is ideal for clear conversations
• Jitter – variation in latency. Low jitter ensures consistent call quality without choppy audio
• Packet loss – lost data packets cause gaps in audio. Under 1% packet loss is acceptable
• Upload speed – often overlooked, but VoIP needs good upload speeds as well as download

Recommended broadband for VoIP:

• 1–5 users: standard business broadband (FTTC/VDSL) is usually sufficient
• 5–20 users: fibre broadband (FTTP) or a dedicated business connection recommended
• 20+ users: leased line or dedicated Ethernet connection for guaranteed bandwidth and quality

Tips for optimal VoIP performance:

• Use QoS (Quality of Service) settings on your router to prioritise voice traffic
• Consider a separate VLAN for voice traffic on larger networks
• Have a 4G/5G backup connection for failover

Connection Technologies assesses your broadband as part of the VoIP setup process. Get a quote and we will recommend the right connectivity.