When it comes to choosing a Hosted PABX connectivity provider for your business, there are many factors to consider. A Hosted PABX system is a critical component of your business communication infrastructure, and choosing the right provider is essential to ensure seamless communication and productivity.
With so many connectivity providers in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one that meets your business needs. In this article, we will discuss the key factors to consider when selecting a Hosted PABX connectivity provider and help you make an informed decision.
Assess your business needs
Assessing your business needs is a crucial step in choosing the right Hosted PABX connectivity provider. To do this, you must first understand the communication requirements of your business.
Some factors to consider include the size of your business (the number of employees you have) the type of business you operate (call frequency), the communication channels you use to interact with customers and partners (desktop, softphone, mobile application, voice and/or video conferencing), and finally the call quality of the VoIP service
For example, if you run a small business with a handful of employees, you may only require basic phone features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and conference calling. On the other hand, if you operate a larger enterprise with multiple departments, you may require more advanced features such as call routing, automatic call distribution, and integration with other communication channels like email and instant messaging.
It’s also important to consider the geographical location of your business and whether you need to connect multiple sites or remote workers. In this case, you may require a provider that offers seamless connectivity across multiple locations or a cloud-based solution that allows employees to access the phone system from anywhere in the world.
By assessing your business needs, you can determine which features are essential and which ones you can do without. This will help you narrow down your options and choose a provider that offers the right set of features at an affordable price.
Can VoIP be used with any type of connectivity?
VoIP requires you to have a stable connection to prevent voice jittering due to packet loss or delays in speech. As such, VoIP and other data usage such as video streaming, browsing the internet, and email shouldn’t be done on the same connection.
In order for VoIP to perform well with excellent voice quality you need to use:
- A dedicated line if the connectivity line is a broadband service such as:
- ADSL (currently end-of-life)
- Mobile Wireless (3G and LTE)
- Point-to-multipoint or Unlicensed Fixed Wireless / Microwave services.
- If a VLAN is provisioned to carry VoIP traffic, a single line can provide guaranteed connectivity for VoIP and data. Services that a VLAN can be provisioned on include:
- Business Broadband fibre (certain providers)
- Licensed spectrum point-to-point Fixed Wireless / Microwave services
- Guaranteed Business Fibre (Layer 2 and Layer 3 services)
- For larger guaranteed connectivity services like Guaranteed Business Fibre, clients can use a single line for both VoIP and Data without a VLAN, but that is determined on a case-by-case basis, and a VLAN is generally advised for VoIP.
- A dedicated line of a guaranteed connectivity service for larger sites to be used only for VoIP. This is usually 50+ concurrent calls.
Approximately 100Kbps is required for 1 VoIP call. Here’s a breakdown of recommended connection speeds per concurrent calls:
| Number of Concurrent Calls | Minimum Required Bandwidth | Recommended speed |
| 1 | 100 Kbps Up and Down | 3 Mbps Up and Down |
| 3 | 300 Kbps Up and Down | 3 Mbps Up and Down |
| 5 | 500 Kbps Up and Down | 5 Mbps Up and Down |
| 10 | 1 Mbps Up and Down | 5-10 Mbps Up and Down |
Research potential providers
Once you have assessed your business needs, it’s time to start researching potential PABX connectivity providers. Here are some steps to follow when conducting your research:
- Look for providers that offer the features you need. Based on your assessment of your business needs, make a list of the features you require in a PABX connectivity solution.
- Always research the provider’s reputation. Look for customer reviews and testimonials to get an idea of the provider’s reputation. You can also ask for references and contact them to get more information about their experience with the provider.
- Consider the provider’s experience when doing your research. Look for providers that have been in business for several years and have experience working with businesses in your industry. This can give you confidence that they have the expertise and knowledge to provide the services you need.
- Compare the pricing packages of different providers. Compare the pricing of different providers to ensure you are getting a fair price for the services you need. Be sure to look at the total cost, including any setup fees or ongoing maintenance costs.
- Look for scalability in the provider. Consider whether the provider can scale their services as your business grows. This is important to ensure that you won’t have to switch providers in the future if your business needs change.
- Pay attention to the level of support you get from the provider. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive support and has a responsive customer service team. This can be important if you experience any issues with your PABX connectivity solution.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect PABX connectivity partner is always a challenging task. However, if you understand what your business needs, you can identify the key factors that will ensure a smooth and successful PABX partnership.
