This post will show you six steps to optimize your network for VoIP.
In today’s age of technology, we use the Internet to share knowledge through various multimedia and connect to our dear ones.
The Internet has been used for many purposes, but what if we use it to make voice calls smoothly? We do it on our telephones and mobile handsets using specific telecom networks.Â
VoIP is the answer to your question. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to use a broadband Internet connection to make voice calls instead of a regular (or analogue) phone line.
Since VoIP is not preferred by many, it needs to be optimized before using it to get the best results.
Here are six steps you should follow to optimize your network for VoIP and thus run voice calls smoothly.
Table of Contents
6 Steps To Optimize Your Network For VoIPÂ
1. Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Fast
Always be careful while choosing your Internet Service Provider (ISP). VoIP calls require uniform and fast network connectivity.
I prefer a wired connection over wireless as the separate cable is used in the wired connection to connect each device to the network, with each cable transmitting data at the same speed.Â
Wi-Fi should be preferred over mobile internet networks when wired connections are unavailable. The quality of your VoIP calls will straight away depend on the type of internet connection you use.
Always opt for standard & high-quality ISPs rather than going for local ones and complaining about the problems.Â
2. Be Conscious of Security Issues
Cybercrimes are increasing daily, and once your device is connected to the Internet, you are no longer safe from hackers.
To secure your voice lines and data lines, your VoIP network infrastructure should include appropriate firewall policies, good antivirus and spyware, and malware protection programs.
Hackers easily find a chance to interrupt VoIP calls by creating voice and data line obstacles. Thus, when your system has good malware and hacking protection programs, uninterrupted & smooth voice calling can be experienced.
The quality of your antivirus & your firewall policies will determine how effectively your voice calls run through VoIP.Â
READ ALSO: Top 8 Considerations To Choose The Right VPN Service
3. Choose High-End Hardware
Hardware comprising your telephones, mobile handsets, computers, etc., may create some VoIP network issues if they are not current. This minor issue is a common problem for many people.Â
Low-grade hardware can be a culprit, leading to problems like echo, etc. Solutions like turning down the volume help overcome this problem for a while. So, the more high-end hardware you use, the quality of your calls through VoIP improves in many folds.
For example, if you have an Xfinity router, you must perform an Xfinity router login to access the best network through the hardware.
The equipment which you use should also have excellent software compatibility. Usually, a fast internet connection requires high-end computers & other compatible devices.Â
4. Good Bandwidth
It would be best if you increase your bandwidth as per the number of lines of voice services. At least 100 kbps (0.1 Mbps) in both directions to prevent packet loss & ensure the right VoIP calls. For example, for ten voice lines, 1000 kbps (1 Mbps) bandwidth is required.Â
Just make sure your Internet connection has good bandwidth for any calls and any level of network usage.
As your voice is converted into data & further data is converted into voice packets, the bandwidth plays a significant role in running this operation smoothly. The higher the bandwidth, the better the quality of your VoIP calls will be.Â
5. Checking Cables
The conventional & mostly outdated telephone system uses CAT-3 grade cables. Today’s telephones, broadband & data networking cables are CAT-5 grade or higher. Proper cabling assures the best quality of service.Â
As cables are the most integral part of the VoIP infrastructure, there must be no compromise when choosing wires. Also, ensure that cables are connected to every hardware & device correctly.
Sometimes, simply removing the cable from a particular device could cause severe problems. So, check whether the cables are good quality and connected in the right place.
6. Make Sure You Don’t Have Hubs On Your LAN
Whenever a LAN (Local Area Network) is connected to many hubs, it leads to lousy voice calls over VoIP. For getting the best out of VoIP calls, each device should have its connection to your switch.
Your call quality will suffer if your VoIP infrastructure has multiple Ethernet switches for sharing single cables.Â
Ensuring a separate link to each device & hardware with fast network connectivity gives positive results while performing VoIP operations. Connecting several hubs on your LAN leads to network trafficking & this overload leads to glitches in your VoIP calls.
Conclusion
Hence, with the appropriate implementation of the above-given steps of solution & also considering the Quality of Service (QoS) along with the proper broadband connection or Wi-Fi, VoIP can be a safe and reliable medium for transmitting voice.
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About the Author:
Fiorella Salazar is a cybersecurity expert, digital privacy advocate, and VPN evangelist based in Canada. She holds an M.Sc. in Cybersecurity from a Canadian university. She is an avid researcher and frequent contributor to several cybersecurity journals and magazines. Her mission is to raise awareness about the importance of digital privacy and the benefits of using a VPN. She is the go-to source for reliable, up-to-date information on VPNs and digital privacy.
