Since what feels like the dark ages, UK businesses, homes and organisations have been relying on copper cables, travelling up and down the country, to connect one phone caller to another. It’s the way things have worked for years and years, and yet most of us barely give it any thought.
But times change and the UK, among other nations, is switching to a newer, better communications system. In what is often referred to as the ‘Big Switch Off’ we’ll be saying goodbye to all traditional landlines by the end of 2025 – and hello to a completely digital system instead.
As this happens, and businesses start shifting to an internet-powered telecoms system – you might hear the term ‘IP telephony’ being thrown around. So, what does this mean and why do businesses need to know about it?
A breakdown of IP telephony
IP telephony – or its full name, Internet Protocol Telephony – is any phone system that uses an internet connection to send and receive voice data. An example that you might be familiar with is WhatsApp, which you can make and receive calls on as long as you’re connected to the internet. But it doesn’t stop there, with entire organisations, institutions and businesses relying on nothing but a solid internet connection to execute all their communications.
A better system
Unlike a traditional landline telephone that allows you to make calls via analog signals (remember those copper cables we mentioned earlier), IP telephony systems connect to the internet using a router and modem and you’re all good to go.
This means that IP telephony is much more flexible and practical. They’re a popular choice among remote workers, for example, who can use their telephone anywhere, so long as they have an internet connection.
They’re also often cheaper to install and maintain, as there’s no need to hook your phone system up to countless cables and wires. And using the internet to make calls tends to be much faster, more reliable, and more secure than using the country’s aging, corroding copper cable network.
You see, the benefits are endless!
More than a phone call
While we’re focussing a lot of phone calls, it’s important to remember that IP telephony goes beyond that. You can also use it for:
- Video calls
- Audio and video conferencing
- Texts
- Faxing
Is IP telephony the same as VoIP?
VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, is often confused for IP telephony. And that’s because they are the same thing… sort of.
You see, VoIP is a subcategory of IP telephony. So, in other words, all VoIP systems are IP telephony, but not all IP telephony systems are VoIP. IP telephony is much broader than VoIP alone.
The reason we’re singling out VoIP here is because, as businesses switch over to the UK’s modern telecoms network, it’s extremely likely you’ll be using a VoIP system.
If you would like to know more about the specifics of VoIP – what it is, why its beneficial, and how to install it – we’ve got lots of information for you to sink your teeth into. We suggest starting on this blog.
Or, if you’d prefer to get straight into a chat with us, give the Equations team a call on 01237 420010. We’ll happily answer any of your questions, run through what a VoIP system would look like for you specifically, and can get the ball rolling on your switch.
