Millions of Australians are preparing to move to the new NBN system that improves the country’s communication service by upgrading the phone and internet infrastructure. The NBN broadband access network was designed to provide Australians with high-speed broadband access, delivered through the NBN Multi Technology Mix (MTM) – which is made up of NBN Fixed Line, Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster satellite technologies. Businesses who have transitioned to NBN are now benefiting from faster and more reliable internet services.
If you are needing to switch your landline service and are having trouble understanding the big changes happening to your legacy phone system, you are in the right place. We have created for you a series of articles with everything you need to know, including the advantages of choosing to work with a managed IT services company.
PSTN and ISDN
Most likely your phone is on one of the two oldest methods for voice service delivery: public switched telephone network (PSTN) or integrated services for digital network (ISDN).
PSTN is the phone line that most of us grew up with at home and is delivered to the premises via twisted copper wire pairs. Although the core network is almost entirely digital these days, the signal is still usually analogue from the exchange to the end user.
ISDN refers to the ability to deliver a minimum of two simultaneous connections over a single line. Primarily used for voice services, the “integrated services” have been very popular for businesses that want to transmit voice, data, video and fax and caters to large organisations, so they don’t need to install and manage multiple PSTNs. This network has been popular as it has multiple features and integrates with the phone system (PABX). It’s popularity is diminishing due to the introduction of cloud communications. Both PSTN and ISDN will be phased out as the NBN network progressively takes over.
If your business is still using PSTN or ISDN for its phone system, you typically have 18 months to change to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network once you’ve been notified. If you haven’t arranged for your landline service to move to the NBN in this period of time, it might be disconnected.
What is VoIP on NBN?
VoIP is the transmission of voice and multimedia content over Internet Protocol networks. Initially, the term referred to using IP to connect private branch exchanges (PBXs) but is now used exchangeable with IP telephony.
VoIP is enabled by a group of technologies and methodologies used to deliver voice communications over the internet, enterprise local area networks and wide area networks. A VoIP landline service is in many ways similar to the service you use today, and you may be able to use your old phone handset and keep your old number.
The difference when moving your landline to NBN is that a VoIP service will send and receive your calls over the internet. Just like your current landline, VoIP lets you call any landline or mobile number, but you will be using your internet connection to do so.
There are two possibilities for getting landline calls via the NBN. UNI-D VoIP is the most common service and is available to all NBN connection types. UNI-V VoIP, also known as “fibre phone”, is a superior VoIP connection type that is only available with fibre to the premises connections. Alternatively, VoIP via the dedicated port (UNI-V port) has a supplied NBN connection box (also known as a Network Termination Device or NTD) or provider-supplied modem/router. This allows dedicated bandwidth for voice traffic, which means calls do not have to compete with internet traffic and can be more reliable as a result. UNI-V also offers the option of battery back-up in case of a power outage.
How will a VoIP phone service be different from my current landline?
Firstly, as cloud-based phone services don’t use traditional phone lines, there are no line rental fees. This makes it a lot more cost-effective than traditional landlines and your calls are delivered at lower rates. Secondly, a cloud-based phone system doesn’t require a large, expensive PBX system as it delivers calls and PBX-style functionality over your Internet connection. With no need for multiple landlines or expensive PBX equipment, more businesses are using the cloud for business communications. Putting your phone system in the cloud will give your business future proof communication solutions, at a fraction of the cost of traditional PBX systems.
The list of features is impressive, but it’s also worthwhile considering the larger impact a cloud-based phone system will have on your business. Moving to VoIP, your business will benefit from faster and more reliable internet services. Services such as the cloud and file sharing allow employees to easily work remotely and from more locations, meaning more efficiency and better communications. With fast speed and ease of communication across multiple platforms, systems and devices, your workforce becomes better connected and more productive. With the ability to engage in real-time, customer service standards sky rocket.
As your business expands, opens more locations and has more remote workers, it’s important that your phone system keeps pace. In conclusion, if you don’t switch from your legacy PBX to a cloud-based solution, your business will be lumbered with expensive and labour-intensive solutions.
Why choose Xenex Systems to help you transition to VoIP?
As a phone and internet provider, Xenex Systems offers services on the NBN network to businesses and enterprises. Using the latest technologies, our Perth-based engineering team offers integrated managed IT services to businesses, with 24/7 support. We support businesses in Western Australia and are expanding nationwide.
Working with a Managed IT services company will ensure better management of your transition to the right solution for your business that will ensure you take advantage of all the features available over the NBN access network.
Using Xenex Systems’ experience and the NBN broadband access network, your business will take advantage of a flexible set of features and find the most suitable solutions to boost your team’s productivity in the workplace.
We use a wide range of VoIP technologies like Avaya and efficient SaaS technologies like 3CX and we certify our team of engineers according to the latest versions of their technologies. 3CX VoIP gives businesses voice, text, video and contact management in a single user interface. When moving to the cloud, we migrate your business phone and fax numbers to VoIP, ensuring that you retain your data, making the migration process seamless.
However, we have also created our unique Xenex PBX solution, deploying servers on Amazon Web Services – the world’s largest server host, with data centres all over the globe. We also offer options on Microsoft Azure.
Why you should be with us if you are with NBN?
As an NBN Partner, at Xenex Systems we give our clients access to the latest technology and provide 24-hour support while delivering the greatest cost benefits. In addition, we are a single point of contact for all IT issues, helping our clients save time and avoid frustration. Working with Xenex Systems will ensure you will have access to additional benefits like:
- Access to a team of experienced IT engineers certified for using the latest communication technologies worldwide, based in Perth, WA;
- Audit Review and Advisory plan for choosing the right technologies with the suited features for your business;
- A strong analyse of the NBN offer, choosing the most cost-efficient package for your business;
- Remote and online installation for one or multiple workplaces;
- Access to the last’s technologies and methodologies of VoIP and cloud solutions available worldwide;
- Cloud hosting on the world’s largest and carrier-grade servers, like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure;
- Unified communications solutions improving your team collaboration;
- A single contact for all communications: emails, phone calls, conference calls, chat, meetings, faxes and customer interactions; and for contact centre capabilities;
- Disaster recovery plan with active end-to-end management and 24/7 monitoring and incident management;
- 24/7 support from an Australian based customer service call centre;
- Monthly or periodically meetings to find better features that will improve productivity, depending on your plan.
It’s critical that your business starts getting ready for the NBN, even if it’s not connected yet. We can help you easily transition your business phone system to the NBN and offer future-proof solutions that you can set up today, so you’re prepared for tomorrow. If you’re already using NBN, Xenex Systems can help you upgrade your current technology to put you ahead of the game. Contact us today!