As a general guide, each active VoIP call typically needs around 100 kbps (0.1 Mbps) of upload and download bandwidth. A business with 10 staff regularly on calls at once should budget for at least 1 to 2 Mbps of dedicated capacity, on top of whatever bandwidth the rest of the business already uses.
Why This Matters More Than People Expect
Call quality issues, dropouts, robotic-sounding audio, delayed voices, are very often a bandwidth or connection problem rather than a fault with the phone system itself. Getting this right upfront avoids a lot of frustration down the track.
It’s not just about having enough total bandwidth either. Upload speed matters just as much as download for voice calls, and if your office also uses the same connection for video calls, large file transfers or cloud backups, those activities compete with call quality unless properly managed.
What Affects Your Actual Requirements
- Number of staff who might be on calls simultaneously, not just your total headcount.
- Whether you’re also running video calls or conferencing over the same connection.
- Other heavy internet use in the office, like cloud backups, large file uploads or streaming.
- Whether your connection has reliable, consistent speed, not just a high advertised maximum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a standard NBN plan be enough?
For most small businesses, yes, provided the plan has adequate upload speed and isn’t already stretched thin by other usage. Business-grade NBN plans are worth considering for anything beyond a handful of staff.
Can I prioritise phone calls over other internet traffic?
Yes, this is called Quality of Service (QoS) and it’s something we can help configure so voice traffic gets priority over less time-sensitive activity like downloads.
Not Sure What You Need?
We can review your current setup and tell you exactly what bandwidth would suit your team before you switch. Book a 15-Minute Chat to find out.
