News & Updates

  • Fibre LTE and your VoIP Solution

Fibre and LTE Connectivity and your VoIP Solution

Technologies, such as VoIP, Fibre and LTE are changing the way South African’s communicate.  In terms of fixed-line connectivity, Fibre is considered the latest and greatest. It uses Fibre optic cables which means it’s very fast and much more stable. And because it doesn’t use traditional copper cables it’s also theft and weather-proof. LTE can also have similar benefits depending on a number of factors.

Large volumes of businesses and homeowners are changing from connectivity mediums such as ADSL and moving to more affordable LTE solutions or opting for the reliability of Fibre.

In May 2019, Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko was quoted as saying that Telkom recently developed a roadmap concerning the proactive migration of customers to newer infrastructure. Over the next 5 years, they plan on doing away with copper entirely. They also announced that their existing ADSL clients are being moved from the Copper ADSL service to a Fibre or a Wireless solution, at no additional cost.   Very exciting.  But is it as easy to do as it seems on the surface? And how will this affect you if you already have a VoIP solution? What will happen in the future if you would like to move to another voice provider?

Moving from ADSL to LTE

If you are planning to move from ADSL to LTE here are some important points to consider:

  • Ensure that your signal strength is good enough to handle both your voice and data requirements.
  • Congestion on the network and the total number of users that are active within the tower range can seriously impact internet speed.  This, in turn, can negatively impact your VoIP call quality.
  • Due to the reason above, it’s often not recommended to opt for an LTE solution in high-density areas.
  • Ensure that the package you chose is right for your needs.
  • Don’t sign into a long term contract. There are many LTE providers out there. It’s best to test the strength and speed before committing to one provider.
  • Ask your neighbours if they are using LTE. Also, ask them about their experience in terms of the service they have.
  • See if you can organise a trial modem to test out the speed and signal strength.
  • If the deal you are being offered seems too good to be true; it probably is. Be aware of fake LTE resellers as was highlighted in a recent Mybroadband article.
  • Most importantly, if your home or business line is linked to your ADSL line, ensure that you port the number to a VoIP provider. You might lose the number(s) when you cancel the ADSL service.

Moving from ADSL to Fibre

If you are planning to move from ADSL to Fibre, you need to be aware of the following:

  • First and foremost, does the area you live or work in have Fibre infrastructure already installed?
  • If the answer is yes; are there multiple Internet Service Providers you can choose from or are you restricted to the one that was responsible for laying the Fibre cable?
  • Speak to your neighbours or businesses within your area and find out if they are using Fibre and if so, ask them about their experience.
  • Remember when choosing a Fibre provider you don’t have to change your VoIP provider. It might seem more convenient in the short term. But it’s often a better idea to ensure that you have a specialist providing you with VoIP services and not just one that offers a VoIP add-on service with your new Fibre connection.
  • If you are an existing Telkom ADSL client and Telkom has approached you to upgrade to Fibre, be very careful as it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Telkom Fibre clients to cancel their Fibre services.  This came to light in a recent article that was published on the 11th of September 2019 in MyBroadband. Read the article here.
  • Switch Telecom enables clients to port their existing landline number(s) onto our network in order to take advantage of low-cost VoIP solutions. This is becoming increasingly difficult to do for clients that have Telkom Fibre services.  Telkom currently does not cater for easy “re-numbering” of your Fibre line. This means that odds are high that it might take weeks, if not months to port your number. Something simple has now become extremely complicated and frustrating.

Ask your VoIP Provider

In summary, we would recommend that you investigate the availability of internet services in your area before you agree to move or upgrade your existing service.

Switch Telecom has a range of qualified and experienced Resellers in most areas throughout South Africa.  Please let us know if you need to speak to a Reseller in your area about possible connectivity or network requirements. Contact us on 087 550 0000 or email support@switchtel.co.za.

September 25th, 2019|Latest News|

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

News and updates

Our VoIP Softphone is Now Available

Switch Telecom has launched its very own browser-based VoIP Softphone. It's compatible with most internet browsers and is ideal for desktop use. The solution is free of charge for all Switch Telecom Hosted Switchboard clients. The VoIP Softphone Features When using the Softphone a user can make and receive calls via the easy-to-use interface. They can put callers on hold and they can also do attended and unattended transfers. Users are also able to conference up to 3 calls. This [...]

August 30th, 2021|Categories: Latest News|

Is an Onsite FreePBX really Free?

When changing to a VoIP communication solution, companies often consider an onsite PBX. The FreePBX is one of the most popular onsite PBX solutions available. For some companies, the FreePBX seems to tick all the boxes. But are there downfalls? Despite all the bells and whistles, what challenges exist for such implementations? Most companies will adopt the use of the FreePBX because of its open-source license, which is free to obtain and use. There is much appeal as the FreePBX [...]

August 12th, 2021|Categories: Latest News|

Your VoIP Solution and the END of 2020

Your VoIP solution is going to save you a lot of money during the festive season. Using your VoIP solution to contact friends and family. Calling internationally can be cheaper than calling them on a local mobile number. (This obviously depends on the destination you’re calling). There are also numerous ways to stay connected to your clients without being tied to an office desk. This means you can relax and unwind with the knowledge that your customers can still get [...]

December 7th, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

Primary Rate ISDN Discontinuing; Reach for a VoIP Solution

With the news of the discontinuation of Telkom's Primary Rate ISDN services, a lot of businesses are having to consider alternative options to ensure the continuation of their telephony services. Let's face it, communication has become an essential lifeline of any business. Bigger businesses have previously used PRI or Primary Rate ISDN services linked to an onsite switchboard. Telkom will no longer offer or support this service as of the 31st December 2020. So now is the time to change. [...]

October 29th, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

4 Reasons to Switch to a Cloud Based Switchboard (PBX) 

This article was written by Strategic Online Marketing Services As a digital marketing agency, we receive multiple calls daily, which is one of the reasons we look to future proof our business telecoms with a cloud based PBX. Buying and maintaining a traditional switchboard or PBX service is an expensive exercise, and these costs can increase significantly when you include the wiring, equipment, proprietary phones and installation fees. With a cloud based PBX, all you need is a reliable internet [...]

September 4th, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

Lockdown and beyond – Unleash the power of your Switch Solution

It’s been 27 days since the government announced the lockdown of our country. The lockdown has had a massive impact on the way we communicate as individuals and, for those that can; the way we conduct business. As we all come to terms with the COVID-19 outbreak, we’d like to take this opportunity to share the steps that we have taken to ensure that we continue to offer the levels of service that you expect from Switch Telecom: Our primary [...]

April 22nd, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

Need a VoIP Partner? Reseller vs. Wholesaler

Do you need a VoIP partner because you are thinking of starting to offer VoIP services to your existing client base? Or are you tired of working with an unreliable VoIP partner? Becoming a VoIP Reseller or VoIP Wholesaler is an exciting step for any business. Changing your current partner might seem less exciting. Choosing the right company in both instances can be daunting. Anecdotal evidence suggests that more and more South Africans are marrying later in life.  Being far [...]

March 6th, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

Grandstream now stocked by Switch Telecom

Grandstream’s advanced line of IP phones, voice conferencing solutions, and analogue telephone adapters (ATAs) will now be available to purchase from Switch Telecom. Switch Telecom's clients and resellers will now have access to the latest technologically advanced IP Telephony powered by Grandstream. Take advantage of our special launch prices on a number of the Grandstream cordless and desktop phones. You can also choose from a range of Reception and Executive desktop phones for your business. Most importantly, all IP devices [...]

February 19th, 2020|Categories: Latest News|

Fibre and LTE Connectivity and your VoIP Solution

Technologies, such as VoIP, Fibre and LTE are changing the way South African's communicate.  In terms of fixed-line connectivity, Fibre is considered the latest and greatest. It uses Fibre optic cables which means it's very fast and much more stable. And because it doesn’t use traditional copper cables it's also theft and weather-proof. LTE can also have similar benefits depending on a number of factors. Large volumes of businesses and homeowners are changing from connectivity mediums such as ADSL and [...]

September 25th, 2019|Categories: Latest News|

Title

Go to Top