Ditching Your Landline? Here’s How You Can Set Up VoIP At Home

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been slowly adopted by businesses for years, transforming the way they communicate. More recently, it’s been making serious inroads into UK homes. The reason for that is that it was largely seen as a business tool. Something that needed to be installed and monitored by an IT team.

That’s not the case anymore and modern VoIP is built with regular people in mind. The setup process is remarkably painless, in fact.

There’s also a more pressing reason causing residents to relook at their existing phone systems. From January 2027, the UK’s traditional landline network – the copper wire system – will be permanently switched off. What most people don’t realise is that it affects residents just as much as it does businesses.

Taking the time to understand VoIP and how it works now can put you in a better position for the imminent change instead of scrambling last minute when the time comes.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP technology allows you to make voice and video calls over the Internet rather than a traditional phone line. Your voice no longer travels through the copper wires but instead gets converted into digital packets of data that travel over an Internet connection.

Typically, VoIP plans are almost always cheaper than the traditional route. This is particularly true for long-distance and international calls, which is why so many businesses with global teams have adopted it.

Aside from the price appeal, most VoIP systems come with features from call forwarding to virtual receptionists and virtual numbers that would cost a fortune on standard plans.

The main drawcard is that since it runs on your existing broadband, you’re not paying for a separate phone line at all. For residents and businesses alike, it’s a huge plus.

Does The 2027 Switch-Off Really Affect You At Home?

It sounds like one of those things that only applies to businesses, but that’s not the case. The reality is that most UK households still use a traditional copper line.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the network that’s being shut off – and it happens to be the backbone for every analogue home phone line in the country. The reason for the switch-off is that the infrastructure has become too old and costly to maintain, since some of it has been around since the 19th century.

So what does that all mean, practically? After 31 January, your traditional landline will stop working. Landlines aren’t disappearing entirely, they’re just becoming digital and will essentially run using VoIP.

What Do You Need To Get Started With VoIP?

Most providers will reach out to customers regarding the migration and handle the upgrade themselves. But you don’t need to accept whatever your provider offers without question, it’s worth doing your own research into VoIP.

If you choose your own setup, you can find one with the features and pricing that suits you best.

A Reliable Internet Connection

This is non-negotiable since VoIP relies on the Internet to work. While they don’t need an enormous amount of bandwidth, they do need a connection that’s stable. If you have a busy household, a wired ethernet is always an option to consider because they offer consistent call quality.

A VoIP-enabled Device

Here, there are a couple of options to choose from. A dedicated IP phone is one, which looks like a normal desk phone, but connects via an ethernet or Wi-Fi. You could also opt for a standard analogue paired with an Analogue Telephone Adapter or a softphone app installed on your smartphone or laptop.

The softphone app is the route most people go for because it doesn’t cost anything extra, it’s just an app that gets downloaded.

A VoIP Service Provider

This will be the company in charge of routing your calls. There are plenty of reliable options on the market that boast different features in different price ranges. For this step, it just takes a bit of research on your part to find the one that suits your household’s needs.

A Step-by-Step Guide To Setting Up VoIP At Home

Once you’ve decided on an approach and a provider, you can get to the set up bit. Here’s how you can get connected as quickly and seamlessly as possible:

Choose a plan: Most VoIP providers will offer a free trial so you can check the quality of calls before you start paying for them. The provider will give you SIP credentials which include your username, password and server address so keep those handy.

Connect the hardware: Plug your phone or adapter into your router using an ethernet cable. If you’ve gone the software route, simply download the app onto your desired device.

Enter the SIP credentials: You’ll find a settings menu (normally through a web browser on the same network) and enter the details given by your provider. If you’re using a softphone app, there should be an option to add an account.

Test the line: Make a few calls to check the audio quality. If there’s any delay or distortions, let your provider know.

What You Should Know Before You Switch

VoIP is an excellent piece of technology but there are some things to be aware of. Unlike traditional phones, VoIP doesn’t know your location which can make emergency calling tricky. Most providers will let you register a physical address in the event of an emergency situation, so it’s crucial to do this as soon as possible.

The next thing is power. If your router goes down, so does the VoIP line. What you can do is use your mobile as a backup or invest in a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) for your router.

Lastly, the quality of your calls depends on your network. Try to avoid things like gaming or streaming when you need to make calls, otherwise you may experience some jitter.

On the whole, VoIP could very well be the future of communication – in both homes and businesses. The landline had a good run, but your Internet connection is more than capable of taking over.