Why Bundling Your VoIP And Broadband Could Be The Better Choice

By Emma Lewis, bOnline

If you’re setting up a business phone system, you might wonder whether your VoIP service and broadband need to come from the same provider.

Technically, they don’t. You can have your broadband with one company and your VoIP phone system with another. But just because you can separate the two doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

For many businesses, especially smaller ones without a dedicated IT team, getting broadband and VoIP as a bundle can make life considerably easier. You have fewer suppliers to deal with, one place to go when something goes wrong and, in many cases, a simpler monthly bill.

There are still a few things to check before signing up, but for most businesses, keeping your broadband and business phone system together is a sensible option.

What is VoIP Broadband?

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, allows you to make phone calls using an internet connection instead of a traditional telephone line. That makes broadband an important part of your phone system, so if the internet connection is slow or unreliable, your calls can suffer too.

This is one reason a combined broadband and VoIP package can be appealing. Rather than having two separate companies providing two parts of the same setup, one provider takes care of both.

It means there’s less guesswork if you have a problem. If your calls suddenly start dropping out, for example, you don’t have to spend time working out whether your VoIP provider or broadband provider is responsible.

Why Bundle VoIP And Broadband Together?

The biggest benefit is that there’s less to manage. With a bundled package, you can usually deal with one provider for installation, billing and technical support. That can save time, particularly for small businesses where the person responsible for IT may also be responsible for a dozen other things.

A bundle can also make getting started easier. Your provider can configure the broadband connection and VoIP service to work together, rather than leaving you to coordinate two separate installations.

There may be a cost saving, too. Providers often package services together, meaning you could pay less overall than you would by buying broadband and VoIP separately.

The exact saving will depend on the provider and package, so it’s worth comparing the total cost rather than assuming a bundle is automatically cheaper.

One Provider Means One Point Of Contact

This is easy to overlook until something goes wrong.

Imagine your business phones stop working. You have broadband from one company and VoIP from another. Is the internet connection causing the problem? Is there an issue with the phone service? Has something gone wrong with your router? You may end up speaking to both providers before you find the answer.

With a bundled service, you have one company to contact. The provider can look at the broadband connection and phone service together, which can make troubleshooting much quicker.

For a business that depends on its phone system to speak to customers, suppliers or clients, that convenience is worth considering.

Bundling Can Make Your Business More Flexible

A good VoIP system can include features such as call forwarding, voicemail, AI receptionist, call groups and apps that allow employees to use their business number from a mobile or computer.

When these services are combined with business broadband, it can be easier to create a phone setup that works across the office and remote locations.

It can also make adding new team members simpler. Rather than arranging a new broadband service or dealing with several suppliers, you can often add users through the same VoIP system as your business grows.

Of course, what’s included varies between providers, so check exactly what you’re getting before signing a contract.

What Should You Look For In A VoIP And Broadband Bundle?

However tempting it is, don’t choose a package just because it’s the cheapest.

First, check the broadband itself. Is it fast and reliable enough for the number of people using it? If your team regularly uses video calls, cloud software and other bandwidth-heavy services alongside VoIP, you’ll want enough capacity to handle everything.

Then look at the phone system. Does it have the features your business needs? Can you keep your existing phone number? Is there a mobile app? Can you add users easily?

Support matters, too. Find out when technical support is available and whether there are additional charges for getting help.

It’s also worth checking the small print around contract length, setup costs, equipment and price changes.

What If The Broadband Goes Down?

This is one area where businesses should think ahead. Because VoIP relies on your internet connection, a broadband outage can potentially take your phone system offline as well.

A good provider should be able to explain what happens in this situation and what backup options are available. Depending on your business, that could include mobile connectivity, call forwarding or another form of backup connection.

If your phones are critical to your day-to-day operations, don’t be afraid to ask about resilience before you sign up.

Is A VoIP And Broadband Bundle Worth It?

For most small and medium-sized businesses, there’s a strong case for keeping VoIP and broadband with the same provider. You get a simpler setup, one bill and one support contact, while avoiding the hassle of trying to diagnose problems between two separate companies. You may also be able to reduce your overall costs by taking the services together.

You can, of course, choose separate providers. In some cases, that may give you access to a better broadband connection or a more suitable phone system. But if the services are going to work together anyway, there’s something to be said for letting one provider manage both.

The key is to look beyond the bundle itself. Check the broadband performance, VoIP features, support, contract and backup options before committing.

If those boxes are ticked, combining your business broadband and VoIP into one package can be a straightforward way to keep your communications running without giving yourself another supplier to manage.