Nothing is more frustrating than having calls that drop, sound robotic or have awkward silences especially when trying to communicate with clients. When this does happen, it’s completely normal to ask yourself if your current Internet is fast enough to support your calls.
And in an age where we are increasingly using tools like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for calling, our bandwidth needs to be sufficient. In fact, your Internet connection will be the factor that can make or break your digital calling experience.
What Are Digital Phone Calls?
A digital phone call, also known as a VoIP call, uses the Internet to take place. By using an Internet connection, it eliminates the need for traditional phone lines.
It works by breaking down your voice signals into small packets of data and sent over the Internet. On the other end, the signals are reassembled and the person you are speaking to can hear you clearly.
You may use VoIP tools without even realising it like on platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Whatsapp or Google Meet. And because it’s more flexible and affordable than using landlines, it has quickly become a preferred tool for communication.
Do You Need Ultra-Fast Internet To Support VoIP Calls?
Surprisingly, digital calls don’t actually require super-fast Internet speeds and even just a basic broadband connection can be enough.
Usually, one VoIP call only needs around 100 kbps for upload and download speeds. You need more than that just to stream a video on YouTube, so in reality, it isn’t really a lot.
However, if you’re using digital calls for work or just want very reliable ones, you’re going to want more than just the bare minimum.
Upload Or Download Speed: Which One Matters More?
Most people tend to focus on download speeds because that will affect things like browsing on the Internet, streaming and downloading files. But when it comes to VoIP calls, upload speeds are just as crucial.
The reason for this is because when you’re on a call, you’re also speaking, not just listening. This means that your voice needs to travel between devices and if your upload speed is struggling, the receiver could hear a delayed or distorted message.
As a general rule of thumb, your upload speed should be at least 1 Mbps or more if you use video calling or make multiple calls.
What Else Can Affect Call Quality?
Your Internet could be fast, but your calls are still sounding awful. Why? There are a few other factors that can affect the quality of your calls. The main culprits are usually latency, jitter and packet loss.
Latency is the time that it takes for your voice to reach the receiver and should ideally be under 100 ms.
On the other hand, jitter refers to the variation in delay. If it starts to fluctuate too much, your voice ends up sounding very robotic. To avoid this, it should be under 30 ms.
And lastly, packet loss happens when your voice data doesn’t make it to the receiver’s end. In fact, even just 1% of packet loss can cause your call to drop entirely.
Now your Internet speed won’t tell you any information about these factors, so it’s always worth asking your IT provider to keep an eye on your connection.
How To Improve Your VoIP Call Quality
Aside from Internet speed, there are a few things that you can do if your VoIP calls are not up to scratch.
Use an Ethernet: Wired connections are quicker and more reliable than Wi-Fi networks.
Use Quality of Service settings: This can be done on your router to prioritise VoIP calls over other Internet traffic that is less important.
Prepare for calls: If you know you have a VoIP call coming up, pause any downloads of large files or streaming until the call is finished. You can also close any apps running in the background that aren’t necessary.
Consider switching providers: If your connection is consistently an issue, it may be time to relook at your service provider and see if another one can offer you better service.
Does Speed Really Matter For Digital Calls?
The bottom line is that while VoIP calls don’t necessarily need super-fast Internet, they do need one that is both reliable and stable. Generally, most calls only use a fraction of your bandwidth but things like latency, jitter and upload speed all have a role to play in your call quality.
If you only make the occasional call now and then, a standard broadband connection should do the trick. But if you require frequent calls, it’s definitely worth investing in a strong connection.
