Business Telephone Lines

In this article, we detail the different types of business telephone lines, consider how they work and the types of businesses they are suitable for.

PSTN/Analogue telephone lines

PSTN lines are standard analogue telephone lines, and are the most basic option available. Mostly, they are only used by small businesses with minimal requirements from their telephone lines. This is because these lines allow you to do very little, other than having a conversation. With PSTN lines, there are a few basic features available, including three-way calling, caller display, call diversion, call waiting and several more.

Additional lines can be added if there is a need for more than one conversation at a time. These are also known as auxiliary lines and are connected via a switchboard or PBX (Private Branch Exchange).

PSTN multilines allow for multiple lines on the same site to have the same telephone number, so that incoming calls can be routed to any available line within the group.

ISDN2

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) circuits are digital exchange lines that allow transmission of voice and data via copper telephone wires. ISDN2, or ISDN2e, lines are ideal for businesses with between 2 and 8 users. ISDN2 allows businesses to make multiple simultaneous calls over the same PSTN line. These can either be voice or data calls up to a maximum system limit of 8.

ISDN2 is a digital connection and, therefore, each line is referred to as a channel rather than a line. ISDN2 lines are installed in pairs of channels which are sometimes called a circuit; each pair is the equivalent of having two separate lines. This means that for 2 simultaneous calls, you will need one line, for 4 simultaneous calls you will need 2 lines and so on. Each channel will provide a symmetrical bandwidth of 64Kbps (i.e. the same upload and download speed) and the channels can be combined for higher speeds.

ISDN2 lines provide all of the basic features as well as some advanced features including call forwarding, call barring, individual DDI numbers and more.

ISDN30

ISDN30 lines offer the same features and functionalities as ISDN2 but for larger businesses. They are ideal for businesses that need more than 8 simultaneous voice connections. There are some distance limitations with ISDN30 so, occasionally, it has to be installed over fibre optic cable. This is worth considering, particularly for businesses in rural areas, as the use of fibre optic cable will make ISDN30 lines more expensive.

ISDN lines have a number limitation of 5 slots. Each slot can be used for either a single number or a range of numbers. For example, a business may have a single number for their customers to dial and this would take up one slot. Then they may have a range of DDI numbers for their staff, and this would also take up one slot. There would then be 3 slots remaining. Businesses should, therefore, consider how many numbers they need before opting for ISDN lines.

SIP/VoIP

VoIP lines, or SIP trunks as they are sometimes called, are telephone and data streaming services delivered over an internet connection. They are not, therefore, a telephone line in the traditional sense. However, VoIP is becoming an increasingly popular option for business telephone systems. SIP lines are suitable for all businesses, whether they require a single line and number or hundreds.

VoIP converts voice into a digital signal that travels over the internet. Telephone calls can be made from a computer, a VoIP phone or a traditional phone connected to an adapter.

VoIP can be a cost-effective option for business telephone lines, because it offers advanced features at a fraction of the cost of traditional lines. It can also be cheaper on installation and set-up costs as it does not require the labour-intensive structural work. VoIP can, also, prove to be much cheaper on international and long-distance calls which are often included at no additional cost.

If your business requires business telephone lines in Birmingham, West Midlands or UK-Wide, contact Midland telecom Networks Ltd today and we can discuss your requirements to find the perfect solution for your business.