ISDN Birmingham

At Midland Networks, we have been a trusted installer of business telephone lines in Birmingham for many years. If your business is based locally to us then you might be interested in our ISDN Birmingham service. It’s always good to have a local communications partner that is never too far away when you need them.

What are ISDN lines?

ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. They are the digital version of business telephone lines and they transmit voice and data via copper telephone wires. Because ISDN lines are a digital connection, each line is referred to as a channel as opposed to a line. They are installed in pairs of channels, which are referred to as a circuit. Each pair, or circuit, is the equivalent of having two separate telephone lines. As such, you will only need one circuit to support two simultaneous calls, two circuits to support four simultaneous calls and so on. Each channel offers a symmetric bandwidth of 64Kbps upload and download speed. If you require higher speeds then you can combine the channels.  ISDN lines come in two options: ISDN2 and ISDN30. The lines that you need will depend on the size of your business.

ISDN for small businesses

If you run a small business with up to eight employees then ISDN2 lines are a suitable option. With ISDN2 lines, you can make multiple simultaneous phone calls, voice or data, over the same PSTN line. However, there is a maximum system limit of 8 simultaneous calls so if you have a need for more than this then ISDN30 lines will be a more suitable option.

With ISDN2 lines, you can benefit from all of the basic features you would expect from you business telephone lines, as well as some more advanced features such as call barring, call forwarding and unlimited individual DDI numbers for your staff.

ISDN for medium to large businesses

If you run a medium to large business, or have a need for more than eight simultaneous calls, ISDN30 lines are a more suitable option. Both ISDN2 and ISDN30 lines offer exactly the same features and functionalities, except ISDN30 lines support a greater number of users.

Due to distance limitations, ISDN30 lines occasionally have to be installed using fibre optic cables. The use of fibre optic cabling will makes ISDN30 lines considerably more expensive, so it is something worth bearing in mind. This will mostly affect businesses located in rural areas, but the vast majority of Birmingham businesses are able to benefit from standard ISDN30 lines.

How many telephone numbers do ISDN lines support?

There is a number limitation of five slots with ISDN lines. You can use a slot for either a single telephone number or a range of numbers. So, for example, you can use one slot for your customer service number and this would leave four slots free. You may then require individual DDI numbers for your staff and this would be classed as a range of numbers, which would take up another slot. This would leave three remaining slots, which you may or may not need for additional telephone numbers. If your business has a need for more than five telephone numbers then ISDN lines may not be the best option.

Why choose ISDN lines?

ISDN lines are a great alternative to standard analogue telephone lines, as these don’t allow you to do much besides holding a conversation. ISDN lines support data as well as voice and offer more advanced features than analogue lines. Many businesses these days are switching to IP telephony, which allows calls to be made over the internet. However, ISDN lines are a great option for businesses that are not yet ready to move to IP telephony.

If you would like more information about ISDN Birmingham, contact Midland Networks on 0800 849 8585.