VoIP & nbn® for Businesses

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows businesses to make and receive phone calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines. It offers a flexible and cost-effective way to stay connected while supporting the communication needs of modern workplaces.

Common examples of VoIP solutions include Microsoft Teams Calling, hosted PBX and cloud phone systems. Many of these services use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to establish and manage voice calls over IP networks. 

If you're new to VoIP, read Yomojo's simple guide to VoIP on the nbn® to learn how it works and why it's becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australian businesses.

Once you understand what VoIP is, it's helpful to know how it works over your business internet connection. 

VoIP converts your voice into digital data packets and sends them over your business nbn® connection instead of a traditional phone line. These packets are transmitted and reassembled almost instantly, allowing conversations to take place in real time. 

Because voice traffic is highly sensitive to delays, a stable internet connection is essential. Internet-based calling relies on consistent packet delivery, low latency and minimal interruptions to maintain clear and reliable conversations. If your connection experiences latency, jitter or packet loss, you may notice choppy audio, delays or even dropped calls. 

Many businesses assume that faster internet automatically means better VoIP performance. In reality, connection quality plays a much bigger role.

Voice calls happen in real time, so your network needs to deliver data consistently and without delays. Even a high-speed connection can produce poor call quality if network performance is unstable.

The good news is that VoIP uses relatively little bandwidth compared with activities such as video streaming or downloading large files.

A typical VoIP call requires around 100 kbps of bandwidth in both upload and download directions, including network overhead. However, your business internet connection also needs to support everything else your team does online, from video conferencing and cloud applications to file sharing and web browsing.

When choosing an internet plan, consider your overall business usage rather than VoIP alone. If you're unsure which speed tier best suits your business, read our nbn® Speed Tiers Guide to compare available plans.

It's also worth understanding what affects the cost of your internet service. Our nbn® Pricing Explained Guide explains the factors that influence business nbn® pricing, helping you choose a plan that balances performance and budget.

Download speed often gets the most attention when choosing an internet plan, but upload speed is just as important for VoIP.

Every phone call sends your voice over the internet. If your upload connection is slow or inconsistent, it can result in delays, poor audio quality or calls dropping unexpectedly.

Upload speed becomes even more important if your business regularly uses video conferencing, cloud software or online collaboration tools. These applications all rely on upload bandwidth, so a reliable connection helps everything run smoothly, even during busy periods.

Choosing a business nbn® plan with dependable upload performance will help support clear voice calls, high-quality video meetings and day-to-day business operations without compromising call quality.

Even with a suitable internet plan, several network issues can affect the quality of your VoIP calls.

Common causes include:

• Network congestion

• Weak Wi-Fi signals

• High latency

• Packet loss

• Outdated networking equipment

• Multiple devices sharing the same internet connection

If your business regularly experiences slow internet or network congestion, the result can be poor call quality, interrupted conversations and reduced productivity.

To learn more about how slow internet affects business operations, read our guide on The Business Impact of Slow Internet & Downtime.

A reliable internet connection is the foundation of any successful VoIP deployment. For businesses that depend on phone calls and cloud communications every day, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) provides an added level of confidence. 

Business-grade internet services often include SLAs that offer uptime guarantees, priority technical support and faster fault restoration. These commitments help minimise downtime and keep your business connected when unexpected issues occur. 

If your internet connection goes down, it can affect phone calls, video meetings and day-to-day operations. An SLA supports business continuity by ensuring faults are addressed within agreed response and restoration timeframes, helping your team get back online as quickly as possible. 

To learn more about how SLAs protect your business, read our Service Level Agreement (SLA) Guide.

Beyond connection quality, some businesses benefit from network configurations that make VoIP services easier to manage.

Many business VoIP deployments use:

• SIP trunking

• Hosted PBX platforms

• Remote phone provisioning

• VPN-based communications

In these environments, a static IP address can simplify:

• Firewall configuration

• Remote access

• SIP registration

• Network troubleshooting

Learn more in Yomojo's Static vs Dynamic IP Guide.

Reliable performance is only part of the picture. Because VoIP operates over the internet, it should also form part of your wider business cybersecurity strategy.

Common risks include:

• Phishing attacks

• VoIP spoofing

• Weak passwords

• Unsecured remote access

• Outdated router firmware

Good security practices include:

• Strong authentication

• Regular firmware updates

• Network monitoring

• Separate guest Wi-Fi networks

• Business-grade firewall protection

Yomojo’s cybersecurity basics for small businesses is a useful starting point.

Alongside cost savings and flexibility, one of VoIP's biggest advantages is its ability to support remote and hybrid work.

Employees can stay connected using:

• Desk phones

• Mobile apps

• Laptop softphones

• Web-based calling platforms

This allows staff to keep the same business number whether they're working from the office, at home or while travelling.

Even with a fast internet connection, a few simple network improvements can make a noticeable difference to VoIP performance. 

To get the best results from your business VoIP setup: 

Use Ethernet where possible 

Wired connections are generally more stable than Wi-Fi for phones and video conferencing devices. 

Enable QoS 

Configure your router to prioritise voice traffic over less time-sensitive network activity. 

Keep firmware updated 

Regular firmware updates often improve both network stability and security. 

Choose business-grade internet 

Business internet services are typically designed to deliver higher reliability, stronger performance and faster support response times. 

Use a quality modem/router 

See Yomojo's recommended modem options and modem setup guide to ensure your equipment is suitable for business VoIP.

VoIP has become a practical, flexible and scalable communication solution for Australian businesses. While internet speed is important, the overall quality and reliability of your connection will have the greatest impact on call performance.

For the best VoIP experience over nbn®, focus on:

• Low latency

• Minimal jitter

• Low packet loss

• Reliable upload performance

• Quality of Service (QoS)

• Business-grade internet with dependable uptime and support

About this article

Written by
Yomojo Editorial Team

Reviewed by
James Linton, CEO, Yomojo

Published by
Yomojo

Editorial Standards
This article was created by the Yomojo Editorial Team and reviewed by subject matter experts to help ensure it is accurate, up to date and aligned with current Yomojo products and Australian telecommunications information.