Sales Director
Discover the future of VoIP communication with 5G technology. Find out about extended coverage, increased bandwidth and elevated customer service.
With a significant rise in global VoIP usage expected by 2027, businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on digital communication. This flexible, efficient service will likely be reinforced, as 5G cellular connectivity is rolled out across the UK. With this new standard, businesses will enjoy improvements across their telephony systems, from better call quality to increased network coverage.
In this article, we’ll look at what 5G offers to businesses embracing VoIP communication.
If you want to understand what VoIP is and how it works, our article What is VoIP? offers more detail.
5G is the fifth generation of global mobile network standards, designed as an upgrade to the previous 3G and 4G networks. When it’s rolled out nationwide, 5G will offer VoIP users a powerful and reliable service, enhancing many of VoIPs already dynamic capabilities.
For businesses with high call volumes, a lack of bandwidth can impact customer service resulting in frequent call dropouts. With 5G, you’ll have access to higher bandwidth, so your VoIP service will be able to transmit more data. This means heavier-duty functions like video calls, which often monopolise bandwidth, will be free from buffering and other technical issues.
The reduced delay between signal transmissions also means you’ll experience far less latency compared to 3G and 4G. Real-time communication - like training or meetings - will be smoother as a result, boosting productivity and allowing frustration-free collaboration.
Limited bandwidth also causes call quality to drop, impacting the service staff can deliver, especially those working remotely or from mobiles. 42% of customers say they’re not likely to call again if audio quality is poor, so understanding your system’s capability is essential.
5G’s superior bandwidth lets you make high-quality voice calls, allowing consistent, clear dialogue between colleagues and customers. Its durable build offers resilience for businesses, even in critical situations like network congestions or outages.
This offers peace of mind that your communication channels - whether telephony, email or social media - will still be available to customers should the worst happen.
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Compared to previous cellular generations, 5G’s coverage extends much further, reaching more remote and rural areas than before. For businesses, this allows more scope for expanding to locations that were previously not covered.
There’s also impressive mobility support, giving your workforce uninterrupted VoIP access whether in the office, on the road, or at client sites. It also allows staff to work or take calls on their smartphones or tablets without worrying about their signal or call quality dropping.
If you have, or are planning on expanding your business premises, 5G’s improved coverage allows seamless VoIP communication. Employees can then participate in video conferences, share documents, and communicate in real time regardless of distance.
Your VoIP service isn’t just a phone operation. Systems like T2K’s Gamma Horizon come with helpful features - from call automation to instant messaging capabilities - adding efficiency to your telephony operation and customer experience. 5G’s speed and reliability allow businesses to amplify these features, while offering the option to introduce new and exciting technologies.
Addressing the common complaint of latency in voice and video calls, 5G complements your VoIP services with clearer, more immersive connections. This lets employees connect with customers and colleagues, improving comprehension and reducing misunderstandings during calls.
It may seem advanced, but companies are already making use of AR and VR for training purposes. Coupled with 5G’s speed and low latency, you can integrate these technologies into your VoIP systems to aid you in a host of different scenarios.
Though AR and VR are great for creating realistic virtual environments for meetings, it’s their use in training where they excel. Backed by 5G, these technologies can be used to create immersive training programs, allowing participants a more hands-on and present experience. This can boost engagement and help trainees grasp complex ideas without having to leave their homes.
Though 5G offers plenty of benefits for VoIP users, new technologies can sometimes present hurdles for businesses. Here are some areas to consider if you’re looking to use 5G alongside your current VoIP system.
Upgrading to 5G has the potential to be costly, although this varies between businesses. Costs often rise due to compatibility (which we’ll discuss later), and the time needed when upgrading existing equipment for 5G. Service charges may also add to the cost.
If you’re looking to trial 5G, there are short-term options which may help reduce lofty bills. These include phased deployment; rolling 5G out to a section of your business to assess the benefits before implementing it throughout.
Larger businesses may be able to negotiate contracts with providers, helping to manage costs while still benefiting their business. Assessing your options, while understanding the priorities of your business can help you to understand if 5G is suited to your needs.
On the flip side, smaller businesses that don’t operate from a physical office will find 5G fairly cost-efficient, with less clunky hardware and installation fees to factor into the price.
A technology used to connect a large number of people is ripe for security concerns. While there have been some initial worries, 5G’s ever-growing security protocols like tighter encryption and faster threat detection are formidable.
Maintaining robust protocols, like firewalls and regular security audits can help too. This ensures that the data transmitted from your VoIP system is secure. It’s also worth considering who you partner with and whether they are a trusted vendor or not.
Finally, keeping up with the latest threats and best practices is a must. Doing so will help you understand when you need to update or reinforce your system for maximum protection.
For those looking to use 5G before it’s rolled out nationwide in 2028, it’s worth checking the coverage currently available in your area. This is especially important if you’re expanding your business and want to make use of 5G with your VoIP setup.
It’s also beneficial to have backup solutions, such as dual networks or fallback options. Having something like this in place will ensure you’re able to make high-quality calls during network outages or even in areas with poor 5G coverage.
Introducing new technology to an existing system isn’t always simple. 5G is at the forefront of cellular connectivity, meaning that if you’re using legacy systems or your VoIP service is outdated, there may be compatibility issues.
To avoid this, you should review your current systems and preferred platforms to ensure they’ll work alongside 5G. Working closely with service providers can allow you to resolve or address issues too, sometimes even resulting in bespoke solutions to bridge the compatibility gap.
Pairing 5G with your VoIP phone system has the potential to breathe new life into your internal and external communications. With faster connection speed and fewer dropouts, your workforce will be able to provide smoother customer service, while collaborating with colleagues from anywhere with a broadband connection.
It’s still important to consider challenges like cost-effectiveness and compatibility. However, most issues can be resolved with a proactive approach and an understanding of key requirements.
While VoIP is becoming a popular and largely improved alternative to legacy systems, 5G is set to fuel and supplement its already fantastic offering with speed, efficiency and stability.
If you’d like to know more about VoIP services, or how 5G can elevate your existing system, contact T2K today.
Having worked for T2k for nearly 25 years, it's fair to say that Lee is an expert when it comes to all things telephony and business communications. Overseeing the commercial side of the business, he has helped the company evolve and grow through the decades. In recent years, and with the advent of VoIP and hosted telephony, Lee has made sure that T2k is at the forefront of technological developments. With a firm interest in helping businesses navigate the world of telecoms, Lee is responsible for the majority of the content on this website.
