With nbn’s fibre cable network having all but replaced Australia’s old copper landline system, the move to set up an nbn-based home phone line has many Aussies asking – How? Enter: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – the new way to make landline calls using your nbn internet connection. But how do you get a VoIP landline service? Is it mandatory? How much does a VoIP service cost? And does VoIP only work with special VoIP phones? Here we break it all down for you. 

How do I get a VoIP phone service as part of my nbn internet plan? 

Rest assured, getting a VoIP service is far from difficult. It’s just a matter of finding a phone and internet provider who bundles VoIP with an nbn internet plan. Not all internet providers do this, however, but many including MATE offer a range of ‘internet + home phone’ packages that won’t break the bank.

Types of VoIP

There are a couple of VoIP service types that may be available to you depending on what type of nbn technology you have at your property. The most common type, open to all fixed-line nbn technologies (FTTC, FTTP, FTTN, FTTB and HFC), is UNI-D VoIP. 

However, UNI-V (aka Fibre Phone), is only available to FTTP. UNI-V is generally considered to be a superior VoIP connection type because it allocates dedicated bandwidth for voice traffic and internet traffic, separately. Unlike UNI-D where phone calls might compete with internet traffic for a share of the available bandwidth. 

Is it mandatory that I get a VoIP service?

While it’s not a requirement that you upgrade to a VoIP connection, it will mean that you will be without a home phone line. However, a 4G or 5G mobile phone plan is a good alternative if you’re still wanting to make local, national and international calls.

How much does a VoIP phone service cost?

Depending on which internet service provider you sign up with, you should be able to choose between pay-as-you-go VoIP or an unlimited VoIP calls package. While the PAYG option can cost anywhere between 15c-45c a call/per minute depending on whether it’s a local, national, mobile or international call, an unlimited call pack will often only cost you around $9 per month extra. 

Can I use a regular landline phone handset for my VoIP service?

Yes! It is possible to still use an old-school landline handset for VoIP calls, however, you will need to use an analogue telephone adapter (ATA). But if you’re after a seamless VoIP experience, it’s best to get your hands on an IP phone (also known as a SIP phone) specifically designed for a VoIP phone line.

Add VoIP to your nbn internet service with MATE!

Looking to get a VoIP home phone service? MATE has got you covered!

For only $9 extra per month, you can bundle a VoIP home phone service with a MATE nbn internet plan. You can even retain your existing phone number, provided it’s currently active with another provider. Otherwise, we can supply you with a new one. 

All MATE nbn internet + home phone bundles come with: 

• Unlimited data
• Unlimited calls to local, national and mobile numbers
• No contracts
• No plan change fees
• 1-month risk free guarantee
• Award-winning Aussie Support

All that’s left is to decide which nbn speed tier is right for you! Make the switch today!