Just wondering if it is possible to use different providers for internet and phone once converted to nbn? (say Telstra for nbn internet and mynetfone for VoIP) I have HFC connection - does anyone know if it's related to the technology (i.e. HFC vs FTTP vs FTTN).
NBN: Internet and VoIP - Can I Use Different Providers
oztite on 14/07/2017 - 23:49
Last edited 18/07/2017 - 13:36 by 1 other user
Last edited 18/07/2017 - 13:36 by 1 other user
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Sorry I am new to nbn, but if I want to use a normal phone, and plug it into my VoIP enabled router, does that mean the router would have two configurations, one for the internet (say with Telstra) and one for the phone (say with someone other than Telstra)?
Yes 2 different configs - one for internet, one for VoIP, but from my understanding with ISPs like Telstra, they tend to provide a locked down router that won't give you access to the separate VoIP settings and also the firewall (if you want to add some more devices like below). They would normally auto provision the VoIP part for you so its just a easy setup.
There's a few options you can do:
Not sure if they would work since the locked router by Telstra but you can buy a separate VoIP Router like the Cisco SPA 122 ATA. This would plug into the back of your normal router via Ethernet and your analogue phones plug into this Cisco device instead of the Telstra router. You can then modify VoIP settings for which ever provider on the Cisco device. Do note you do need access to the firewall settings on the Telstra device for this to work. These can be difficult to setup and it ends up messy as there's a lot of devices involved.
buy a new separate VoIP phones from Cisco or Gigaset and plug these into the telstra router via ethernet. Configure the VoIP settings on each IP phone instead. I have the Gigaset IP phones with base station and they work great. Gigaset IP phones basically mimic the analogue cordless phones with a base station. Also may require modifying firewall settings.
Buy a whole new nbn router with VoIP that is like the Telstra one and go from there.
I don't want to make this complicated/confusing for you but I feel like I have.
Hi, no you are being very helpful. Thank you with the suggestions. Can I just ask, what if I simply use a new 3rd party VoIP enable router? My understanding is that Telstra will only lock VoIP configuration, but internet should still work with a 3rd party router. If it's VoIP enabled, could I then just use the one router to connect to Telstra and a different VoIP provider? Or can Telstra still put a firewall to block it?
Can I just ask, what if I simply use a new 3rd party VoIP enable router?
That should be fine. The only reason why Telstra provides you with their all in one router is because its easier to setup (mostly auto provisioned) and phone support can troubleshoot it easier since its only 1 hardware that they only have to know rather than hundreds of routers. Its just locked down for easier troubleshooting and less errors on the customer end.
I'm not on HFC, but FTTP and I use my own router and a separate VoIP IP Phone (gigaset) - all under iiNet account. But I have tried MyNetFone for a month and configured that on my VoIP phone while also having the iiNet configured at the same time (you can have multiple VoIP accounts). Worked with no issues.
we use exetel. they provided a nbn modem is linked with a voip phone plugin. you can plug any type of phone in and work base on modem need to be on forever and long home wiring require.
sometime phone line can have weird noise but very rare. average experience but very good budget and do the job
Hi, may I ask which company you go with your internet then? Or are you with exetel for your nbn too? If they are different providers, do you then have two routers?
we have the bundle deal which still exist now with exetel come with voip include the modem router. one router is enough to do nbn internet and voip phone function.
why do you need separate plans if one company can do your job?
Just because Telstra seems to be more "reliable" with their internet speed I guess… but then I don't want to use their low end router therefore needing a VoIP provider that's willing to support my 3rd party router…
The other thing I don't get is if you can go with whoever you like as VoIP provider, why would anyone stay with Telstra for an "internet and phone bundle"? Even if you really want that (supposedly) superior nbn internet connection, you at least switch to a much cheaper VoIP provider while maintaining a good internet service with a more expensive provider (e.g. Telstra).
Telstra by far is superior when it comes to cvc capacity and contention ratios
so Yes, they are the best on FTTP and a lot of providers use the same Telstra BackhaulThat's what I have been told too… and why I am trying so hard to figure out how to use my own router while sticking with Telstra and still maintain a VoIP function. Unfortunately their rules are strict when it comes to SIP config, and sales team/ junior tech support team are quite hopeless…
You can use whatever VoIP provider you want to use, you will just have to configure the correct provider setting. Some internet providers may give you a router with locked down settings, you will need to use your own router in that case.
The benefit of using the VoIP of your internet provider is that they can prioritize VoIP packets to their server so that quality of call can remain unaffected during peak hours. Otherwise if they are experiencing overall service degradation during peak hours (you can expect this with all unlimited providers), the quality of your phone call can also be degraded. They don't have to apply this optimization but the chances are that they do.
QOS is your friend
12/1 service would be more than enough for VOIP Imho
I run a whole office (50+ handsets) off a 20/20 Ethernet Over Copper dedicated VOIP link with QOS enabledHmm, never heard of QOS. Is that something that comes with specific routers? I shall look into it. Thanks for the advice!
You are correct that QoS will help with prioritization of traffic, but this will only help within your own network. Once the traffic leaves your termination device, it is out of your hands. This is where the service provider has the capability to schedule transmission of packets destined to their VoIP servers ahead of other traffic. They can also optimize the route to their VoIP server so you get lower latency. Expecting such optimizations when traversing across providers is too optimistic considering the number of service providers that exist.
Good point… although I assume if the internet speed is satisfactory, even if the route to the VoIP is not optimised by the ISP the VoIP should still work fine hopefully?
It depends on your a)your router and b) your ISP.
For example I was with Telstra but I had my own router which I wanted to keep as it was better than the supplied one. They WOULD not give me the sip settings to setup my VOIP phone…so I went with a different ISP. A lot of ISP's will supply a router with their VOIP settings already configured so you can just plug in your normal phone. You may or may not be able to access those settings in order to change VOIP providers. Best to call your ISP and have a chat to tech support.
This is EXACTLY the problem I am facing. Telstra has re-assured me that under no circumstance would they ever give out the SIP configuration for my own router. My question for you is how come you didn't stay with Telstra for internet, and simply change to a different VoIP provider that is WILLING to give out SIP config (basically everyone else apart from Telstra and OPTUS)? Or, and this is what I am worried about before signing onto a 24 months plan, would Telstra block you from using a separate VoIP provider even if you use your own VoIP enabled BYO router?
Heh, good question. At the time I honestly didn't think about it as VOIP was a new thing for me and so there were things I didn't know. :)
Although IIRC swapping to a different ISP saved me a LOT of money per month so that was a factor as well. So IF you have an IP phone already then you could stay with Telstra and use another voip provider but if only have a regular phone I don't think you could use it with a Telstra router and a different VOIP provider. Maybe you could if you have your own router? Someone else might have to answer that one though.
"would Telstra block you from using a separate VoIP provider even if you use your own VoIP enabled BYO router/"
Can't answer that one either. :)
We use MYNETPHONE https://www.mynetfone.com.au/ for VOIP. We did have Telstra and no they cannot and will not block VOIP. That would be like blocking OZ Bargains as the telephony is very similar coming across the internet. We had ADSL with Voip for years and a few different ADSL carriers.
Initially we had a billion voip modem till we had internet issues (probably our network not the modem but we could not resolve it, so purchased a new NetGear voip modem). Then when we switched to Telstra they provided a new modem that was supposedly VOIP ready only as you have heard they lock the voip out so you could not use it, this time we ended up getting a cisco Voip router separate.
I was new to VOIP years ago so when we had to configure the VOIP I just called MyNetPhone and asked them to guide me and they did, I did not need to understand anything technical just follow instructions.
That's great to hear. Mynetfone technical team has said that they can't imagine why their VoIP service wouldn't work on the Telstra nbn network, although Telstra technicians (even the more senior ones) are telling me that I wouldn't be able to use another provider for VoIP if I sign on to their internet plan… very confusing.
This is what at least 4 technicians and sales people have said to me from Telstra:
If I sign up for the internet only nbn plan, I will not be able to use any VoIP for the next 24 months (contract term) - not even if I change my mind and want to pay for Telstra's own VoIP.
If I sign up for the internet and VoIP nbn bundle, then I will only be able to use VoIP if I use Telstra's router. If I change to using my own router, then I will have internet, but NOT VoIP - Telstra or any other provider.
What they have said obviously doesn't make any sense from my understanding of VoIP, and the only thing I could think of is that they would actively block the VoIP function (somehow, eg with some complicated firewall)…
This is what at least 4 technicians and sales people have said to me from Telstra:
If I sign up for the internet only nbn plan, I will not be able to use any VoIP for the next 24 months (contract term) - not even if I change my mind and want to pay for Telstra's own VoIP.
If I sign up for the internet and VoIP nbn bundle, then I will only be able to use VoIP if I use Telstra's router. If I change to using my own router, then I will have internet, but NOT VoIP - Telstra or any other provider.
That's absolutely rubbish from Telstra and I'm not surprised - even from their "senior technicians". That's just money grabbing from them trying to lock you in. Telstra cannot block access to anything on the internet - only listed piracy torrent sites at this stage. But easily work around with a change of DNS server or VPN.
They can only block you from accessing some of the settings on their router since its their branded device. They can do what they want really with that device.
VoIP - Voice over IP. Lets break it down
Voice - a form of audio
IP - is the internet protocol for routing traffic from A (source) to B (destination), regardless of the data. Data can be images, web pages, text, videos, audio etc.Hence, VoIP is a protocol for prioritising voice traffic using the IP on the internet.
VoIP doesn't care what your internet connection is but does prefer a good reliable one for better service, but as long you can connect to the internet -
you can use Fibre, ADSL, HFC, 4G LTE, 3G, satellite, WiMax, dialup (although really slow) etc as long as you can connect to the internet. Obviously the better connection the better the quality and reliability.If you want proof, download 3cx softphone and sign up with MyNetFone for 1 month if you can and configure the settings for that with the help of mynetfone support while still connected with Telstra for the NBN. Once the softphone is up and running. you will be able to make phone calls to landlines, mobiles like a normal phone on your current connection but from your computer. The softphone is just emulating the scenario as if you had a real phone.
Thank you, I suspected as much… just that the Telstra people were so adamant that got me thinking they must have some fancy firewall to block 3rd party VoIP.
Your explanation makes a lot of sense though, and this must just be their selling tactics…
If you're using VoIP for your home phone you can change the phone service to any provider as its service is delivered via the internet, regardless who the internet provider is. They should give you a login to use as a VoIP account - like having a Skype account. You put the logins in whatever you're using e.g separate VoIP phone or on a softphone (software), which authenticates with the VoIP provider and you're good to go.