Key points
- VoIP carries calls over the internet, with a phone system hosted in the cloud.
- You keep your numbers through number porting.
- Calls follow your team: desk phone, computer or smartphone.
- Quality depends mainly on a stable connection, checked before switching.
- The copper network is closing gradually in France: plan the move rather than rush it.
The end of copper: what timeline?
Traditional analogue lines have not been sold in France since late 2018, and the incumbent operator is closing the copper network area by area, with an end planned around 2030. In practice a business receives notice for its area: that is the right time to choose a solution rather than switch in a hurry. Equipment still on copper (fax, alarms, older payment terminals) must be listed too.
What is VoIP?
VoIP carries voice over the internet instead of a copper line. The phone system is no longer a cabinet in a cupboard: it is hosted in the cloud and configured from a web interface. Calls can ring on a desk phone, a computer or a smartphone, with the same number.
What it changes for the business
- one number, one-click transfers and forwarding;
- a greeting, opening hours and ring groups;
- staff reachable when remote or travelling;
- several sites in the same phone system;
- changes made without an on-site visit.
Which equipment?
Three options can be combined: IP desk phones, an app on the computer with a headset, or an app on the smartphone. IP phones are often powered through the network cable (PoE), which requires a suitable switch.
Migration steps
- Inventory of lines, numbers, contracts and usage;
- internet connection test: bandwidth, stability and voice priority;
- configuration of greeting, hours and groups;
- porting of existing numbers on an agreed date;
- switchover and checks of inbound and outbound calls;
- handover to staff and fine-tuning.
How much does it cost?
Cost depends on the number of users, chosen phones and options (queues, Microsoft 365 integration). We quote after the inventory; the configurator helps you prepare the request.
Virtual PBX, unified communications or contact centre?
- IP phone system: greeting, opening hours, call groups, forwarding to mobiles. It covers most small businesses.
- Unified communications: on top of calls, desktop and mobile apps, presence status, chat and video. Useful for mobile or remote teams.
- Contact centre: IVR menu, queues per department, statistics. For front desks with heavy call volumes.
The right choice depends on call volume, number of sites and team mobility, not on the longest feature list.
Three typical situations
Typical cases to illustrate the approach: these are not client references.
- A practice whose front desk is swamped in the morning: queue with message, call group across several phones and forwarding to a mobile when nobody answers.
- A business on two sites, Cannes and Nice: one number, one-click transfers between offices and a shared directory.
- A shop with nobody in between noon and 2pm: scheduled hours, a suitable message and voicemail delivered by email.
Mistakes to avoid
- Switching without testing the connection: decent but unstable bandwidth degrades voice; voice priority on the network is configured before go-live.
- Forgetting a number in the port: list every line, including fax and secondary numbers.
- No fallback: automatic forwarding to mobiles and, if needed, 4G/5G internet backup.
AroData prepares the migration for businesses on the French Riviera and remotely across France: see the VoIP page or the FTTH or FTTO guide for connectivity.
Frequently asked questions
Do we keep our numbers?
Yes, number porting keeps your existing numbers. The switchover date is agreed in advance.
What if the internet goes down?
Calls can be forwarded automatically to mobiles. A 4G/5G backup link is possible depending on site coverage.
Does VoIP work on ADSL?
For a few phones, sometimes, but stability matters more than speed. We test the line before proposing the switch; fibre is preferable as soon as several simultaneous calls are needed.
Can we keep our current phones?
Analogue handsets cannot be plugged in directly; some recent IP phones can be reused depending on the model. A hardware inventory is part of the preparation.
What happens to the fax and the alarm?
They must be listed before migrating: fax to email, an IP or 4G-compatible alarm transmitter, depending on the case.