Network Requirements for VOIP Phones

The minimum network requirements for a Yealink IP phone ensure optimal performance and call quality. These requirements typically apply across a range of Yealink IP phone models, but here are the key considerations:

1. Network Bandwidth:

• Per Voice Call: 100 kbps (upstream and downstream) per voice stream is typically sufficient for high-quality voice calls.
• If you are using video phones or phones with additional data-heavy features, the bandwidth requirements will be higher.

2. Power over Ethernet (PoE):

• Most Yealink phones support PoE (802.3af), which allows the phones to receive power over the Ethernet cable.
• Ensure your network switches support PoE, or use a separate power adapter if PoE is unavailable.

3. IP Network Requirements:

• LAN/WAN: The phone should be connected to a stable and reliable local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).
• QoS (Quality of Service): QoS should be enabled on the network to prioritize voice traffic, ensuring good call quality even during periods of high network usage.
• Latency: Latency should be below 150 ms to ensure smooth voice communications.
• Jitter: Should be less than 30 ms to avoid disruption in call quality.
• Packet Loss: Ideally, there should be 0% packet loss, but the network should be able to tolerate less than 1% packet loss without a significant reduction in call quality.

4. Network Protocols:

• SIP (Session Initiation Protocol): Ensure that the network supports the SIP protocol for establishing and managing calls.
• RTP/RTCP (Real-Time Transport Protocol / Real-Time Control Protocol): These protocols handle the media stream (audio and video) and should be supported for effective communication.
• 802.1p/Q: For VLAN tagging and traffic prioritization, enabling this protocol helps ensure voice traffic is prioritized over other data traffic on the network.

5. Firewall and NAT Traversal:

• Ports: The following ports need to be open for Yealink phones to work properly:
  • SIP: 5060 (UDP/TCP) (for signaling)
  • RTP: 10,000 to 20,000 (UDP) (for media stream)
  • SNTP: 123 (UDP) (for time synchronization)
  • HTTP/HTTPS: 80/443 (for firmware updates and remote provisioning)
• NAT Traversal: Support for STUN (Simple Traversal of UDP through NAT), TURN (Traversal Using Relay NAT), or an SBC (Session Border Controller) may be needed if the phones are used behind a NAT.

6. VLAN Support:

• Yealink IP phones support VLAN tagging to separate voice and data traffic. Make sure the network switch supports and properly configures VLANs if you are segmenting your network.

7. DNS and DHCP:

• Ensure your network is configured with a DHCP server to assign IP addresses automatically to the phones.
• DNS resolution should be properly configured to resolve the phone's provisioning server and any other required services.

8. Network Security:

• VPN Support: Yealink phones support VPNs if you need to secure communication between remote locations.
• 802.1x Authentication: For networks requiring port-based authentication, Yealink phones support 802.1x authentication.

9. Remote Provisioning and Management:

• If you're using Yealink's RPS (Redirection and Provisioning Service) or a centralized management platform (like Yealink Device Management), ensure that the phones can reach the remote provisioning server over the internet.

10. Power Requirements:

• If PoE is unavailable, Yealink phones require an external power supply, typically 5V/1.2A or 12V/1A depending on the phone model.

11. Codec Support:

• Ensure the network can handle common codecs, such as:
  • G.711 (narrowband)
  • G.729 (compressed)
  • G.722 (wideband or HD voice)
• If bandwidth is a concern, you may prioritize using G.729 for lower bandwidth consumption.

By meeting these network requirements, you will ensure that your Yealink IP phones perform optimally in terms of call quality, stability, and feature functionality.