How can you optimize a voice platform for low-bandwidth networks?

2 Adjust the packet size

The packet size is the amount of voice data that is sent in each network packet. A larger packet size means less overhead and more efficient use of the bandwidth, but also more delay and more vulnerability to packet loss. A smaller packet size means less delay and more resilience to packet loss, but also more overhead and more bandwidth consumption. For low-bandwidth networks, you should adjust the packet size according to the network conditions and the codec you use. A general rule of thumb is to use a packet size that is equal to or slightly larger than the codec frame size.

3 Implement quality of service

Quality of service (QoS) is a set of techniques that prioritize voice traffic over other types of traffic on the network, such as data or video. QoS can ensure that voice packets are delivered with minimal delay, jitter, and loss, improving the quality and continuity of the voice signals. QoS can be implemented at different levels, such as the network layer, the transport layer, or the application layer. Some examples of QoS mechanisms are differentiated services (DiffServ), integrated services (IntServ), resource reservation protocol (RSVP), and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS).

4 Use silence suppression

Silence suppression is a feature that detects and eliminates silence periods in voice conversations, reducing the amount of voice data that needs to be transmitted over the network. Silence suppression can save up to 50% of the bandwidth, depending on the talk activity and the codec. Silence suppression can also enhance the privacy and security of the voice communication, by preventing eavesdropping or recording of background noises. However, silence suppression can also introduce some drawbacks, such as unnatural pauses, clipping, or echo. Therefore, you should use silence suppression with caution and test its impact on the voice quality.

5 Apply error correction

Error correction is a technique that adds some redundancy to the voice data, allowing the receiver to recover from packet loss or corruption. Error correction can improve the quality and robustness of the voice signals, especially in low-bandwidth networks that are prone to congestion and interference. Error correction can be performed at different levels, such as the codec level, the packet level, or the application level. Some examples of error correction methods are forward error correction (FEC), retransmission, interleaving, and concealment.