VoIP calling is becoming increasingly attractive for business telephony. With VoIP telephony, calls are made over the Internet, offering many options and phone features such as fixed-to-mobile, menu selection, and call recording. VoIP stands for Voice Over IP, and the search for a VoIP provider is becoming more common. VoIP has existed for many years and has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years as more companies recognize the added value and benefits of this form of telephony. As of 2022, old telephone networks like ISDN are no longer operational, so telephony is now provided by a VoIP provider. But what makes a good VoIP provider, or even the best VoIP provider?

Number of VoIP Providers

The number of VoIP providers is countless. It ranges from sole proprietors to large companies that not only act as VoIP providers but also install networks and offer hosting. It’s a free, open market, and anyone can start as a VoIP provider. Many tech enthusiasts offer local services as VoIP providers, providing telephony services. This is because VoIP telephony is nothing more than setting up a voice channel over the Internet. No technician is needed to install a fixed telephone connection for telephony. If you have an Internet connection, you can make VoIP calls. This also means anyone can start as a VoIP provider. As of December 8, 2022, there are 2,304 registered VoIP providers in the Netherlands. You can download the list here: overview of VoIP providers.

In this list, you’ll see that Belfabriek is one of the oldest providers in the Netherlands, officially registered on March 4, 2005. However, we’ve been active since 2000, during a time when the market was so new and open that there were no rules yet. Of course, we had phone numbers back then and were even in the same building in The Hague as the OPTA, which has since merged into the ACM. Download the list and look us up, along with other VoIP providers you see online. Most are very new. Currently, there are 2,304 providers, but this number is expected to exceed 10,000, as seen in neighboring countries. Welcome to the open market!

What Makes a Good VoIP Provider?

To answer this, we need to go back to the early days. Back then, there were only a few telephone companies, so few that registration wasn’t even necessary. What changed this? The answer is VoIP!

Anyone can send voice over the Internet, which is what VoIP stands for. We’ve also seen that anyone can become a VoIP provider. You just need to fill out a PDF and register as a public telecom provider, and you’re in business. But what about the technology? That can also be purchased. It’s a bit like dropshipping on the Internet. You order something from an online shop, thinking they have and ship the product, but it actually comes from a completely different warehouse!

This is how it works here too. Some companies have developed telephony platforms where partners can create VoIP accounts. They can purchase VoIP ports and features and resell them. You don’t really know who you’re dealing with; you just know you’re with a VoIP provider offering you service.

There’s a lot of wheat and chaff in this market, and we can’t help you with this choice. There are many good providers and some less good ones. Over time, some providers disappear (note: you’ll simply be unreachable, and the ACM doesn’t monitor this). Many VoIP providers also present themselves as larger than they are (e.g., “11,000 customers!”). It’s often a case of “fake it till you make it!”

In our view, a good VoIP provider is one that:

  1. Has its own interconnect on the telephony network in the Netherlands.
  2. Has its own developed telephony platform.

Looking at the first point, less than 10% of the 2,304 providers meet this criterion. You could argue whether or not an operator code is necessary, but 90% of VoIP providers don’t have an interconnect.

For the second point, most providers use ready-made telephony platforms like Broadsoft, Mitel, FreePBX, 3CX, or Asterisk and spend their days toggling modules on and off in a control panel. If this appeals to you, Google these platforms.

We have our own developed VoIP platform, including our own VoIP stack, so everything is managed in-house, and we are completely independent. This allows us to quickly adapt to VoIP developments now and in the future, making us the best VoIP provider for you. Other VoIP providers depend on their chosen platform and whether it supports new VoIP services, when, and at what cost. This is a significant disadvantage of being a reseller VoIP provider. These providers don’t know what’s coming, what they can offer, or whether what they offer makes them the best VoIP provider at that time.

The third point we believe makes someone the best VoIP provider is:

  1. A good VoIP provider has no partner channel and deals directly with all customers.

You may not have considered this, but a VoIP provider working with partners has two interests: end customers and partners. Partners must be kept happy. It’s said that partners provide input on the market and add value (besides bringing in sales), but what you ultimately get is a VoIP provider offering a platform that does everything and is so extensive that keeping it stable becomes a huge task. There’s also the constant threat of partner VoIP providers switching to a competing VoIP platform that offers more or is cheaper. Do you want your telephony with such a VoIP provider, or do you see the storm coming?

You might also sense that the real customer needs aren’t very important to such a VoIP provider or platform: it’s mainly about numbers, purchase prices, and keeping partners happy.

We don’t work with partners. Of course, we have VoIP providers or parties that recommend us, but we just send them a thank-you note. We are a so-called direct-writer, dealing only directly with the end customer. That’s the best model. (You also know this model from the insurance world, where some insurers only work directly.)

Looking at point 3, only about 10 providers remain. We are among these 10. So if you’re looking for the best VoIP provider, you now know what to look for:

You want:

  1. A VoIP provider with its own interconnect on the telephony network in the Netherlands.
  2. A VoIP provider with its own developed telephony platform.
  3. A VoIP provider with no partner channel, dealing only directly with all customers.

If this appeals to you, choose us as your VoIP provider! Of course, pricing and features are also important. Many VoIP providers offer packages based on a price per user of €15-18 per month. This is also to keep partners happy. We can work a bit sharper and charge €10-15 per month per user. With large packages, you get all features, and we don’t make a fuss about changes or paying extra per module (again, the advantage of our own platform: we don’t need to buy or pay royalties). The price difference goes to the end user, our customer. Together, we create the best VoIP!

Why More Organizations Choose Belfabriek

The Benefits of Belfabriek:

  • Complete all-in-one phone system: business phone, software for computers or mobile phones, an extensive web portal, fixed-to-mobile capability, and user-friendly apps (iPhone, Android).
  • All features like call recording, menu selection, and queue are included.
  • No new hardware or phones needed.
  • All phone numbers can be registered directly and easily: 0800/0900/085/088, local (010, 020), and international (e.g., Germany, Belgium, United States).
  • Own telephony VoIP interconnect, own telephony VoIP platform. Active since 2000 and independent. Business customers rate our customer service and technical VoIP solutions with a 9.

By choosing Belfabriek’s VoIP services, you opt for quality, improved service, and the opportunity to save on telecom costs!