We make it our mission to understand what you need.
We make it our mission to understand what you need.
Our network provider will install two boxes, one inside the property and one outside of the property. In order to connect these boxes, a small hole will need to be drilled through the external wall.
If a ladder is required during installation, the engineer may need to attach it to temporary fixtures that will need to be drilled into the exterior wall – please be assured, that they will fill the holes and leave the area neat and tidy.
If the FTTP service is being installed in a rented property, you may need to seek the landlord’s permission for the holes to be drilled.
The engineer should have you up and running within 3 hours of arrival. Please be available for the duration of the timeslot provided to allow enough time for the installation.
In some cases, the engineer will complete the external work separately from the internal work. In this instance, you will not need to be at the property but must ensure the engineer has the necessary external access.
If there are any building works, scaffolding or improvements taking place that could get in the way during installation, we advise that the appointment is rescheduled until these obstructions have been removed.
Hosted Telephony
Hosted telephony is where your phone system is housed in the cloud, rather than in your office. It is ideal for small and large businesses, call centres and customer support departments.
Hosted telephony uses cloud technology which removes the need for costly physical hardware on-site and analogue or ISDN telephone lines from phone providers; instead, a business phone system is hosted remotely and connected to via the Internet. Essentially, the phone system becomes a piece of software rather than hardware.
The remote location is known as a Hosted PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and can be accessed through leased lines (lines dedicated to your business with no other, external traffic) or other high quality internet connections. It provides a flexible, reliable and efficient way to manage your communications and once it is installed, can be easily managed and additional features can easily be added to suit your needs.
With this set-up, the provider (SCG) will house the Hosted PBX and handle the technology and maintenance of the system.
In comparison, a traditional phone system involves the system being based on your premises and connecting directly to an ISDN line from a provider. For all incoming calls, each member of staff typically requires a desk phone. With hosted telephony, the call can be received on a desk phone, softphone or mobile application.
It is important to be aware that BT have stated all ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) services related to PBX systems will be switched off in 2025. Hosted telephony is a natural alternative as it uses Data Connections to deliver calls.
Hosted telephony uses the same LAN network as office Internet and automatically connects to the IP network.
Using the same methods to pass information as the Internet, hosted telephony utilises a router to communicate actions with your associated IP network. This connection is made securely over the Internet or through a dedicated connection specifically for your business.
For incoming calls, the phone will connect to the IP network, then through to the remote host. Here, the dialed number will get connected and sent through to the right department or individual.
To work as expected, hosted telephony requires a private connection and an appropriate bandwidth. In telecoms and computing, bandwidth is the rate or speed at which data can be sent across a network. When installing hosted telephony, or any Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution, bandwidth can be measured and upgraded to obtain the best performance for the system.
Such systems are best accessed through dedicated handsets connected to the Internet that offers a range of enhanced features. These IP handsets or virtual phones are recommended and chosen before installation, at which point complete training can be arranged.
Once operational, a business can manage international communications across multiple sites through a simple interface.
Hosted Telephony offers an incredible range of benefits compared to a PBX system with enhanced options for all of your voice and communication services.
The main benefits of hosted telephony include:
One of the biggest advantages of hosted telephony is that your business incurs no upfront costs for equipment as it’s delivered on an Opex expenditure system, rather than Capex. Generally, this better suits finance planning for small, medium and large businesses.
Once installed, monthly payments are at a set rate and can be amended depending on your usage in the future. For example, if you reduce the number of handsets, you may be able to reduce your costs.
Further ongoing savings are achieved through having no PBX maintenance costs as your system is hosted in the cloud and not in your office, whilst all office to office calls across multiple sites are free of charge.
Hosted Telephony offers an unprecedented range of functionality that allows your business to thrive, all whilst projecting a professional brand experience with high definition voice quality.
Features include:
All of these features are managed via an intuitive dashboard and staff can be fully trained on the handsets chosen to suit the requirements of your business.
With better-recorded data, statistics logged by the system can be reviewed to provide productivity insight. This includes automated and ad-hoc reports on ring group statistics, agent logins, extension statistics and call costs, sent directly to your inbox. Analysis of such data can lead to improvements in staff performance within months.
Your hosted telephony system is not fixed and can easily be scaled depending on your usage and growth as a company. These means new staff can easily be added and your bandwidth can be upgraded to cope with increased users and incoming calls.
Should your business relocate, you won’t have to manage the move of complex hardware as with a PBX system; as it’s all in the cloud it can simply be reprogrammed for your new site with no extra work or hassle for your team.
In short, there is no limit to the growth of your company from a voice and communications perspective once you are using hosted telephony; it is specifically bespoke and scalable to you.
The communications for your business are future proofed whilst hosted in the cloud and can be remotely upgraded at any time, in line with your business growth.
You’ll also benefit from the insight of a proactive 24/7 maintenance and support service which safeguards against downtime and disruption to your communications, both internal and external. This improves staff productivity and client relations, aiding client retention and brand perception, particularly in relation to customer services.
Hosted telephony includes a telephone system and web portal to manage communications.
Once your business has been set up with a hosted telephony system you will be provided with, connected IP phone handsets, an intuitive web portal to manage communications and 24/7 support and maintenance.
This is all included in a set monthly cost which will be agreed with you before the service is delivered. Training can be provided to your staff either remotely or on site, and you will have the option to use your VoIP at one or multiple locations.
At any stage, should your requirements change, the system can be remotely altered to match your needs and your costs stay in line with usage. Productive and efficient, there are no upfront costs and is fully scalable and future-proof.
Hosted systems based in the cloud have low start-ups costs, allow you to manage communications from anywhere and all IT responsibilities are with the provider, meaning you need no dedicated IT staff for this resource. A huge benefit is that allowing staff access to your phone system anywhere promotes efficiency and productivity.
Installing SIP Trunking and having hardware on your premises gives you a great deal of control and customisation of features as you use the software. Due to the level of knowledge needed, it is advised to have a dedicated IT staff member or members to manage this functionality.
This service provides low monthly rates and you can have metered payment plans or unlimited contracts.
Both hosted and on-site phone systems, where you are using a SIP connection, use your Internet connection.
Hosted is ideal for businesses that are just updating to VoIP systems and are new to the functions and processes. Hosted allows businesses to have the technology, performance and maintenance taken care of by the provider, meaning there is minimal work to take on when the system is adopted.
Hosted would be the best option if:
An on-site phone system suits larger businesses that will need to add new users frequently and want to take on an advanced level of day to day customisation. It’s a long term investment that saves on costs overall as you own the hardware (servers and switches etc).
On-site is the best option if:
You also need to take into consideration projected business growth, whether you operate across multiple sites and if you are planning on relocating in the near future. If any of these are the case, then hosted may be the best option.
Once you get in touch with SCG, all requirements and business considerations can be discussed to create the best package for your needs.
‘Hosted’ and ‘cloud-based’ phone systems are not the same but this can get confused as sometimes these terms are used interchangeably and therefore, misleadingly.
With a hosted telephony system a business utilises software and hardware that’s set-up and reserved for their use only. This means no external call traffic will disrupt performance and the bandwidth can be altered for that company’s needs. It’s a bespoke system solely for them.
As part of this, a business pays for the software and hardware. If the resource reaches capacity there may be extra charges and if not all the resource is used, it cannot be carried over into the next month.
Typically with hosted systems, they are managed by the provider but you can also get non-managed hosted systems.
Alternatively, cloud phone systems utilise shared resources that multiple businesses may be able to access. Software on a server will run for several businesses and excess capacity can be shared across all tenants when usage peaks. Businesses can also easily scale up or down by adding and deleting users and applications.
In this system, businesses rent the cloud system, meaning all maintenance and management costs and responsibilities fall with the provider. This can often provide great peace of mind for companies as they’re provided with 24/7 support.
When you’re deciding which option best suits your own infrastructure and finance plans, it’s important to understand the differences between hosted and cloud-based phone systems and to discuss this with your provider.
The hosted system was implemented before the popularity of cloud-based systems and for many is still the most appropriate option because of its ease of use, capabilities and the ongoing service and support available from the provider.
Hosted telephony makes use of a hosted PBX.
Hosted telephony is cloud-based, rather than onsite and is accessed via a remote location.
The remote location is a Hosted PBX (Private Branch Network) which is accessed through an internet connection. A Hosted PBX can also be referred to as a Virtual PBX and saves businesses on installation and maintenance costs of Hosted Telephony systems.
Hosted telephony and hosted PBX are not the same but can be interrelated.
Always consider how hosted telephony is working for you and how you can make use of the enhanced features.
If you have recently installed a VoIP system or are considering switching from your existing PBX system, it’s important to make sure you review how it can or will be used, and how you can benefit from all the advantages it has to offer.
If your web portal indicates usage growth month on month with a continuing trend, get in touch with your telecoms advisor to increase your bandwidth so you’re system is capable of keeping up with demand. Being proactive will allow both staff and clients to get the best experience at your company and won’t limit the height of your success.
It’s possible to set-up automated reports for stats such as call logs via email, meaning you can scan an overview of usage quickly. This will keep you ahead in terms of overseeing communications and the insight needed to further increase productivity.
Ensure that each new user of the system is fully trained from the beginning by another trusted staff member or by your telecoms provider. Whilst the system is intuitive, it is always best to provide a walkthrough for new users to avoid avoidable errors as they engage with the software and hardware for the first time.
The data is recorded to provide insight on overall and individual performance. Ensure someone in the company has time to check the logs and look for any gaps in customer service or internal communication eg. number of unanswered calls. This is a form of troubleshooting that highlights areas of improvement quickly.
After the initial set-up, training and usage, ask your staff for feedback and gain an understanding of which features are being used and which could be used to further improve performance. If appropriate, ask a limited number of clients about their experience as it’s important that VoIP works for both parties.
With enhanced functions, bespoke installation, call management and flexible upgrades, hosted telephony has the potential to exceed all expectations.
SIP Trunking
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking enables communications using an internet connection, instead of a traditional phone line.
SIP Trunking uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to connect a private branch exchange (PBX) or hosted telephony system to the internet. Via SIP trunks, a business is directly connected to the internet using a standard internet connection or private circuit for high performance voice communications.
SIP Trunks themselves enable voice traffic to be carried over a data connection. They allow a direct connection to the internet and enable VoIP to function beyond a company’s own firewall without the need for an IP-PSTN gateway. This allows greater flexibility in how and where phone numbers with geographic indicators can be used, as well as offering free calls between sites and savings on line rentals costs.
The number of lines a business utilises can be easily increased or decreased, based on usage. This incredible level of control makes it an appealing choice for businesses that have seasonal peaks in calls or are rapidly expanding.
It is important to note that BT has stated they will switch off the old ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) network by 2025, meaning all businesses will need to upgrade to use SIP to deliver their calls over an IP network.
SIP is a technology that delivers voice using predefined channels within a data circuit. These are known as SIP Trunks. This technology allows for the creation, modification and termination of voice sessions on an IP network without loss of quality.
SIP is an application-layer control protocol. The ‘trunk’ in SIP trunking is the channel that allows you to control telephony and keep the voice separate from data services such as instant messaging and multimedia. In essence, voice calls are converted to SIP meaning costly ISDN rentals are no longer needed and calls are delivered using VoIP.
Once you have chosen to benefit from SIP trunking, you will have dedicated lines or channels, separate to data channels and uncontended, meaning you don’t share bandwidth or suffer disrupted service when there are many users nearby.
When a phone call or multimedia action takes place, your PBX will route calls using SIP trunks to make calls via the internet. The number of calls that can be processed at any one time is dependant on the number of channels you choose to take and can be added to easily, without the need for physical lines to be installed.
With SIP trunking, outbound calls can be made locally, long distance and internationally. It may be best to think of SIP trunks as the phone wires we’re all familiar with from analogue and digital systems; they’re the connection to the internet that complement unified communications.
Once installed, the return on investment is quick and significant, with large savings in comparison to traditional PBX systems using ISDN.
SIP Trunks are configured by your telecoms provider at installation.
Once SIP Trunking is chosen to enhance your unified communications, your telecoms provider will setup and help you choose the best devices for your needs.
Requirements for SIP:
After setup, VoIP phone systems will improve your communications with features including:
If you are unsure if you are ready to have SIP set-up, SCG can assess your business and make recommendations.
When moving to SIP, SCG will help make the necessary requirements to ensure the transfer takes place with minimum disruption to your work.
SIP Trunks allow businesses and employees to communicate via internet enabled devices, such as a computer or smartphone, and enjoy the benefits of VoIP:
Telephone systems using VoIP and SIP trunks are advantageous as they provide the ability for software updates and improved features to be rapidly deployed by your provider, without the need to access your premises. A business will no longer have to request upgrades and wait for an engineer to visit.
Once you are connected via SIP Trunking, a range of productive features can be accessed using VoIP phone systems. These include user statuses, call logging, call queuing, call forwarding, conference calls, auto time updates, mobile apps, voicemail to email, calling name retrieval, call recording, priority alerts, auto attendant and more.
For larger, multi-site businesses, the flexibility to access and control these applications across the internet is essential and different users, sometimes with different on-premise equipment, can tailor requirements to specific needs.
In the long term, using a SIP trunking on premise telephone system can save money when compared to a hosted telephony solution, however, the upfront costs can be considerably higher.
SIP trunks can be easily added and removed to cater for seasonal fluctuations. How many you need directly reflects your call requirements.
The number of SIP trunks you need will be assessed based on your current usage and will depend on the number of users you expect to have on the telephone at any one time. For example, if you are a business of 50 but only expect a maximum of half of the staff to be on the phone at any one time, you would require approximately 25 SIP trunks.
It’s also important to consider the types of users you have. Heavy, medium and light users will be on the phone for different amounts each day, perhaps some over three hours.
If you notice that employees are receiving busy signals when they pick up their handset to make a call and are unable to get an available line, it’s likely because you do not have enough SIP Trunks for your usage. Fortunately SIP trunks can be added quickly without any disruption to the business, based on available bandwidth.
Unfortunately, this may result in issues for customers and lead to complaints if they cannot reach you; particularly if you offer customer support. Such unreliable usage is a sign that you need to install more SIP trunks.
There is no minimum and the maximum will only be restricted by the bandwidth available to you. Multiple connections and Ethernet circuits can be used to increase bandwidth.
You can easily transfer your existing telephone numbers to SIP Trunks, without loss of service. Contact our team for more information.
SIP Trunking offers a wide range of benefits and bespoke features that can be tailored to maximise the benefits to your business. SCG can advise on every aspect once you have chosen to update and we offer a range of packages with discounts.
The main benefits of SIP include:
SIP Trunking offers access to a secure and reliable dedicated network. Once installation costs have been paid upfront, monthly rental is affordable and cheaper than traditional ISDN lines, with free internal calls available.
SIP lines can be increased and reduced, which will most likely occur due to seasonal trends in your industry, ensuring you only ever pay for what you need. Ongoing support can be offered by your telecoms provider so that productivity is maximised and you have a strong return on investment.
As SIP trunks provide a direct line to a secure data network, you have access to high definition voice quality in a reliable and secure manner, allowing you to achieve your business objectives without disruption.
SIP allows for bandwidth to be increased to ensure the demands you put on the system can be met with a high performance response, which benefits your staff and clients. Bandwidth can be increased and decreased as required and you can scale based on seasonal peaks.
Such scalability reduces the need to send users to call waiting and voicemail, meaning you can provide the best customer service possible even when you’re relocating. At times of growth, new SIP trunks can be added to maintain your level of performance.
SIP Trunking is the best option to access telephony and will future proof your communications for three reasons; you can add and remove lines depending on usage and business growth, the software can be remotely updated, and traditional ISDN lines will be switched off by BT in 2025.
Before this switch-off, it is recommended all businesses update their communications to avoid disruption.
All businesses can benefit from SIP trunking, from a single individual to huge multinational corporations.
No matter the size of your operation, small, medium and large businesses can all benefit from installing SIP trunking and enjoying both reduced costs and improved productivity.
SIP Trunking is right for your company if:
At SCG we have decades of experience and have worked with a wide range of businesses, including many across the retail, hospitality, legal and financial and education sectors.
SIP Trunking also provides an unparalleled level of control for your communications and allows you to grow your business in line with business goals. By having a secure network with advanced phone functionality you can operate across multiple sites without disruption.
For large and growing businesses, SIP Trunking is particularly appealing as it expands with your needs; as more users need to use the system new lines can be added, to ensure the same network quality. These can be added efficiently without the need for site visits or physical line installations.
Lines can also be removed remotely with no disruption should your need for lines reduce due to seasonal drops in business. This means you never pay for more than you need and your costs reflect the wider trends of your industry and monthly budgets.
Read about our sales process to understand how we learn about your company and work to improve your communications. If you’re unsure if your bandwidth is suitable for SIP Trunking we can assess this and make adjustments as necessary.
SCG offer a range of SIP Trunking packages and will create bespoke packages for you and your business, so you only pay for what you need.
Initially, our team will assess your current setup and advise on potential alterations to your bandwidth and whether your hosting provider has enough data to run the voice and data traffic projected for your needs.
Installation is a single, one off charge that involves:
As your business changes over time, channels can be added to accommodate more users on the system at any time. This ensures the best service for your employees and clients and reflects your usage of the dedicated voice network.
For each channel added, additional fees may apply for the associated setup costs and configuration of each new telephone number, or SIP line.
SIP trunking can be utilised if you have access to broadband, leased line or Ethernet connectivity and a SIP enabled telephone system (PBX).
If you are not setup to accommodate SIP, SCG can create the right telecoms environment for you to benefit from the technology, including:
Once you get in touch, all aspects of your set-up will be reviewed to understand your requirements in terms of users and device integration, allowing our experts to tailor recommendations specific to your business.
SIP trunking has a monthly charge and can be reviewed at any stage with channels easily added or reduced depending on your usage. For more information on the specifics of data connection types, please read about SIP Trunking Providers and get in touch with any questions.
Mobile
As a standard, our SIM cards are sent via the Royal Mail first-class service. Deliveries typically arrive the next working day. If your SIM has not arrived within 5 working days, please contact your account manager at your earliest convenience to arrange a replacement.
All SIM cards supplied will be Triple SIMs (Standard, Micro and Nano). Triple SIMS can be broken down to the required size of your device.
Once the connection status on your order detail says confirmed, the expected date column will state when the connection is due to go live.
We will need at least 3 working days’ notice if there is an amendment required for your activation date. In this instance, please contact our Order hub team at orderhub@scgtogether.com or on 0800 4700 007.
The new SIM provided will be connected on the activation date given. On the day you will need to plug in the new SIM card to your handset. We hope your connection will be up and running as early as possible, but please note that it can take up to 24 hours to complete.
The port can happen at any time on the activation date. When your current SIM stops working, plug your new SIM into your handset. If at any point during the porting process you experience conflicting service, we recommend rebooting your device.
If a new SIM has been allocated to your migrating number, a SIM swap is required and will take place at any time on the activation date. Once your existing SIM stops working, plug in your new SIM. If you have not been allocated a new SIM, please retain your existing SIM card in your handset. You may lose service whilst the migration completes, if this is the case then please reboot your handset and the service should resume.
All our connections will be set up to Roam unless requested otherwise upon connection. We recommend contacting your SCG account manager before travelling so we can advise the best option for your trip.
All our connections will be set up for international use unless requested otherwise upon connection. We recommend contacting your SCG account manager before travelling so we can advise the best option for your trip. If you need your device barred, you can do this via the customer portal or by contacting your account manager.
If there is an amendment required for your order, please contact our Order Hub team at orderhub@scgtogether.com or on 0800 4700 007.
These communications can be 2 working days apart, if you haven’t received the communication you are expecting please contact orderhub@scgtogether.com or 0800 4700 007.
These communications can be 2 working days apart, if you haven’t received the communications you are expecting please contact orderhub@scgtogether.com or 0800 4700 007.
All our connections will be set up as standard with 5G and Wi-Fi Calling.
We can provide a spending limit, please contact your account manager to set this up.
Yes, pro-rata applies to your allowance, depending upon the date within the month you are connected. For example; connecting on a 2GB Tariff on the 15th would only give you 1GB of data to use for that month. Then from the 1st of the next month, you will have the full 2GB allowance.
The mobile Networks do not recommend porting when outside of the UK. Though the number port can still be completed, you may experience severe delays. If you are abroad or plan to be abroad on your current port date, please let us know asap and we can try to organise an alternative date.
You can set your data limit on Android by going to Settings>Data Usage. On iPhones you can complete a manual check via Settings>Mobile Data. Third-party apps such as My Data Manager, Data Count and Onavo Count are also available.
Where possible, SCG will provide 80%, 90% and 100% data alerts.
Please note that this is not a guaranteed service and in certain circumstances, you may not receive a notification that you are close to or have exceeded the tariff limit. We will not automatically cap your data once you exceed your tariff limit, and highly recommend that you use a data management app on your device to monitor and control your data usage to avoid any excess charges.
If you require a spend cap please contact your account manager to set this up for you.
All connections will allowance reset on the first of every calendar month.
Yes, you will be charged the out of bundle rate for your plan per MB (plus VAT) for any data over the allowance until the end of the current month.
You can top up your data allowance for the remaining period of the month.
For both top up & tariff changes, please contact your account manager on 0800 4700 007 for more details.
Alternatively, if your usage is close to your maximum allowance, switching off your mobile data can help reduce unnecessary usage.
If your SIM card is lost or stolen, you must call us immediately on 0800 4700 007 to place a bar on your connection and stop any unauthorised usage. Customers are liable for any usage until they have contacted us to place a bar on their account.
To order a new SIM card, contact SCG (details above) with your Mobile Number(s), when to activate and delivery contact name and address.
An eSIM is a virtual SIM, digitally embedded in your phone that stores the data needed for your phone to connect to the network. It’s similar to a traditional plastic SIM, but removes the need to put a physical sim into your phone.
eSIM allows you to:
We are able to offer eSIM for compatible devices but are currently unable to support Apple watches or wearables. If an eSIM is required please request with your account manager.
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