Is Digital Voice really VOIP

I am waiting for some settings from BT so that I can program my SNOM D765 handset with the new fibre number and it just occurred to me to make sure that Digital Voice is actually just their name for VOIP numbers?

I can't see why it wouldn't be, but then I am no technical wizard

Is it a BT Business connection, or BT Residential?

If it's residential, then no it's not your normal "VOIP".
i.e. you can't use your own device to connect to their SIP servers etc.

Thanks
It's supplied to a residential address but charged to a company account. I think I will need to check that point with BT.
SO, if residential, is the only solution to use BT equipment then?
Are they not meant ot publish the standards because of competition rules etc?

SO, if residential, is the only solution to use BT equipment then?

Unfortunately correct.

It's why a number of people have had FTTP installed alongside their existing connection, then migrated their landline number to a VOIP provider (like Sipgate etc.).

Are they not meant ot publish the standards because of competition rules etc?

At the moment, no. I'm also sure they can argue it on the basis of maintaining 'security' etc.
Also, given the sheer number of people who just happily use the provider's kit I suspect most people will just accept it (unfortunately).

Thanks again

last question. If it is residential and we change it to business, will we then get the correct settings so that we can continue with this existing kit?

Keeping fibre and fttc just didn't seem like a benefit cost wise and with the hassle that we have had, I am sure we are getting a sizeable refund on the account. It makes sense to sort this once and for all. Hopefully, I will have given up work by the time we need another change.

If it is residential and we change it to business, will we then get the correct settings so that we can continue with this existing kit?

Not sure to be honest. You'll need someone who has more experience with BT Business connections to comment.

I believe if it's BT Business broadband with Digital Phone line this is the same as BT Consumer's Digital Voice and therefore locked into the BT kit but you can use the Cloud Voice Express app.

Whereas if it's one of the more specific VoIP services BT Buisness offers such as BT Cloud Voice there's adapters available but you would need to use a specific Handset phone.


FYI the lock in for communication providers digital phone services seems to be a common thing and not just with BT. E.g Sky and Virgin Media seem to tell you to use their own router.

CplSmudge

Is is a VOIP service but in a ring fenced system. This enable it to meet all the security and Government requirements.

The Routers set up separate VLANs with dedicated bandwidth allocated when used, the core network runs as a segregated network to give the correct security spec, this gives a better QOS for the voice. As such only a BT ( same for Sky etc) router will support the BT service.

I believe they use the same call control as a mobile system which meets the standards for billing etc that they are mandated by OFCOM to meet.

Add-on VOIP suppliers do not have all these hoops to jump through and run to much lower levels of security and resilience ( That is why some lost service some weeks ago) It gets back to the old adage " You get what you pay for".

Most people are happy with a less structure system than the major operators ( until it fails)

Government Phone services have to meet 5 9s availability, and certain security standards, so major networks have to design to this.

In reply to a post by kitcat:

Is is a VOIP service but in a ring fenced system. This enable it to meet all the security and Government requirements.

It isn't.
It's a ring fenced system because BT want it to be. It's easier to support.
Nothing else to it.

BT don't have any additional security requirements they need to meet that other providers don't have to, including VOIP providers.

So are BT Digital Voice calls encrypted, perhaps using TLS and SRTP?

john83

It is Voice over IP (VOIP) it is not 'Voice over the internet' .

Most startup VOIP providers do not meet Government security standards and therefore cannot be used for any public sector communications.

What are your talking about. Who said it wasn't VOIP and who said anything about voice over the internet.

I simply pointed out that your statement that BT make their Digital Voice a closed system to meet government and security standards is nonsense.

It's just a business decision. It makes support easier. Some providers have followed and others haven't.

I'd love to see something from OFCOM or the government that says otherwise.

The public sector shouldn't be purchasing BT residential connections.
They should be using BT Business, who do VOIP in a different way.

In reply to a post by CplSmudge:

It's supplied to a residential address but charged to a company account.

To put the question more clearly: did you buy a BT Residential product from the BT retail division, or did you buy a BT Business product from BT Business?

BT Business FTTP products are those listed here:
https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-inter...

I believe they use TLS on the signalling side of things. Not sure about SRTP.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

I believe they use TLS on the signalling side of things. Not sure about SRTP.

The likes of Voipfone and Sipgate do not use encryption, so if BT do that could be seen as an advantage.

Maybe. It’s all a bit moot…

For starters I have a feeling BT simply don’t publish any sort of service description or techical spec. - anyone got a link? The only thing to go by is the the vague marketing description and the T&Cs neither of which go to that level of detail or specificity.

Secondly even if they did use SRTP, you could argue that it’s still *not* really an “end-to-end’ encrypted link because ultimately there’s just an analog port on the Smart Hub and from there to any other devices it’s a clear channel.

Finally as this is calling over the public network, the other calling party is probably on an unencrypted channel / endpoint.

Proper end to end call encryption like social media voice apps (Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber etc) use is only possible in a fully closed-shop / controlled system.

Digital Voice just isn’t that at all.

The BT Digital Voice replaces the PSTN landline service, so I would argue that it is the security of those two that should be compared.

Whilst it is not clear what the security of the Digital Voice consumer service is, there are details of Secure Voice used by the BT Cloud Phone service here.

They might be similar?

Yes in that case with Secure Voice if you are using an IP endpoint (phone) with TLS and SRTP you have encrypted signalling and channel from that phone to the BT core. If the calls all stay on-net with other Secure Voice subscribers (eg like a government department or private company with branch sites) then yes that would be more secure than PSTN.

However for other calls that run outside of the BT core out to the PSTN it is insecure as PSTN is not encrypted.

So effectively one leg of the call is secure.