VoIP Pricing for Northern Ireland Businesses

If you're a business owner in Belfast, Lisburn, Newry, Derry, or anywhere across Northern Ireland looking to upgrade your phone system, the first question is always: "What's it going to cost me?"

The good news is that VoIP is significantly cheaper than the traditional phone systems it replaces. But costs vary depending on the number of users, the handsets you choose, and whether you want professional installation or a self-install setup. Here's a transparent breakdown based on what Northern Ireland businesses actually pay in 2026.

Monthly Per-User Costs

The core cost of a hosted VoIP system is the monthly per-user licence. At Drakos Systems, we offer four licence tiers to match every business need — here's our transparent pricing:

Drakos Systems VoIP Pricing

Number Porting & New Numbers

• Port your existing number: £9 per number (keep your current business numbers)
• New number: £2 per number

Note: Some providers charge £15-25 per number port. Our £9 rate is significantly lower.

Feature Comparison by Licence

Which Licence Do Most NI Businesses Choose?

For most Northern Ireland businesses, the UC licence at £15/user/month is the sweet spot. It includes the softphone/mobile app, chat, video calling, and screen sharing — the features that make the biggest difference for modern working. The Business licence at £16.50 is worth it if you need call recording and Microsoft Teams integration included rather than as add-ons.

Handset Costs

You'll need IP handsets for each desk that needs a physical phone. Yealink is the most popular choice and what we recommend for most deployments:

• Yealink T31G (£45-55): Basic calling — warehouses, kitchens, common areas
• Yealink T33G (£55-70): Colour screen, 4 lines — the sweet spot for most office staff
• Yealink T43U (£85-100): USB headset support, expansion modules — receptionists and team leads
• Yealink T46U (£140-160): Large colour display, dual USB — managers and directors
• Yealink T58W (£220-280): 7" touchscreen, Bluetooth, WiFi, video — executives and boardrooms
• Softphone only (£0): Use the mobile/desktop app instead of a physical phone — no hardware cost

Not every user needs a desk phone. Many businesses use a mix: physical phones for reception and office-based staff, softphones for mobile workers and remote staff. This keeps costs down without sacrificing functionality.

Installation Costs in Northern Ireland

This is where local pricing matters. Installation costs in Belfast and Northern Ireland are generally lower than London or the South East:

Self-Install (£0)

Hosted VoIP is designed to be plug-and-play. If you're comfortable with basic IT, you can set up the phones yourself. Plug the handset into your network, enter the provisioning details (or use auto-provisioning), and you're live. We provide full setup guides and phone support for self-install customers.

Professional Installation (£200-500)

For most small offices (5-15 users) in Belfast, Lisburn, or the greater Belfast area, professional installation costs £200-500. This includes:

• Network assessment and broadband speed check
• Router/switch configuration and QoS setup for voice priority
• Handset deployment and auto-provisioning configuration
• Number porting coordination (keeping your existing numbers)
• Staff training on the new system
• Testing all extensions, call routing, and voicemail

Larger Installations (£500-2,000)

For offices with 20-50+ users, multiple floors, or complex call routing requirements, installation costs increase to reflect the additional configuration work. This might include:

• Network cabling and switch upgrades
• WiFi access point installation for wireless handsets
• Complex auto-attendant and IVR menu programming
• Call centre queue configuration and wallboard setup
• Multi-site networking between offices
• Integration with CRM or other business systems

Real-World Cost Examples for NI Businesses

Small Solicitor's Office in Belfast (5 Users)

• 5x Yealink T33G handsets: £325
• Monthly service (UC licence): £75/month (5 × £15)
• Number porting (3 numbers): £27
• Professional installation: £250
• Setup cost: £602 | Ongoing: £75/month

Estate Agent in Lisburn (10 Users)

• 1x Yealink T43U (reception): £95
• 9x Yealink T33G (agents): £585
• Monthly service (UC licence): £150/month (10 × £15)
• Number porting (5 numbers): £45
• Professional installation: £350
• Setup cost: £1,075 | Ongoing: £150/month

Medical Practice in Newry (20 Users)

• 2x Yealink T43U (reception): £190
• 18x Yealink T33G (staff): £1,170
• Monthly service (Business licence with call recording): £330/month (20 × £16.50)
• Number porting (8 numbers): £72
• Professional installation + call queue setup: £750
• Setup cost: £2,182 | Ongoing: £330/month

Call Centre in Belfast (50 Users)

• 50x Yealink T33G + headsets: £4,500
• Monthly service (Business licence): £825/month (50 × £16.50)
• CC Pro add-on for contact centre features
• Number porting (15 numbers): £135
• Professional installation + wallboards + CRM integration: £2,000
• Setup cost: £6,635 | Ongoing: £825/month + CC Pro

What About Your Existing Phone Numbers?

Number porting — transferring your existing business phone numbers to the new VoIP system — is free with most providers, including Drakos Systems. The process takes 1-2 weeks and happens seamlessly. Your customers won't notice any change except perhaps better call quality.

Comparing VoIP to Your Current Phone Costs

Most Northern Ireland businesses switching from traditional phones to VoIP save 40-60% on their monthly phone bills. A typical 10-user office on traditional lines pays:

• Line rental: £200/month (10 lines × £20)
• Call charges: £100-200/month
• Maintenance: £50/month
• Total: £350-450/month

The same office on Drakos Systems hosted VoIP (UC licence):

• Service: £150/month (10 users × £15, calls included)
• Maintenance: £0
• Total: £150/month — saving £200-300/month (£2,400-3,600/year)

The handset and installation costs are typically recovered within 3-6 months from the monthly savings. For a detailed UK-wide breakdown, see our guide on business phone system costs.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• Broadband upgrade: VoIP needs reliable broadband. If your current connection is slow, you may need to upgrade (£30-60/month for business fibre)
• Network switch: If your office network switch doesn't support PoE (Power over Ethernet), you'll need a new one (£100-300)
• Long contracts: Some providers lock you into 3-5 year contracts. We offer flexible terms
• Per-minute charges: Ensure UK calls are included, not charged per minute

Why Choose a Local NI Provider?

You could buy VoIP from a national provider, but there are real advantages to working with a Northern Ireland-based company like Drakos Systems:

• Local engineers: On-site installation and support from Belfast-based staff
• Understanding of NI business: We know the local market, the broadband landscape, and the challenges NI businesses face
• Face-to-face service: We'll visit your office, assess your needs, and provide hands-on training
• Complete solution: Phones, broadband, mobiles, and IT support from one local provider