Cloud PBX South Africa is a business phone system run as a service instead of a box in a cupboard, with extensions, menus and call routing managed in a browser. Describe how many people need an extension and compare monthly prices, handset costs and call rates.
Tell us how many extensions you need and get PBX quotes. Replies come from independent, LEADERR APPROVED providers.
Get the Best QuoteWhat a Hosted System Gives You
- Extensions anywhere. The same number on a desk phone, a laptop and a mobile.
- Call routing. Menus, groups, hunt lists and out of hours handling.
- Number porting. Keeping the number the business has always advertised.
- Call recording. Where it is needed, with the consent obligations that come with it.
- Reporting. Who answered, how fast, and how many calls were missed.
- Integration. With Microsoft Teams, or with a CRM for click to dial.
- No hardware to maintain. The system is a subscription rather than a capital purchase.
What Decides Whether It Works
- The internet line. Voice is sensitive to jitter and packet loss, not just speed.
- Prioritisation. The network should give voice traffic priority over downloads.
- Power. Handsets, switches and the router all need to survive load shedding.
- A second line. Failover matters more for phones than for anything else.
- Cabling. Handsets on WiFi are a common source of poor call quality.
- Porting lead times. Moving a number between providers takes weeks, not days.
Cloud PBX Prices
Ballpark figures so you can check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Hosted extension, per extension per month | R85 - R250 |
| Desk handset, entry level, supplied | R1,200 - R2,500 |
| Desk handset, mid-range with colour screen | R2,500 - R6,500 |
| Conference phone, supplied | R4,500 - R18,000 |
| Setup and configuration, up to 20 extensions | R6,500 - R28,000 |
| Number porting, per number range | R650 - R3,500 |
| Call recording, per extension per month | R35 - R120 |
| Teams integration, per user per month | R85 - R220 |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Ballpark figures, rounded, excluding VAT. They reflect typical South African IT support and technology rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no provider is bound by them. Confirm what each quotation includes, such as how many users or devices are covered, the response times, after-hours cover and licence fees.
Get a price for your own extension count rather than a range.
Get the Best QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- How many extensions. The main monthly driver.
- Handsets or software only. Software extensions on a laptop cost nothing extra in hardware.
- Call bundles. Included minutes versus per second billing.
- Features. Recording, reporting and contact centre functions are usually add-ons.
- Number porting. A one-off cost, and sometimes a long lead time.
- Contract term. Handsets are often subsidised against a two or three year term.
- Whether the network needs work. Cabling and prioritisation are frequently the real cost.
What to Include in Your Request
- How many people need an extension. And how many need a physical handset.
- Your current system. Make and age, and whether it is owned or rented.
- Your numbers. How many, and whether they must be kept.
- Your internet line. Speed, provider and whether there is a second.
- How calls should be handled. Reception, menus, groups, after hours.
- Whether you use Microsoft Teams. It changes the sensible shape of the solution.
Before You Switch Systems
- Test the line quality first. A provider should measure jitter and loss before quoting.
- Start the porting early. It is the long pole in nearly every phone project.
- Ask about call rates separately. A low extension fee with high per minute rates is not cheap.
- Plan for power. Phones that die during load shedding defeat the purpose.
- Ask who owns the handsets. Rented handsets usually cannot move to another provider.
- Check recording obligations. Recording calls carries notice and consent requirements under POPIA.
Cloud PBX FAQs
Is a cloud PBX cheaper than a traditional phone system?
Usually over five years, because there is no system to buy or maintain and call rates over the internet are lower than traditional lines. The monthly fee never stops, so compare a five year total rather than the first invoice.
What internet connection do I need?
Less bandwidth than people expect - a call uses well under a megabit - but a stable one. Jitter and packet loss ruin calls at any speed. A provider should test your line before quoting, and should prioritise voice traffic on your network.
Can I keep my existing number?
Yes, through porting, and it is routine. Allow several weeks and do not cancel anything with the old provider until the port has completed, because a cancelled number cannot be ported.
Do we need desk phones at all?
Often not. A software extension on a laptop with a decent headset works well for most office staff, and keeps the cost to the monthly fee. Desk phones still make sense at reception, in boardrooms, in warehouses and anywhere a laptop is not in front of the person.
What happens during load shedding?
The phones stop unless the router, the switch and the handsets are on backup power. This is the most common disappointment after a move to a hosted system, and it is avoidable - the same small inverter that keeps the internet up keeps the phones up.
Should we use Microsoft Teams as the phone system?
If everyone already lives in Teams and the call handling needs are straightforward, it is tidy and avoids a second application. A dedicated hosted PBX is usually better where you need detailed call routing, queueing or reporting, and the two can be connected so Teams users dial out through it.
Hosted telephony is quoted by several of the providers on IT Support South Africa usually alongside the network work that makes it sound right.
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