VoIP Technology Fundamentals
Voice over IP (VoIP) digitizes voice audio and transmits it as IP packets rather than over traditional circuit-switched telephone networks. Voice is sampled at 8 kHz (G.711 wideband at 16 kHz), compressed using a codec, packetized, transmitted over IP, reassembled, decompressed, and rendered at the receiving end. This all occurs in real time with end-to-end latency that must remain below 150 ms one-way (per ITU G.114 recommendation) to avoid perceptible echo and unnatural conversation rhythm.