Moving abroad does not necessarily mean giving up having a UK telephone number. With a UKDDI number and SIP service, calls to your UK number can be delivered over the internet to a compatible VoIP phone, softphone or phone system wherever you have a suitable connection.
How does a UK number work overseas?
Instead of the call being delivered over a traditional telephone line, the telephone number is connected to a SIP service. When somebody calls your UK number, UKDDI routes the call across the internet to your registered VoIP device.
Your friends, family or customers simply dial the UK number as normal. They do not need to know that the telephone itself may be in Spain, France, Portugal, Australia, the United States or somewhere else.
For example, a relative in Essex could call your UK number. The call enters the UK telephone network, reaches UKDDI and is then delivered over SIP to your registered VoIP phone overseas.
Let callers use a UK number instead of an international number
One of the biggest advantages for expatriates is convenience. Instead of giving everybody an overseas telephone number, you can continue giving people a UK number.
The caller's own telephone provider determines what they pay. A call to your UK number may be included in their normal UK allowance or charged as a UK call, so they do not have to dial an international destination simply because you are abroad.
UKDDI does not control the caller's tariff. Callers should check their own provider if they are unsure whether a UK call is included.
Use a physical VoIP phone
You can connect a compatible SIP telephone to your broadband connection. Once configured with your UKDDI SIP details, the telephone registers to the service over the internet.
This gives you the familiar experience of a normal desk telephone rather than relying entirely on a mobile application. UKDDI also sells compatible VoIP hardware that can be added to a number and voice-service order.
Take the number with you
A key advantage of SIP is that the number is not tied to one physical copper telephone line. If you move again, you can connect a compatible device at the new location and register it with the SIP service.
That makes the same approach useful for people with second homes, remote workers, long-term travellers and businesses whose staff work from several countries.
What internet connection do I need?
VoIP does not need huge amounts of bandwidth, but connection quality matters. Latency, jitter, packet loss and unstable Wi-Fi can all affect a voice call.
For a permanent setup, an Ethernet connection from the VoIP phone to the router is normally preferable to weak or congested Wi-Fi.
Can I make outgoing calls as well?
Yes. A suitable SIP service can support outbound calling as well as incoming calls, subject to your UKDDI package, call rates, account configuration and acceptable-use requirements.
If you use a UK VoIP service while physically overseas, make sure you understand local emergency-calling arrangements. Do not assume a UK VoIP service replaces the local emergency service in the country where you are located.
Choose your UK number and how you want to answer it
Search UKDDI number availability, then choose SIP trunk or hosted SIP-phone delivery. If you need a physical handset, compatible VoIP hardware can be added separately or alongside the service.
Service availability can depend on the local internet connection, firewall or router, local telecommunications rules and the UKDDI service configuration. Emergency calling should be handled according to the arrangements applicable where you are physically located.