IP Telephony in SMEs 2026: Cloud (UCaaS) or on-prem?

Traditional telephony (PSTN, T0, T2) is disappearing in France (end announced 2025-2030). Every SME must migrate to IP. Cloud (UCaaS) or on-prem? Answer.

Cloud solutions (UCaaS)

• Microsoft Teams Phone: ~€7/user/month (plus M365). Native Teams integration.
• RingOver / Aircall: ~€15-30/user/month. Rich in features (call routing, IVR, analytics).
• Cisco Webex Calling: ~€8-12/user/month.
• Zoom Phone: ~€10/user/month.

Cloud advantages: zero investment, automatic updates, easy remote work, scalability.

Disadvantages: internet dependency (loss = no phone), recurring cost can exceed on-prem over 5+ years.

On-prem solutions (IPBX)

• 3CX: licence ~€1,000-3,000 excl. VAT depending on users (4 SC = ~€1,000 for 4 simultaneous calls). Hostable on VM or Raspberry Pi.
• Asterisk / FreePBX: open source, free, expertise required.
• Wildix: commercial premium, ~€4,000-8,000 licence.

On-prem advantages: full control, stable cost long-term, operation even if internet fails (incoming via failover).

Disadvantages: initial investment, maintenance on your end, IT expertise required.

Recommended IP phones

• Yealink T54W: €195 excl. VAT, colour screen, Wi-Fi + BT (recommended for executives)
• Yealink T31: €95 excl. VAT, basic but reliable
• Snom D785N: €250 excl. VAT, premium, certified 3CX/Teams

SIP Trunk (the operator)

Whether you are cloud or on-prem, you need a SIP operator:

• OVH Telecom, Ubity, Wildix, Free Pro, Orange Pro, etc.
• Cost: ~€5-15 excl. VAT/month per number + ~€0.005 excl. VAT/min domestic calls
• Geographic numbers (01, 02, etc.) or national (08)

Recommendation by SME profile

• SMEs < 20 users already on M365: Microsoft Teams Phone (€7/u/month). Painless migration.
• SMEs 20-50 users with IVR / light call centre needs: RingOver or Aircall.
• SMEs > 50 users or specific constraints: 3CX on-prem or hybrid.
• Very small business 1-5 users: Mobile + pro fixed line sufficient, no need for IPBX.

Conclusion

For 80% of SMEs in 2026, cloud (UCaaS) is the right choice: zero maintenance, scalability, remote work. On-prem remains relevant for specific needs or volumes > 50 users.