Layla UsmanReplace Your Business Phone System with Microsoft Teams
Built for Australian Businesses — Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Perth · Adelaide
Microsoft Teams has quietly become the most powerful business phone system available to Australian companies today — and most businesses haven’t unlocked even half of its calling capabilities. If you’re still paying for a separate phone system alongside Teams, you’re paying twice for half the experience.
| 320M+ Microsoft Teams daily active users worldwide | 68% Australian enterprises using Teams as primary comms tool | 41% Cost savings vs traditional PBX systems | $3.8B Australian UCaaS market value projected by 2027 |
1. Why Microsoft Teams Is Replacing Business Phone Systems
The traditional office phone system — a clunky on-premises PBX with physical handsets, line rental, and a separate IT support contract — is becoming as obsolete as the fax machine. Across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, Australian businesses are making a decisive shift toward unified communications, and Microsoft Teams Phone is leading the charge.
With the right telephony configuration — delivered by a certified Australian provider like BroadConnect — Teams becomes a full-featured cloud phone system capable of replacing every aspect of your existing telephony infrastructure.
| Key insight: Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 75% of enterprises globally will have replaced their legacy PBX systems with cloud-based UCaaS platforms. In Australia, that transition is already well underway. |
What Microsoft Teams Phone Can Do
- Make & receive PSTN calls from any device — desktop, mobile, or browser — using your existing Australian phone numbers.
- Auto attendants & call queues that intelligently route callers without a dedicated receptionist or on-premise hardware.
- Voicemail with transcription, call recording, call analytics, and compliance archiving — all within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Number porting — keep your existing Australian landline and 1300 numbers when migrating to Teams.
- Multi-site management — manage phone systems across all your Australian offices from a single admin console.
2. The Numbers: Teams Adoption in Australia
Australia is one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing Teams markets in Asia-Pacific. According to IDC Asia/Pacific, Australia’s UCaaS market is on track to reach AUD $3.8 billion by 2027.
| Year | Australian Teams Users (Est.) | Teams-as-Phone Adoption | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.1 million | 8% | — |
| 2021 | 3.8 million | 14% | +81% |
| 2022 | 5.2 million | 24% | +37% |
| 2023 | 6.9 million | 38% | +33% |
| 2024 | 8.4 million | 52% | +22% |
| 2025 (proj.) | 10.1 million | 65% | +20% |
“The convergence of collaboration and telephony is no longer a future state — it is happening right now in offices across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Microsoft Teams Phone is the catalyst.”
— IDC Australia, Unified Communications Market Report 2024
3. Direct Routing vs Operator Connect Explained
To enable real phone calls in Microsoft Teams, you need to connect Teams to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Both methods are available through BroadConnect’s Teams telephony services.
| Feature | Teams Direct Routing | Teams Operator Connect | Microsoft Calling Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | High (requires SBC) | Low (admin portal) | Very low |
| Cost (per user/mo) | From $8 AUD | From $12 AUD | From $18 AUD |
| Australian local numbers | All states/territories | Major cities | Not available in AU |
| 1300 / 1800 numbers | Yes | Yes | No |
| Available via BroadConnect | Yes | Yes | Not offered |
| BroadConnect recommendation: For most Australian SMBs, Teams Operator Connect offers the fastest deployment. For enterprises with complex requirements, Teams Direct Routing provides the most flexibility. Contact BroadConnect to find the right fit. |
4. Teams Phone vs Traditional PBX
| Comparison Point | Traditional PBX | Microsoft Teams Phone (BroadConnect) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront hardware cost | $10,000–$50,000+ | $0 — no hardware required |
| IT maintenance | Dedicated IT staff required | Fully managed by BroadConnect |
| Device flexibility | Fixed desk phones only | Any device, anywhere in Australia |
| Collaboration integration | Separate from Teams/email | Fully integrated with M365 |
| Scalability | Difficult, slow | Add/remove users in minutes |
| Disaster recovery | Limited | Built-in redundancy & failover |
| Support | Vendor dependent | 24/7 Australian-based support |
5. Microsoft Teams Solutions by Australian City
BroadConnect provides Microsoft Teams Phone deployment and support across all major Australian cities, with full compliance with ACMA regulations.
| City / Region | Coverage Area | Key Services |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, NSW | CBD, North Shore, Parramatta, Macquarie Park | Fast NBN Business & fibre-backed Teams deployment |
| Melbourne, VIC | CBD, Docklands, Southbank, St Kilda Rd | Operator Connect & Direct Routing specialists |
| Brisbane, QLD | CBD, Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane | Full number porting & Teams migration |
| Perth, WA | CBD, Subiaco, Fremantle | Low-latency Teams calling via Australian data centres |
| Adelaide, SA | CBD & surrounds | Teams Phone for government, healthcare & professional services |
| Regional Australia | All states & territories | Fixed wireless & satellite-backed Teams for remote offices |
6. What You Need to Get Started
| Requirement | Details | BroadConnect Role |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Licence | Business Basic, Standard, or Enterprise E3/E5 | Reseller & advisor |
| Teams Phone Add-on | Teams Phone Standard (~AUD $10/user/mo) | Licence provision |
| PSTN Connectivity | Direct Routing SBC or Operator Connect | Fully managed |
| Australian Numbers | New DID numbers or port existing landlines/1300s | Number porting managed |
| Internet Connectivity | Min. 1 Mbps per concurrent call (NBN 50+ recommended) | Connectivity audit included |
| Teams Admin Config | Call policies, auto attendants, voicemail, queues | Done-for-you setup |
| User Training | Teams calling features for staff | Onboarding sessions provided |
7. Pricing & Total Cost of Ownership
According to Forrester Research, organisations deploying Microsoft Teams Phone achieved an average ROI of 143% over three years.
| Cost Category | Traditional PBX (50 users) | Teams Phone via BroadConnect | Annual Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware / Maintenance | $18,000 / yr | $0 | $18,000 |
| Line Rental & Call Costs | $14,400 / yr | $5,400 / yr | $9,000 |
| IT Support / Admin | $12,000 / yr | $2,400 / yr | $9,600 |
| Collaboration Tools | $9,600 / yr | Included in M365 | $9,600 |
| Teams Phone Licensing | — | $6,000 / yr | — |
| TOTAL ANNUAL COST | $54,000 | $13,800 | $40,200 saved |
| Australian businesses: BroadConnect offers a free Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis — we’ll model your exact costs, potential savings, and migration timeline. Contact us at broadconnect.com.au/contact |
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Can Microsoft Teams replace my business phone system in Australia?
Yes. With BroadConnect’s Teams Phone solutions, Australian businesses can make and receive PSTN calls directly from Teams on any device — completely replacing traditional desk phones and PBX systems.
Can I keep my existing Australian phone numbers?
Absolutely. BroadConnect handles full number porting for landlines, 1300 numbers, and 1800 numbers from any Australian carrier with minimal disruption.
Does Teams Phone work for remote and regional Australian offices?
Yes. BroadConnect pairs Teams with our business internet solutions — including NBN, fixed wireless, and 4G/5G failover — to ensure reliable calling even in regional areas.
How long does a Teams Phone migration take?
For SMBs under 50 users, BroadConnect typically completes the full migration within 2–4 weeks, including configuration, number porting, and user onboarding with zero downtime.
9. Why BroadConnect for Your Teams Journey
- Microsoft Certified Partner — certified to deploy Teams Phone via Direct Routing and Operator Connect across Australia.
- Australian-based 24/7 support — real people, Australian time zones. See our support services at broadconnect.com.au/support
- Bundled connectivity — pair Teams Phone with BroadConnect Business NBN or dedicated fibre for guaranteed call quality.
- End-to-end migration — we handle number porting, SBC configuration, M365 licensing, and staff training.
- No lock-in contracts — flexible month-to-month options available. Compare plans at broadconnect.com.au/plans
| Ready to Move to Teams Phone?Get a free Teams readiness assessment and custom quote from BroadConnect — Australia’s trusted Teams telephony partner. Get a Free Quote → Explore Teams Solutions |