Dropped Calls: Causes & Solutions to Avoid Them

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Reliable communication is the lifeblood of any successful business in this modern and digital age. But there's nothing more frustrating than experiencing dropped calls, especially when crucial discussions or important deals are at stake.

We've created this comprehensive guide to help you understand the causes behind getting disconnected in the middle of a conversation and empower you with practical solutions to avoid them. Whether you're using traditional cellular networks or exploring the cutting-edge world of VoIP, this guide will provide the tools to ensure seamless and uninterrupted conversations. Let's dive in!

What is a Dropped Call?

A dropped call is when a phone call gets unexpectedly disconnected or abruptly ends before the conversation is completed. It occurs when the voice or data connection between two parties is lost, interrupting communication. It is a sudden disruption that can leave both parties puzzled and frustrated. They can be frustrating and disruptive, especially in important conversations. It disrupts communication flow, leading to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and customer dissatisfaction. They can occur on cellular networks and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls.

Causes for a Dropped Call

At some point, most of us have experienced the frustration of a dropped call. You answer the phone, only to have the line abruptly die after a few seconds or minutes. Imagine a situation where a phone conversation is unexpectedly disconnected or abruptly ends before its completion. This signifies that it has been dropped unless the other party intentionally hung up.

 But what exactly causes this? The underlying causes can vary, ranging from technical issues to network limitations and environmental factors. Here are a few causes, among others:

Weak Signal Strength:

one of the primary causes of dropped telephone conversation is a weak signal. Poor signal reception can lead to dropped conversations, especially in remote or congested areas. Inadequate network coverage or obstructions such as buildings or natural terrain can weaken the signal and result in disconnections.

Network Congestion:

Heavy peak-hour traffic overloads the network infrastructure, leading to dropped conversation. When multiple users simultaneously utilize the network's resources, the available bandwidth diminishes, affecting connection quality and stability.

Interference and Environmental Factors:

External factors like electromagnetic interference, extreme weather conditions, or even physical barriers can interfere with the transmission of voice data.

Loss of connection:

This occurs when your phone loses contact with the cellular network. This may be due to weak signal strength or faulty SIM cards. An ongoing phone conversation can come to an abrupt end due to the interruption of the connection.

Distance from Cell Tower:

The farther you are from the nearest cell tower, the weaker the signal becomes. If you are in an area with limited coverage, you will likely experience an interruption in the telephone conversation.

Software or Firmware Issues:

Outdated software or firmware on the device can contribute to it. This could include problems with the antenna, battery, or even outdated software that may interfere with the quality of signals and connection. It's essential to keep devices and applications up to date to ensure optimal performance.

Roaming:

If you are in an area where your network provider does not have a strong presence and relies on another network through roaming, you may experience more dropped conversations due to the network handover.

Network Handover Issues:

The conversation must be seamlessly transferred when you move from one cell tower's coverage area to another. However, if there are issues with the handover process, it can lead to the cut-off of the conversation.

Network Outages:

Temporary network outages or maintenance can also cause phone conversations to drop off. These are usually resolved once the network is restored.

Interference or Noise:

Environmental factors such as high background noise or interference can disrupt the call quality and result in a break in transmission.

The causes can vary depending on the specific circumstances, location, and network provider. Understanding the potential causes can help identify the appropriate solutions to mitigate these incidents and improve connection quality.

Solutions to Avoid Dropped Calls

Assess Your Internet Speed:

Once you receive a network issue warning, the first step is to check your internet speed. Conduct Speedtest VoIP to know how fast your internet is. Slow internet speeds can impact the quality of VoIP calls.

Enhance Signal Reception:

Consider using signal boosters or Wi-Fi features to mitigate weak signals and fix the issues. These technologies amplify signal strength, enabling more reliable call connections even in areas with poor cellular coverage.

Optimize Network Performance:

Choose a reliable and robust internet service provider (ISP) with sufficient bandwidth to support your communication needs. Upgrading to a higher-speed internet connection can enhance signal quality and reduce the likelihood of getting disconnected from the cellular network.

Implement Call Routing and Failover Systems:

By incorporating intelligent call routing mechanisms and failover systems, businesses can dynamically redirect calls to alternative networks or communication channels if one connection becomes unstable or drops. This ensures seamless communication without interruption.

Invest in Quality VoIP Solutions:

Leveraging VoIP technology can significantly reduce the risk of having dropped conversations. VoIP utilizes the internet to transmit voice data, bypassing traditional telephone lines and offering more flexibility and reliability. VoIP systems often incorporate advanced features like call continuity, automatic call recovery, and adaptive codecs to optimize call quality and prevent call drops.

Minimize Network Congestion:

Avoid making calls during peak hours or in crowded areas. If possible, schedule important meetings for times when network congestion is minimal.

Reduce Interference:

Keep your device away from sources of electromagnetic interference, such as other electronic devices, metal objects, or physical obstructions.

Switch Networks or Providers:

If you consistently experience dropped calls with your current network provider, consider switching to a different provider that offers better coverage and reliability in your area.

Enable Wi-Fi Calling:

Utilize Wi-Fi calling when available. This feature allows you to make calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of relying only on cellular coverage, providing a more stable connection.

Reset Network Settings:

Resetting your device's network settings can help resolve any configuration issues. You can do this by navigating to the network settings menu and selecting the option to reset network settings.

Use a Different Device:

if your telephone network drops consistently with a particular device, consider using a different device to see if the issue persists. This helps to determine if the problem lies with the device you are using.

Report Issues to Service Provider:

If your phone conversation is cut off continuously, contact your service provider to report the issue. They may be able to investigate and address any network-related problems in your area.

Optimize Call Settings:

Adjust your settings to prioritize quality and stable signals. This can include disabling features like call waiting or enabling options like HD voice calling if supported by your device and network.

Update Software and Firmware:

Regularly check for updates and install the latest software and firmware on your devices. These updates often include bug fixes and performance enhancements that can reduce the incidents of getting disconnected during conversations.

Why Dropped Calls Can Be a Problem for Your Business?

Dropped calls can be a significant problem for businesses, impacting productivity, customer satisfaction, and overall communication efficiency. They can lead to missed opportunities, frustrated customers, and impaired collaboration. Whether you are conducting essential sales meetings, providing customer support, or collaborating with remote teams, they disrupt the flow of communication and hinder productivity. Maintaining seamless and uninterrupted communication is crucial for delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving success in today's highly competitive business landscape.

Here are some reasons why dropped calls can be problematic for your business:

Missed Opportunities:

They can result in missed opportunities for sales or important business discussions. If the conversation gets disconnected during a critical negotiation or while closing a deal, it can lead to lost revenue and potential clients.

Poor Customer Experience:

It can leave customers frustrated and dissatisfied. It reflects poorly on your business's professionalism and reliability, potentially damaging your reputation and customer relationships.

Communication Breakdown

It disrupts effective communication within your organization. Interruptions can hinder collaboration and decision-making processes, whether internal team discussions or client meetings.

Wasted Time and Resources:

Frequent drops in conversation waste valuable time and resources as you have to reconnect, reschedule, or deal with the aftermath of interrupted conversations. This inefficiency can hamper productivity and increase operational costs.

Decreased Customer Loyalty:

Constant interruptio of business conversations can lead to customer dissatisfaction, causing them to seek alternative solutions or switch to competitors. It erodes trust and loyalty, impacting long-term customer relationships. 

Negative Brand Image:

It poorly reflects your brand's image and professionalism. Customers may perceive your business as unreliable and unresponsive, damaging your brand reputation.

Lost Business Opportunities:

If the dropped conversation becomes a recurring problem, you may lose potential clients to competitors offering more reliable communication solutions. This can result in lost business opportunities and revenue.

For you to maintain a competitive edge and ensure smooth business operations, it is crucial to address and mitigate the issues associated with dropped calls. Implementing reliable communication solutions, optimizing network infrastructure, and providing excellent customer support can help minimize the impact of connectivity problems on your business. Reach out to Aircall Support to troubleshoot any issue with your business communication.

How VoIP Reduces the Risk of Dropped Calls

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) offers a modern and reliable solution to mitigate the risk of dropped calls. VoIP systems provide a stable and consistent communication platform by leveraging internet connectivity. Unlike traditional phone lines, VoIP technology minimizes signal interference, offers better call quality, and allows seamless scalability to accommodate growing business needs. With VoIP calls, businesses can enjoy enhanced call reliability, improved call management features, and the flexibility to integrate with other communication tools.

In today's world, businesses no longer have to subject their communication to the mercy of the telecommunications network. Thanks to advancements like cloud-calling and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, organizations can now take matters into their own hands and protect their communications from disruption.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a communication technology that transmits voice conversation over the internet instead of traditional telephone lines. VoIP offers several features and advantages that help reduce the risk of getting disconnected from cellular networks compared to traditional phone systems.

VoIP technology offers a range of features and capabilities that minimize the risk of dropped calls. By leveraging VoIP solutions, businesses can enjoy benefits such as:

Call Continuity:

VoIP systems often include call continuity features that seamlessly transfer active calls between different devices or networks. This ensures uninterrupted conversations, even if one connection drops or becomes unstable. VoIP can seamlessly transfer calls between devices and locations without interruption. For example, the conversation can be easily transferred without dropping the connection if you're using your desk phone and need to move to a different location or switch to a mobile device.

Adaptive Codecs:

VoIP uses adaptive codecs, which dynamically adjust the compression and decompression of voice data based on network conditions. This helps maintain call quality and reduce the chances of call drops during network fluctuations.

Network Redundancy:

VoIP solutions are built with network redundancy, which means they have multiple pathways for call data to travel. If one pathway becomes congested, the system automatically switches to an alternate route, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and minimizing the chances of getting disconnected from the cellular network.

Quality of Service (QoS) Prioritization:

VoIP systems prioritize voice traffic over other data types, ensuring that voice packets are given priority in network transmission. Quality of Service protocols are implemented to allocate sufficient bandwidth and minimize latency, jitter, and packet loss, all contributing to dropped calls. This helps maintain quality communication and minimizes the likelihood of being cut off amidst conversation due to network congestion.

Call Forwarding and Failover:

VoIP solutions offer advanced call forwarding and failover options. If a conversation cannot be completed on a particular device, the system automatically forwards the call to an alternative device to continue the conversation. 

Mobile Integration:

VoIP systems can integrate with mobile devices through dedicated apps, allowing you to make and receive calls using your mobile device to extend your office phone system. This mobility ensures that even when you're on the go, you can maintain call continuity and minimize the risk of dropped calls.

Advanced Monitoring and Troubleshooting:

VoIP solutions offer robust monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities, allowing businesses to proactively identify and resolve potential issues. Real-time network performance monitoring, call quality metrics, and proactive troubleshooting help prevent dropped calls and ensure optimal communication experiences.

While dropped calls can be a frustrating and disruptive issue in business communication, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of getting disconnected from cellular networks and enjoy more reliable and uninterrupted communication by leveraging the benefits of VoIP technology. VoIP's inherent flexibility, scalability, and advanced features provide a solid foundation for high call quality and customer satisfaction.

 Embracing VoIP technology and its inherent benefits, such as call continuity, adaptive codecs, and network redundancy, can significantly enhance call quality and reliability. Say goodbye to dropped calls and hello to a more connected future with VoIP solutions.Start your free trialwith Aircall today!

Published on August 11, 2023.