What is a PABX system and does your business need one?
A PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange) manages internal call routing, extensions and shared lines for an office. Worth considering once you have enough staff that separate mobile lines per person become unwieldy or costly to manage.
Analogue vs IP PABX
Analogue PABX systems use traditional phone lines and are simpler but less flexible. IP PABX systems run over the office network, see our CAT6 vs CAT6A cabling guide and MikroTik router setup guide for the network foundation this depends on, and generally offer easier scaling, remote extensions, and more modern features.
Sizing by extension count
- 4 to 8 extensions: typical for a small office or branch
- 10 to 20 extensions: growing team, often the point where IP's easier scaling starts to matter more
- 20+ extensions: larger offices, where IP PABX's flexibility becomes the clearer choice
What installation actually involves
Beyond the PABX unit itself, installation involves handset setup per extension, network configuration for IP systems, and testing call routing and shared lines. This is more involved than plugging in a single device, and worth scoping properly rather than assuming a quick job.
Why Kenyan SMEs switch from mobile-only to PABX
The common trigger is cost and coordination. Managing calls across many separate mobile lines gets expensive and hard to route professionally, no shared reception line, no internal transfers, once a team passes a certain size.
Getting current pricing
For current PABX and IP phone options sized to your extension count, request a quote or WhatsApp the technical desk.