Commander Closes — SIPcity Is Your Voice Alternative

SIPcity Editorial Staff
Dilapidated building with the Commander logo.

In September 2025, Commander telecommunications officially closed for business, with the brand being absorbed into its parent company Vocus. For Australian businesses searching for a Commander alternative Australia can trust, this transition raises an important question: where should you take your business communications next?

If you’re looking for a Commander alternative Australia businesses actually recommend, SIPcity offers everything you need; specialist business voice expertise, better service, genuine Australian support, and superior value. As a proudly Australian-owned voice communications provider, we’ve already helped thousands of businesses make the switch from problematic providers to reliable, professional telecommunications solutions.

Understanding Commander’s Troubled Legacy

Before we discuss why SIPcity stands out as the best Commander alternative Australia has available, it’s worth understanding what Commander customers have experienced. Commander’s reputation in the Australian market has been challenging for years, with customer reviews revealing consistent patterns of dissatisfaction.

Independent review sites paint a clear picture. Commander scored just 1.7 stars from over 300 reviews on ProductReview, with customers reporting issues including service reliability concerns, billing complications, difficulty reaching local support, and repeated telecommunications ombudsman complaints. These weren’t isolated incidents, they represented ongoing challenges that affected many Australian businesses.

In 2018, the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Commander after the company made misleading claims about nbn® speeds they could deliver, resulting in compensation for over 5,000 affected customers. For many businesses, the Commander closure and transition to Vocus presents an opportunity, you may now be out of contract and free to explore better options for your business communications.

Why Direct Small Business Voice Isn’t Vocus’s Core Focus

Now that Commander has been absorbed into Vocus, customers are being transitioned to the Vocus brand. But here’s the important context: Vocus is an infrastructure and wholesale telecommunications giant. They own and operate over 50,000 kilometres of fibre network across Australia and recently acquired TPG Telecom’s enterprise network assets in a $5.25 billion deal, making them Australia’s second-largest telecommunications company by infrastructure.

Vocus excels at what they do: providing wholesale carriage, infrastructure, and large-scale enterprise networking solutions. In fact, they’re so good at wholesale that they provide infrastructure services to many Australian telecommunications providers, including SIPcity. But here’s the key distinction: Vocus’s strength is in wholesale and infrastructure, not in providing specialist, hands-on business voice solutions directly to small and medium-sized businesses.

This creates a gap for former Commander customers. If you’re a small business with 5, 10, or 50 staff members searching for a Commander alternative Australia can rely on, you need a provider who specialises in business voice communications, understands SME needs, and can provide responsive, expert support. That’s not where Vocus focuses their attention, and that’s exactly where SIPcity excels as the premier Commander alternative Australia businesses are switching to.

Why SIPcity Is the Ideal Commander Alternative for Australian SMEs

SIPcity is a proudly Australian-owned and operated business voice specialist. We focus exclusively on what matters most to Australian small and medium businesses: reliable, feature-rich business phone systems with genuine expert support.

Here’s what makes SIPcity different:

Specialist Business Voice Focus

Unlike infrastructure giants, SIPcity’s entire business is built around delivering exceptional voice communications to Australian SMEs. We’ve served over 5,000 Australian businesses, and every one of our solutions is designed specifically for business voice needs; cloud PBX, VoIP calling, unified communications, and business phone systems that actually work the way you need them to.

Australian-Based Service and Support

SIPcity is founded, owned, and run right here in Australia. When you call us, you speak with Australian-based support staff who understand Australian business, Australian telecommunications regulations, and Australian business hours. No offshore call centres, no language barriers, no timezone frustrations, just genuine local support from people who understand your needs.

Better Value Than Commander Ever Offered

Former Commander customers consistently report paying between $89 and $200+ per month for services that frequently underperformed. SIPcity’s business

VoIP plans start from just $20 per user per month, with transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and all the premium features you need included as standard—not as costly add-ons.

Built on Quality Infrastructure (Including Vocus)

Here’s something important: SIPcity uses quality wholesale infrastructure, including services from Vocus, to deliver our voice solutions. This means you get the benefit of Australia’s best telecommunications infrastructure, but with SIPcity’s specialist business voice expertise, customer service, and SME-focused solutions layered on top. It’s the best of both worlds, tier-one infrastructure with specialist voice provider service.

All Your Voice Needs in One Place

SIPcity provides everything your business needs for communications:

Crystal-Clear Quality on Australian Networks

SIPcity’s servers are based in Australia, meaning your calls stay local with lower latency and higher quality. We understand Australian network conditions and optimise our systems specifically for the Australian telecommunications environment. The result? Consistently clear, reliable voice quality that your business can depend on.

What About Business Internet?

Here’s good news: SIPcity also provides business NBN internet services—the same NBN plans available from other providers. So if you want to consolidate everything with one trusted provider, you absolutely can.

However, if you’re already happy with your current internet provider, that’s perfectly fine. One of SIPcity’s strengths is flexibility. You can keep your existing internet service and just move your voice communications to us. Many Australian businesses actually prefer separating their voice and internet providers, it provides redundancy and means if one service has an issue, the other remains operational.

The key point is this: you have options. Whether you want SIPcity for just your voice services or for both voice and internet, we can accommodate your needs.

Making the Switch from Commander: Easier Than You Think

If you’re concerned that switching from Commander to SIPcity will be complicated, don’t be. We handle the entire transition process, including:

Number Porting Made Simple

We manage the complete number porting process, bringing your existing phone numbers across to SIPcity. Your customers won’t need to update their records—they’ll continue calling the same numbers they always have, but now with better service on our network.

Smooth Setup and Configuration

Our Australian-based team works with you to configure your new system exactly how you need it. We handle the technical setup, test everything thoroughly, and ensure you’re completely comfortable with your new system before we finalise the transition.

Training and Support

We provide comprehensive training for your team on how to use all the features of your new SIPcity system. And if questions come up later, our Australian support team is always available to help.

Minimal Disruption

We schedule transitions to minimise any impact on your business. Most customers experience zero downtime during the switch—we coordinate everything carefully to ensure seamless continuity.

The Commander Closure Is Your Opportunity

The closure of Commander and transition to Vocus isn’t just a forced change, it’s an opportunity. Many Commander customers who have been locked into contracts are now free to explore better options. You no longer have to accept substandard service, offshore support, or paying premium prices for basic features.

Australian businesses deserve telecommunications providers who understand their needs, provide genuine local support, and deliver reliable service at fair prices. That’s exactly what SIPcity offers, and it’s why over 5,000 Australian businesses trust us for their voice communications.

Ready to Make the Switch?

If you’re a former Commander customer wondering what to do next, or if you’re simply tired of dealing with providers who don’t prioritise small business needs, SIPcity is ready to help. We’ll provide a no-obligation consultation, explain exactly how we can support your business, and make the transition process as smooth as possible.

Don’t settle for being a small fish in a big wholesale pond. Choose a provider who specialises in exactly what you need: exceptional business voice communications with genuine Australian support.

Contact SIPcity today to discuss your business telecommunications needs. As a proudly Australian-owned company founded and run right here in Australia, we’re ready to show you what specialist business voice service should really look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I keep my existing Commander phone numbers?

A: Yes. SIPcity handles the number porting process, bringing your existing phone numbers across to our network so your customers experience no disruption.

Q: How long does it take to switch from Commander to SIPcity?

A: Most transitions are completed within 1-2 weeks, depending on number porting timeframes. We coordinate everything to minimize any impact on your business.

Q: Will I need new equipment?

A: It depends on your current setup. Many businesses can continue using their existing IP phones with SIPcity. We’ll assess your equipment during our consultation and advise on the best path forward.

Q: What if I’m happy with my current internet provider?

A: That’s absolutely fine. You can switch just your voice services to SIPcity while keeping your existing internet provider. Many businesses prefer this approach for redundancy.

Q: How much will I save compared to Commander?

A: Most customers save 40-60% on their telecommunications costs when switching to SIPcity, while gaining more features and better support. We’ll provide a detailed quote based on your specific needs.

Q: Do you offer month-to-month plans or require long contracts?

A: We offer flexible contract options to suit your business needs. Contact us to discuss the best arrangement for your situation.

Q: Is support really Australian-based?

A: Yes. SIPcity is Australian-owned and operated, with Australian-based support staff. When you call, you speak with local experts who understand Australian business and telecommunications.