SIP trunking, sometimes referred to as VoIP trunking or IP trunking, is using your Internet access circuit to carry voice rather than a typical ISDN connection over the traditional PSTN network. In the UK, telco carriers are phasing out the supply and support of ISDN by 2025.
To switch your business over to SIP trunks you need to have business grade connectivity – especially if you are going to maximize the flexibility of the service by using SIP trunks not only for voice communications but also for applications such as video and unified communications (UC).
The ability of SIP trunks to deliver voice calls and these applications without compromising quality is directly related to the quality of the carrier trunk being used. Therefore, selecting the right supplier for the service and the right type of circuit for your business is paramount.Using a dedicated leased line with no other IP traffic is the most reliable and secure means of deploying SIP trunking. A leased line shared with other IP traffic, often using Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is another excellent and secure carrier circuit for SIP trunks but excessive IP traffic can interfere with VoIP operation unless that voice traffic is prioritized.
The third connectivity type is the public internet but whilst this method is the least expensive it has many drawbacks in that it is also needs a virtual private network (VPN) for security, it is the least reliable method and can carry the fewest number of calls.
As more and more businesses, both large and small look towards lower telephony costs, including free on-net calls, low cost International call rates and lower inbound toll free solutions, they will come to discover that SIP trunking can deliver these benefits and more.
SIP trunks enable fast and simple connectivity with new IP based business applications such as hosted telephony and Unified Communications as a Service.
These cloud based application deployments mean that users can reduce the capital expenditure costs associated with legacy systems, for example, expensive PBX phone systems.
The Gamma Horizon hosted telephony solution provides a business grade telephony service for organisations that is flexible both in terms of ownership costs as well as for future business growth.
SIP trunk capacity is easily expanded – as more trunks are needed it is just a simple matter of a having the provider make more active.
However, this expansion requires that your connectivity be of carrier grade and business quality. Your chosen supplier must be able to supply robust, reliable and resilient service to ensure the integrity of telephony services.
The obvious choice for business is therefore to source both your telephony applications and your SIP trunk access lines from a single supplier with a proven track record in both services.
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