PSTN to SIP – The Evolution

In the days before the age of digital communications, when phone calls traveled through the wired PTSN network, corporations around the globe were required to acquire dedicated lines, or bundles of circuits known as ‘trunks’, from their conventional telephony provider. Modern day communications has modified the ‘trunking’ theory to encompass the IP-enabled sphere; resulting in significantly lowered communications costs and heightened return on investment (ROI) capabilities. All the while delivering enhanced communications capabilities inside the enterprise while extending similar benefits to the extended network of consumers, suppliers, and business partners.

 

Offered by an Internet Service Provider (ITSP), a SIP trunk leverages a SIP to initiate communications between the ITSP and the PBX of the client firm. As a wholly scalable communications solution, a trunk can be tailored to include as many voice sessions as the business requires to operate optimally. Contrary to common belief, SIP services encompass much more than just voice communications and can be harnessed to include an entire array of real-time communications options such as Instant Messaging, presence applications, file sharing, and even a wide variety of conferencing tools.

 

One of the greatest driving factors for businesses deploying SIP trunks stems from the potential for rapidly realized return on investment. However, it is important to understand that the potential to maximize return on investment comes largely from extending VoIP beyond the local area network of the enterprise. Since SIP trunks eliminate the requirement to purchase costly telephony infrastructure such as BRIs, PRIs, and even PTSN gateways, it is possible to realize cost savings immediately upon deployment.

 

As most enterprises report, the productivity boosting benefits associated with SIP and SIP trunking are extremely valuable. Simply by extending the capabilities of SIP to span past the corporate networks to remote locations, everyone from tele-workers to potential clients can utilize VoIP and many of the other great real-time communications tools to stay connected, cross geographic barriers, and increase daily productivity.

 

In order to successfully deploy a fully operational SIP solution three components must be attained: a PBX with a SIP-enable trunk side, an enterprise edge device, and an Internet telephony service provider.

 

SIP capable hardware such as SIP phones and IP-PBXs have existed in the marketplace for many years. As the number of businesses adopting a SIP trunk solution accelerates, it is becoming increasingly imperative for ensure interoperability with new and existing hardware components. It is with this in mind, the high industry standards we provide have become such a vital element of SIP integration. Developed by our team of SIP experts, BroadConnect has set the best practices in place for enterprises looking to interface PBX implementation with an ITSP. We have designed the purpose of removing many of the risks and incompatibilities from utilizing hardware and technology from multiple vendors in one distinct environment.

Tweet