SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) Trunking provides a path on which companies with an on-premise telephone system can access the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) via an internet connection, therefore replacing traditional telephone lines or PRIs (Primary Rate Interface) at a much lower cost per month.

SIP Trunking offers a much lower overall cost per minute for voice traffic and can often allow companies to consolidate communications providers. But perhaps the most attractive advantage is the ability to scale up or down with ease whenever your business needs require.

Gartner reports that upgrading to SIP Trunking from a legacy system can save as much as 50% in telephony costs. To see what your savings could be, get a Quote from our Team today.

SIP channels can be likened to telephone lines where each line (or channel) can support a single call.

Historically, a business could only make one call per business phone number, (sometimes referred to as lines) they had – when they needed to expand their use to two concurrent calls, the business would have to buy two lines, and so on. It was only in the 80’s when analog lines were replaced with Primary Rate Interface (PRI) lines. These PRI lines, which still serve traditional hardwired phone systems today, allow 23 calls to be made concurrently on each line. Like analog lines, PRI lines can be purchased in multiples, though they are only available in groups of 23 lines. Conversely, SIP channels can be purchased individually as needed – allowing you to pay only for what you need.

SIP Trunking and VoIP are the same in that they both facilitate voice traffic over an internet connection. A typical VoIP service plan will include features and configuration options in a web portal as well as provide a connection to the PSTN. The key difference is that SIP Trunking connects a second service (typically an on-site PBX system) to the PSTN to deliver voice traffic.

SIP Trunking is designed specifically to be the bridge from an on-site system to the cloud that is totally lossless in terms of sound quality. For crystal clear calls via SIP Trunking or VoIP, it is essential to maintain a robust internet connection with enough bandwidth to support the call traffic. Companies outgrowing their network may consider a separate internet connection for VoIP, enabling QoS (Quality of Service) on their router(s).