SIP trunking is a growing method of communication over the internet. SIP trunking allows both your landlines and softphones to connect to the fixed telephone network to make calls. SIP trunking uses IP to connect a call to the fixed telephone network (PSTN) instead of the traditional approach of PRI or analog lines. SIP trunking thus connects your internet service provider to your telephone exchange.
Introduction
Why is this so beneficial and something that more and more people are choosing to invest in? It’s a robust solution for a future where we continue to communicate online and more and more businesses move to the cloud. It’s also a way to reduce your company’s telephony costs and something that will improve flexibility within your company.
This guide will give you all the information you need to decide if SIP trunking is right for you. You will also learn everything you need to know and more about communication over the internet. Sound good? Then let’s get started!
The history of SIP
To best understand SIP, we go back to the days before the internet. In the early days of telephone calls, landline telephones were used to make calls over the analog Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) made up of copper lines (PRI). At that time, a physical connection between two points was required for a call to work. As the service developed, companies could then buy a package, known as a trunk, from their provider. The trunk then consisted of a number of telephone lines.
Since the 1980s, copper lines have used ISDN to connect to the internet and trunking has evolved into IP trunking. The main difference between traditional trunks and IP trunks is that instead of copper lines, IP connections over the internet are used.
The world’s first VoIP call
In the late 1970s, VoIP was developed using several different protocols. The first VoIP call to go beyond the analog copper lines went over the IP network. It used a Network Voice Protocol (NVP) over Arpanet (the precursor to the internet). The first VoIP software that could be installed on home computers came in 1995. In 2003, Skype, perhaps the most well-known alternative today, was introduced to the market.
SIP is introduced
SIP was developed in 1996 and allowed for the inclusion of video and chat in addition to voice. It has become the most widely used voice protocol compatible with IP-based PBXs and other types of VoIP products. It was quickly embraced by many companies as they could not only hold their calls over the internet but also only needed to use one network for all media and could eliminate the physical telephone cables.
At the beginning of the 2000s, cables and DSL connections started to be used more widely for internet services instead of the analog PSTN lines. This meant faster internet, which in turn meant that VoIP technology could be better used. As more and more people started to use VoIP, SIP trunking was needed to make calls using multiple technologies. Without SIP trunking, VoIP would only have meant making voice calls internally and you would still need the copper lines to call out of the office.
How SIP trunking works
One thing is certain and that is that we will move completely to communicating over the internet. In Sweden, we have come a long way and most companies here have already phased out fixed telephone exchanges and moved to cloud-based solutions. However, there are different ways to communicate over the internet. One of the most popular approaches is SIP trunking.
SIP trunks are virtual phone lines that use SIP protocols to make voice calls (VoIP). SIP allows providers to connect to your PBX and all your phone numbers are connected directly to the SIP trunk. A SIP trunk can have unlimited lines so you never have to worry about increased costs if you need to add more lines, or remove existing ones!
What is needed to use a SIP trunk?
To use a SIP trunk, you need an internet subscription and a telephone exchange that is SIP-compatible. Your internet speed must be fast enough, but this is usually not a problem as the speeds of most providers meet the requirements.
How do you know if your PBX is SIP-compatible?
Most new telephone exchanges are SIP-compatible. Many older PBXs are designed for the old copper network, so you may need to upgrade or buy a new one. It is possible to invest in a gateway that allows traffic on your old PBX to go over the internet instead. However, older fixed telephone exchanges are generally more expensive and difficult to maintain, so looking at other options is a good idea and investment for the future.
Advantages and disadvantages of SIP trunking
Reduced costs and increased flexibility
All phone calls are made over the internet so you don’t pay per minute or per call rates.
This means lower subscription and traffic costs. Since the solution applies to everyone connected to the company, it doesn’t matter if your colleagues work from home, their calls will also be free. You will also reduce costs such as installation, configuration, maintenance and hardware.
Because SIP trunks are not physically tied to a specific location, you don’t need to change numbers if you move into a new office. Because it’s a scalable solution, you can reduce the number of lines if needed but also easily scale up without any extra costs. New users are also added quickly and easily.
Another positive aspect is that the transition to SIP trunking is not something that affects the company or employees per se. No one will notice the transition, but in practice it is mainly about calling over the internet instead of over the copper lines.
Disadvantages of SIP trunking
If you have a fixed telephone exchange today and want to move from it to a completely new solution, it will initially require a major investment in new equipment.
It is rare that the internet connection stops working, but if the internet is down, it will not be possible to call out. Then, of course, there is the option of using your cell phone instead.
Finally, it is also worth pointing out that since SIP trunks are exposed to the internet, you need to have a well-functioning network security. SIP trunking in itself does not lead to an increased risk, but appropriate security measures must be in place for it to be safe.
Is SIP Trunk something your company needs?
Do I need a SIP trunk to make calls over the internet?
No, they don’t. The only solutions available are not traditional PBXs or SIP trunking, but there are other, tailored UCaaS solutions that are even more beneficial. UCaaS stands for Unified Communications as a Service and is an umbrella term for cloud-based communication solutions. It’s a way of bringing your company’s communications together in one platform. For example, you have switchboard, mobile telephony and chat in one app.
Who is SIP trunking suitable for?
SIP trunking is a smart solution for larger companies that use many different numbers. It is also suitable for companies that have an existing switchboard they do not want to get rid of. Above all, it is about seeing what you need and what requirements you place on your telephony and communication. If you only make voice calls but do not have a greater need for other functions, SIP trunking can work well to reduce costs and increase flexibility.
Frequently asked questions and answers about SIP trunking
How long does it take to implement a SIP trunk?
If you meet the requirements, i.e. have a fast enough internet connection and an IP-compatible telephone exchange, the implementation can be done in a few minutes. You just need to decide which phone numbers you want to use and where on the internet you want to send the calls.
In some cases, you may need to reconfigure your PBX to talk to the SIP trunk provider’s PBX. This may require a quick reprogramming.
How do different SIP trunk solutions differ?
The solutions are not really different at all. SIP trunking solutions are generally stripped down and simple. Essentially, it’s about being able to connect calls over the phone network using the equipment you have. It’s a simple service for those who want telephony at a low cost and not a lot of extras.
Do a price comparison and review different providers’ offers. For example, ask them what happens if your internet connection is down and what their service availability is.
Is SIP trunking safe?
Some people are concerned that SIP trunking and making calls over the internet will not be as secure as making calls over the fixed telephone network. There may be a fear that SIP opens up vulnerabilities in the network or that it will be easier for outsiders to listen in on calls.
However, SIP trunking does not pose any additional vulnerability to network security as it is just a protocol that ensures you can send and receive information. It acts as a controlled gateway to the PSTN, the analog telephone network. SIP trunking therefore has nothing to do with your network security. However, SIP trunks are exposed to the internet so your network security must be stable.
SIP trunking therefore becomes what you make it and how you use it. A regular phone can also be a security risk. So if you choose a provider who knows how to set it up, it’s very safe.
Make sure your network is secure
Keep your software updated to reduce the risk of security issues, from your router to your telephone switchboard. Use complex passwords that you change frequently. Make sure your PBX is secured with firewalls.
Also ask the provider if they use their own network or someone else’s. There are providers that sell SIP trunks from other providers. You want to choose someone who uses their own network and who has full control over their service.
Do you get a worse voice quality if you use SIP?
In short: no, on the contrary. Voice quality depends on the parameters used by the operator and the phone you use. Many providers use HD Voice, which provides a quality superior to the old telephone network.
Alternatives to SIP trunking
Is SIP trunking the best solution for telephony?
Making calls over the internet is the most future-proof solution, at least for now. Using VoIP technology is suitable for most businesses and industries, regardless of how much you call or where you have offices. What you should do is review your telephony needs and what you will need in the future.
If you want to keep your PBX and are looking for a scaled-down solution
If you have recently invested in a cloud-based PBX or have a fixed PBX that has worked well for many years, you may choose to keep it but integrate it with SIP. A newer cloud-based PBX is probably already IP-compliant, but an older PBX may need to be upgraded to implement SIP.
Telavox’s SIP trunking service allows you to keep the PBX you have, but you use us as the operator. This means that we connect the calls and handle the integration with a SIP trunk, which allows you to make calls over the internet. For this to work, of course
Telavox SIP solution in 5 words
1. cost-effective
Lower costs for your business. You no longer need physical phone lines that are inflexible and expensive to maintain. International calls will also be much cheaper.
2. global
Telavox uses Voxbone’s global SIP trunk service and we can therefore offer numbers in over 65 countries. In addition, many Telavox customers use their Nordic accounts for their contact centers worldwide.
3. flexible
Adapt to what your business needs right now by easily scaling up or down. With old-fashioned physical phone lines, increasing the number of business phone lines was a time-consuming and complex task. Modern VoIP solutions with SIP trunking make this kind of change almost instantaneous.
4. future-proofed
SIP trunking is a solution for the future. In many parts of the world, the old network of copper lines is being phased out. With SIP trunking, you can be sure that your voice calls will always reach the other party even in areas where there is no physical network.
5. integration-friendly
Integrate with other telephony environments via SIP. Telavox supports Mitel, Avaya, Aastra and LG-Ericsson local providers. Telavox also provides a number of integrations with CRM systems and Microsoft Teams.
A complete and user-friendly UCaaS solution
For those who want to go a step further and invest in a solution that is optimized for the future and ensures even better communication both inside and outside the company, there are several options.
Telavox has always had its sights set on the future. When we started the company in the early 2000s, it was to develop a better way for companies to communicate and to take business communications to the cloud. We are different from many other UCaaS providers as we developed and own everything ourselves. Since we have been working with telephony over the internet from the very beginning, our solution has been constantly refined and improved.
Our complete communication platform includes switchboard, telephony and mobile telephony. You can use any device to communicate however you want – you’ll get the same experience regardless. Read more about all the benefits that come with our solution here.
Little-ring-over-the-net dictionary
Audio Codec
Codec is an abbreviation of encoder/decoder which means to digitally compress and decompress audio. This is done to reduce the file size so that the transmission over the internet is faster. In the case of calls over the internet, this means that the voice, i.e. the audio signal, is digitally compressed and when the audio signal reaches its final destination, it is decompressed to be played back in full quality. This is how VoIP is made possible.
DID (Direct Inward Dial)
SIP trunking uses DID (Direct Inward Dial) which means that everyone in the office can have their own SIP line. To use DID, you need to use ISDN or another digital connection. DID is a feature that means you can give each employee their own number without having to use a dedicated phone line for this.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
It is another common method of connecting to the internet using telephone lines. Like ISDN, voice and data can be transmitted simultaneously.
IDSN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
A common method of connecting to the internet over standard telephone lines developed in the 1980s. Because the network is digital, multiple devices can be used simultaneously, such as phones and computers.
IP (Internet Protocol)
IP telephony means making calls over the internet instead of the traditional telephone network. IP is the communication protocol used to send information over the internet.
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
The analog, traditional telephone network consisting of copper lines.
QoS (Quality of Service)
QoS is a router setting that tells the network to prioritize voice calls to avoid interference and loss of quality. With the QoS setting, audio quality is maintained even when data-consuming activities such as streaming video or downloading large files are in progress.
SIP (Session Initiated Protocol)
SIP is the protocol used to send voice information over the network. A SIP trunk enables online calls, i.e. streamed calls instead of traditional telephony over the telephone network.
SIP phone
Hardware or software-based phones that use VoIP to make calls. It is another name for VoIP phone or a softphone.
Softphone
A softphone is a piece of software that you install on your computer or tablet so that you can use the device like any other phone. It is most commonly used with VoIP to make calls over the internet.
UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service)
UCaaS means subscribing to (usually) cloud-based solutions for Unified Communications. For example, a basic version of UC can be to bring together the company’s telephony, chat, PBX, email and video calls in one platform.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
A technology or concept for voice calls over the internet. Also sometimes referred to as IP telephony, broadband telephony and internet telephony.
