The shift towards Internet-based telephony is transforming the way businesses communicate. The analog systems of the past are giving way to digital networks, sending voice over the Internet rather than traditional phone systems. Copper wire might get the job done, but it comes with heavy maintenance costs and limited functionality. One solution to lowering your monthly phone bill lies in SIP trunking.

What is SIP Trunking?



SIP trunking merges analog and digital communications by routing traditional voice lines over an IP network. You no longer have to worry about exorbitant long-distance fees, managing costly PSTN lines, or limiting the functionality available to you or your employees. With SIP trunking, you can reduce costs and manage your voice network more effectively.

Unlike a traditional phone system, SIP trunking lets you scale based on your needs. Voice traffic shares the same line as data traffic, eliminating the need to build out a separate network. Moving to a SIP trunk gives you greater control and reliability while reducing costs by up to 50%.

Best of all, SIP trunks integrate seamlessly with existing PBX systems. IP PBX systems can immediately take advantage of a SIP trunk, while legacy PBX systems can communicate with a trunk through the use of a VoIP gateway. Because there is zero upfront cost of installing a gateway and minimal upfront cost when upgrading to IP PBX, your company reaps the long-term benefits of a flexible, fully digital phone system.



Implementing SIP Trunking



SIP trunks use your existing Internet connection to connect a PBX to an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP). Because the SIP trunk transmits data over a digital channel, calls from a legacy PBX lines have to be converted with the use of a VoIP gateway. Gateways convert analog PBX lines into digital VoIP calls, and they convert incoming calls to the appropriate legacy protocol. With IP PBX systems, the trunk terminates at the PBX, removing the need for gateways altogether.

Before switching to a SIP trunk, your organization will want to consider bandwidth usage. Bandwidth will determine the quality of your calls when your network is under load. A direct connection to an ITSP is the preferred way to create a SIP trunk, although many businesses choose to provision SIP trunks over their standard Internet connection. When sharing a connection, you or your ISP can implement Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize voice data over other types of data, preventing poor audio quality or loss of service.

Other factors in SIP trunking include the reliability and security of your ITSP connection. Like any IP-based system, SIP trunks are susceptible to outages and possible attacks. However, a properly configured SIP trunk is extremely secure, and since SIP data is IP-based it can be easily routed around network failures or interruptions.

Is SIP Trunking Right For Your Business?

The telecom industry is gradually moving away from costly copper lines to cheaper, more flexible digital communications. It's easier than ever to convert an existing analog phone system to a digital solution. When you can save up to 50% without making substantial changes to your existing infrastructure, there are few reasons not to make the switch.

Find out if SIP trunking is what you need. Give us a call at 619-473-5600 or contact us. We'll help you determine what's best for you.