Don’t forget SIP Trunks!
As a country we have been talking about the big switch off in 2025 for some time now. As of October 2021, 169 exchanges had already been placed on a stop sell and the remainder will be ceased by the end of next year. The obvious choice for the UK business market is to move their outdated on premise PBX to a more future-proofed hosted telephony system, but what do you do if you are happy with the on premise system you invested in, that is still doing its job perfectly well?
Many businesses are moving from their traditional ISDN lines to more future-proofed SIP Trunking. Nobody wants to be part of the final sprint before the big switch off, and compared with bulky ISDN lines, SIP Trunks can offer a more flexible and cost-effective option for businesses, which are easily scaled up or down according to need.
What is SIP Trunking and How Does It Work?
Before you decide to upgrade your business telecoms, it’s probably a good idea to learn a little more about the SIP trunking meaning and what SIP trunking providers offer. While the concept might seem complicated at first, we’ll break it down into easy-to-understand terminology, explain how SIP trunking can benefit your organisation and give you an insight to SIP trunking for dummies!
Session Initiation Protocol, or ‘SIP’, is simply an internet protocol that facilitates voice communication. It’s the backbone for hosted telephony systems and can also be used for your on premise phone system.
VoIP systems work by converting voice signals into data and sending them to the recipient where their device decodes the data and re-converts it back to voice signals. At either end of the connection, however, connections are required to facilitate the transfer of data, and this is where SIP trunking comes in.
When applied to modern telecoms solutions, trunking refers to the virtual link that exists between your company’s private branch exchange (PBX) and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). If you want to run an internet-based PBX (and reap the benefits that it offers), you need to connect it to the PSTN, and a SIP trunk enables you to do just that. Think of it just like the string between two bean tins that you may have played with as a child!
SIP Trunking vs VoIP?
SIP trunking and VoIP systems are two different things, although they work in conjunction with one another. SIP trunking alone won’t allow you to make calls over the internet, but it can facilitate the successful use of a VoIP system (and, therefore, enable you to make internet-based calls). It can also connect your traditional phone system to the PSTN. The reliability and functionality offered by SIP trunking makes it a popular choice for businesses that want to ensure optimal performance of their communications systems.
What Is a SIP Trunk?
Traditionally, a ‘trunk’ was a group of cables that linked one local telephone exchange to another, but the arrival of the internet changed how these connections are made. Now, a trunk is a collection of virtual channels, and each channel can process a specific number of calls at once.
So, the number of simultaneous calls that your company makes or receives will determine how many channels you need. If you have a large number of employees making and receiving calls throughout the working day, for example, you’ll need a larger number of channels than a small company with one or two members of staff who rarely make calls, for example.
Remember – you can change the number of channels you have access to at any time with DRC. If your business grows and you begin receiving or making more calls, you can simply scale up your SIP trunking services and access additional channels within a matter of minutes.
Can SIP Trunking Replace Traditional Phone Lines?
Absolutely. With ISDN being phased out, it’s vital for businesses to find a suitable alternative. Fortunately, SIP trunking can connect your PBX to the PSTN virtually and future-proof your communications setup. While the eradication of ISDN may have been a cause for concern at one time, the benefits available from VoIP communication and SIP trunking services mean that businesses can access enhanced communication solutions by making the switch to an online system.
How Do SIP Trunking Services Work?
With SIP trunking explained, it’s time to look a little deeper into the services that are available. As you can imagine, businesses have varying needs when it comes to telephone systems. An inbound call centre might have hundreds of telephonists using individual devices to answer calls, for example, while a small office-based business may need just one or two lines to make and receive calls.
When you’re searching for SIP trunking providers, it’s important to differentiate between the varying services that they offer. Similarly, you’ll want to compare SIP trunking pricing to ensure you’re getting the most cost-effective solution for your company. When you compare the services and prices available for SIP trunking from Twilio, DRC and Gamma, for example, you’ll see that we have a range of advantages, including:
- No setup costs
- Call costs included in monthly line rental
- Integration with existing PBX systems
- Easy to scale
- Access to real-time call statistics
- Intelligent call features
- Memorable phone numbers
How Much Is SIP Trunking Pricing?
All businesses can increase their profitability by reducing expenditure and switching to SIP trunking from ISDN could shrink your telecoms bills. At DRC, we provide competitive solutions that are designed to provide you with the high-quality features and seamless functionality you need. For example, you won’t need to pay setup costs to get your SIP trunk up and running and you can drastically reduce the amount spent on line rental when you’re no longer funding an ISDN connection. Furthermore, our monthly rental price includes call charges, so you won’t have to worry about variable or unpredictable bills.
Is SIP Trunking Right for Your Business?
SIP trunking can be an excellent solution for virtually all businesses, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to future-proof your communications and minimise costs by switching to an internet-protocol system using a SIP trunk.
However, finding the right communications tools is never a ‘one-size-fits-all’ process. Instead, your company’s needs should be assessed, so that a suitable and cost-effective solution can be identified. At DRC, we work closely with our clients to understand their operations and business goals, and determine what they need from fixed lines. Whether you’re an enterprise-level company with hundreds of staff or a growing start-up, our team are on hand to provide the advice and assistance you need.
To learn more about SIP trunking and what it can offer your business, contact DRC now on 01256 895895 or email us at [email protected].
