With businesses especially reaping financial and technical rewards from VoIP technology, carriers are increasingly in demand. Here’s a quick look at their role in the VoIP world.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has revolutionized the way we communicate, offering cost-effective, flexible, and scalable solutions for voice and multimedia communication. At the heart of this technology are VoIP carriers, the unsung heroes that make it all possible. But what exactly are VoIP carriers, and what do they do? In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the world of VoIP carriers, their role in communication networks, and why they are essential for modern businesses.
What is a VoIP Carrier?
A VoIP carrier (also known as a VoIP service provider or VoIP termination provider) is a company that provides the infrastructure and services necessary to transmit voice and multimedia communications over the internet. Unlike traditional phone carriers that rely on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), VoIP carriers use the internet to route calls, enabling businesses and individuals to make and receive calls at a fraction of the cost.
VoIP carriers act as intermediaries between VoIP users and the broader telecommunications network. They ensure that voice data is transmitted efficiently, securely, and with high quality, regardless of the destination (whether it’s another VoIP user, a mobile phone, or a landline).
How Do VoIP Carriers Work?
To understand what VoIP carriers do, it’s important to first understand how VoIP technology works. VoIP converts analog voice signals into digital data packets, which are then transmitted over the internet. VoIP carriers play a critical role in this process by:
Number Provisioning:
VoIP carriers provide virtual phone numbers (DIDs – Direct Inward Dialing) that allow businesses to establish a local presence in multiple regions without physical offices.
Call Origination and Termination:
Origination: When a VoIP user makes a call, the VoIP carrier receives the call request and routes it to the appropriate destination.
Termination: The carrier ensures the call reaches its intended recipient, whether it’s another VoIP user, a mobile phone, or a landline. This process is known as VoIP termination.
Protocol Conversion:
VoIP carriers often convert voice data between different communication protocols, such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), H.323, or RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol), to ensure compatibility across networks.
Quality of Service (QoS):
VoIP carriers prioritize voice traffic to minimize latency, jitter, and packet loss, ensuring high-quality calls. They use advanced technologies like traffic shaping and bandwidth management to maintain call clarity.
Interconnection with PSTN:
VoIP carriers bridge the gap between VoIP networks and traditional PSTN networks. They interconnect with local and international carriers to route calls to non-VoIP devices, such as landlines and mobile phones.
The requirements of VoIP
While there are home users, the predominant market is among businesses. To utilise VoIP, a few basics are needed after the physical set-up. For example, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). This is flexible and allows for multimedia via IP/TCP networks and means calls can be set up with various IP protocols, from Transmission Control Protocol (TCP to Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP).
There are also DID (Direct Inward Dialing) numbers required, the numbers assigned to the gateway connecting the PTSN to the VoIP network. Voice termination parameters define the end point at which the call is received, anywhere worldwide. VoIP data packets ultimately have to be reassembled from their digital format into the appropriate form, whether video or voice, for the recipient.
Key Services Provided by VoIP Carriers
VoIP carriers offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of businesses and individuals. Here are some of the most common services:
- VoIP Termination:
This is the core service provided by VoIP carriers. It involves routing calls from VoIP users to their destinations, whether they are on the same network, a different VoIP network, or a traditional phone network. - VoIP Origination:
VoIP carriers also handle incoming calls to VoIP users. They provide virtual phone numbers (DIDs) that allow users to receive calls from traditional phone networks. - SIP Trunking:
SIP trunking is a service that allows businesses to connect their PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems to the internet, enabling them to make and receive VoIP calls. VoIP carriers provide the necessary SIP trunks and manage the connection. - Toll-Free Services:
VoIP carriers offer toll-free numbers that allow customers to call businesses without incurring charges. The business pays for the incoming calls instead. - International Calling:
VoIP carriers specialize in providing affordable international calling rates. They have partnerships with carriers around the world to ensure seamless call routing across borders. - Call Routing and Management:
VoIP carriers offer advanced call routing features, such as time-based routing, geographic routing, and failover routing, to ensure calls are always connected. - SMS and MMS Services:
Many VoIP carriers also support text messaging (SMS) and multimedia messaging (MMS) over VoIP networks, enabling businesses to communicate with customers via multiple channels. - Fraud Prevention and Security:
VoIP carriers implement robust security measures to protect against fraud, such as unauthorized call usage and hacking. They also provide tools for monitoring and managing call usage.
The role of VoIP carriers
VoIP carriers will vary in terms of the scope of their solutions and how they offer them, from Tier 1 providers to resellers. Many VoIP providers will supply DID numbers and integrate cloud-based PBX with the package, connecting calls set for a particular destination to the incoming line. One of the major advantages of VoIP is the separation of the number from the physical location, allowing for portability and location independence.
VoIP carriers will require a stable internet connection with adequate bandwidth. In some cases, a Quality of Service (QoS) setup on a router is used to ensure that voice calls are prioritised in the face of other internet traffic, thereby ensuring that call quality is as good as possible.
A VoIP provider will typically assess the ‘VoIP readiness factor’ of the network and infrastructure to ensure that the service is provided in accordance with what’s available. Specialists such as IDT can also provide competitive voice termination services. This can be on a wholesale basis, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses reselling or utilising call termination.
The Future of VoIP Carriers
As technology continues to evolve, VoIP carriers are poised to play an even greater role in the future of communication. Here are some trends to watch:
- 5G Integration:
The rollout of 5G networks will enhance the speed and reliability of VoIP calls, enabling carriers to offer even better call quality and new services. - AI and Automation:
VoIP carriers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve call routing, detect fraud, and provide personalized customer experiences. - Unified Communications:
VoIP carriers are integrating their services with unified communications platforms, allowing businesses to combine voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single solution. - IoT Connectivity:
As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows, VoIP carriers will play a key role in enabling voice and data communication between connected devices. - Enhanced Security:
With the rise of cyber threats, VoIP carriers will continue to invest in advanced security measures to protect their networks and customers.
Finding a VoIP wholesale carrier
IDT is one of the largest internet VoIP termination service providers in the world. We provide a range of services depending on your requirements, from call termination to DIDs, whether that’s one or multiple orders. As a wholesale carrier, we know the market and we provide cost-effective solutions that are designed to suit your business needs, so you can rest assured that you get everything required for an excellent VoIP service.
For example, at a platinum level with IDT Express, features include Tier 1 interconnection via mobile network operator, local network operator, parent company termination provider or regional network provider, along with QoS parameters managed around the clock, testing of CLI delivery and transparent ISUP signalling.
With a self-service portal, you can manage your service and account conveniently, anywhere, any time. We offer a range of benefits for businesses requiring DIDs or reliable, quality worldwide voice termination.
