Is SIP trunking on your companies checklist?

SIP Trunking- Session Initiation Protocol

SIP trunking is a combination of voice and data ran over a virtual network also known as the cloud. SIP can be used both for single and multi-site locations, which includes a list of benefits to having.

Why are businesses switching to SIP Trunking?

SIP trunking is where the Telecom industry is rapidly transitioning to. POTS lines are becoming harder to maintain and costing more to preserve, the solution to the deterioration of the POTS lines is fiber and Ethernet. Phone providers are investing a lot of money into building out their fiber networks and it has been all over the news. Just recently Verizon acquired XO communications, which is one of the largest fiber providers across the United States. Within a couple of weeks of purchasing XO’s fiber network, Verizon announced that they will now be selling off more of their wireline phone, internet, and TV networks in California, Florida and Texas to Frontier Communications according to John Brodkin with ARS technica. For businesses it is time to start getting a game plan together for the switch to SIP. SIP is an investment and it does take time to switch to, but with regular old PRI’s the amount of problems that will start to arise will be detrimental to a business. A fix that may have taken an hour or two five years ago will now take five days to fix.

Are there benefits to SIP Trunking?

There are multiple benefits to SIP trunking, which are listed below:

1. Eliminate physical PRI equipment from the building freeing up space and time for IT technicians because SIP can be accessed remotely.
2. SIP is further cost efficient because less providers are being used and the rates are cheaper for SIP.
3. SIP goes hand and hand with VOIP allowing it to be user friendly and create a plug and talk with the phone systems for an increased mobility structure.
4. Improved business connectivity because there is a larger-capacity data network.
5. Combines Voice and Data in one central HUB.
6. Easy to expand or consolidate your network.
   1. Ex: Add 1 channel at a time compared to multiples of 23 with a PRI, (Not Flexible).
7. Employees phone calls can be forwarded to their cell phone while at the same time displaying caller ID at the office.
8. Security protected service because of Private IP-VPN network service and enhanced network assignment.
9. Service costs to maintain old equipment will also be reduced.

When the switch to SIP is taking place or should be taking place?

For companies this is a discussion that needs to be taking place because getting a game plan together is the first step to start a conversation that needs to be taking place. The first step is to start with headquarters and go over specifics of how to get it done at this location. Once the headquarters is established, then other locations can be taken into consideration.

I predict within the next five years the statistics will start to increase for the switch to SIP. The old analog platform is slowly fading away the the network of fiber is exploding across the country with lighting speeds of bandwidth. With this combination it makes for at least a point of discussion for the switch to SIP.