SIP Trunking acts as a virtual connection between an organisation and an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP) either via lines that link SIP trunks to other IP traffic, or through the Internet via a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
During a call, you can have any of the following scenarios and more:
- Be on a voice call with one other person
- Have multiple people on a conference call
- Run video calls
See the diagram on the right showing how calls flow from a SIP phone (VoIP) in a business to the internet.
Nowadays, instead of routing voice calls over copper lines, SIP trunking sends them over data networks. In other words, the physical phone line is replaced with a virtual one which provide better quality voice solutions.
The setup you’ll need to make the switch to SIP trunking includes the following:
- NBN Internet connection
- SIP-compatible PBX (Private Branch Exchange) box, also called IP PBX
- VoIP phone, or VoIP adapters if you’ll use your existing traditional phones
- Network connection for your phones
If you have an older PBX system, you may need a SIP-ISDN gateway. Newer systems may not require this additional hardware.