Comparing SIP trunking with traditional telephony systems

Some companies completely rely on phone systems to maintain communication with clients, customers, and possible partners as well as to keep track of their employees. In the world of enterprises, some major methods used in communication are telephony systems either traditional or SIP trunking. These enable internal or external communication using a telephone. Despite their similarity, these systems have substantial differences. Hence, in this blog, we will compare traditional and SIP trunk systems to enable easier comprehension of ways in which each can also affect an enterprise. 

What Is Traditional Telephony? 

Traditional telephone systems are commonly known as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) which is an alternative name. These are similar to old types of telephones where copper wires used to be utilized for long-distance communication. PSTN primarily uses copper wires for connecting telephone calls. For business, a private branch exchange (PBX) system is commonly used in that PBX systems are able to make, and route calls to different departments. Also, if installed properly, the PBX system is able to get connected to public phone networks using networks such as PSTN. 

What is SIP Trunking?

However, this is different for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) trunking which is a more recent use of internet telephone systems. This is because SIP trunking uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology in order to transmit voice calls over the Internet whereas, with a traditional phone, this happens through a telephone system. A SIP trunk allows one to create a line of connection from their PBX to the internet allowing them to make calls while having lines installed within the premises.

Cost Analysis

Nevertheless, the difference in costs is further illustrated when it comes to the differences between SIP trunking and conventional telephony. Conventional telephones necessitate that the companies obtain physical lines that are highly expensive. These expenses include installation costs, monthly, maintenance charges, call-out charges, and/or long-distance charges paid per call among others. Moreover, a business may be required to pay for separate lines for voice, fax, and data.

However, SIP trunking works over the internet and hence comes at a low price. Because SIP trunking does not need physical phone lines, it will not incur charges for line maintenance. Long-distance calls through SIP trunking are also cheaper because they use the Internet rather than traditional telephone networks. Thus, SIP trunking offers lower costs for an organization, particularly businesses with heavy call volumes or international communication needs. 

Scalability & Flexibility

As you may have gathered by now, scalability is yet another area of SIP trunking that has proven advantageous over traditional telephony systems. Traditional phone systems require additional line purchases and added equipment to meet growing capacity needs. This is often costly and time-consuming. Adding new lines to a traditional phone system usually requires physical installations; this usually takes a long time to set up. SIP trunking on the other hand is many times more scalable than traditional phone systems. Since it is internet-based, adding one or several more lines or channels becomes a matter of increasing a few slider options on a web interface. Businesses can add lines to meet current needs and instantly remove them if they need changes for whatever reason! This capacity makes SIP trunking a very fluid solution for an expanding business or one whose communication needs fluctuate.

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Reliability and Call Quality

Again, regarding reliability and the quality of calls, traditional telephony possesses a time-tested reliability. For dedicated copper wiring, traditional phone systems tend to have very reliable call quality with little downtime. However, SIP trunking quality directly depends on internet connection reliability and bandwidth. In case of a slow internet connection, the call quality might be hampered. SIP trunking call quality will be affected by intermittent network breakdowns and unstable connectivity causing jitter delays and call drops.

Maintenance and Management 

Traditional telephony systems usually demand the maintenance of hardware through in-house staff or third-party contractors, meant to ensure the proper functioning of traditional telephony systems. This is associated with additional operational costs at the business’s end and requires the support of technical staff to work smoothly for the staff. On the contrary, SIP trunking eases reliability. As it is a service over the Internet, it does not need as much physical infrastructure and maintenance. Many of the SIP trunking service providers provide support and monitoring, allowing businesses to operate their communication systems without requiring the company to hire specialized technical staff. 

Conclusion

There are advantages and disadvantages to both SIP trunking and traditional telephony systems, but SIP trunking is generally a newer, more economical, and adaptable solution for most businesses. It reduces costs, offers more scalability, and is easier to manage. That said, traditional telephony systems might be suitable for very reliable physio infrastructures or businesses that do not have a reliable internet connection. In the final analysis, which one is better SIP trunking or traditional telephony depends on the very specific needs of a business.