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Powerful VoIP Switch Features We Are Betting On

August 23, 2022 / Blog / posted by Aayush Barot

Fast-growing internet speed, network capacity, and technology have forced companies to migrate from traditional telephone systems to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems. Communication service providers (CSPs), including wholesale VoIP call termination providers, must monitor and manage traffic constantly to ensure excellent quality of service (QoS).

Switching technology is a crucial aspect of network design that influences traffic management and network performance. For this purpose, wholesale termination carriers deploy switches that help control VoIP traffic and the network over which voice packets travel.

In the telecom industry, network experience is the leading factor influencing 40% of telcos customers’ decision-making process, followed by price and customer service. Network experience is the very factor that VoIP switches help improve through data packet prioritization, adequate capacity, filtering, routing, billing, monitoring, and reporting.

In this blog, we will understand what role VoIP switches play in effective traffic monitoring and network management.

What is a VoIP Switch and how does it Function?

VoIP switch is a device in a telecommunications network that links VoIP calls from one line to another across the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or public internet. Shortly, the VoIP switch directs data packets (carrying audio samples) to reach their destination using software running on a general-purpose system. Such software-based switchboards are known as softswitches that have the potential to make calls and perform various operations.

VoIP switch hands-off request downstream to softswitches to locate the subscriber from the database. It gathers the IP address of the device linked with that subscriber and sends it back to the softphone, enabling the exchange of data.

Besides routing calls over different networks, VoIP switches can be a comprehensive traffic monitoring and network management solution for wholesale termination carriers. It enables call termination providers to build a reliable VoIP network.

An Overview of VoIP Switch Traffic-Monitoring

VoIP softswitches can manage networks efficiently by monitoring various performance counters. VoIP switch monitors and measures key factors that are deterministic of network performance. These performance counters could be:

Call Success Rate (CSR)
Percentage of ineffective attempts, dropped calls, etc.
Complete details of the network issue, such as call processing failure at PSTN, IP backbone partially down, etc.
Key factors affecting voice quality, including jitter, delay, packet loss, and latency.

VoIP switches operate on industry standards for monitoring VoIP performance through SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and MIB (Management Information Base).

VoIP switch vendors implement configurable thresholds for alerting based on given performance counters. These thresholds acting as high, low, or variable watermarks may trigger alarms and events to carry out real-time monitoring of the system.

Powerful Features of VoIP Switches: A Key to Effective Network Management

Advanced Routing over Multiple Carriers

VoIP switches offer routing support for unlimited originators, terminators, and routing groups over multiple wholesale termination carriers. It uses advanced algorithms, like priority-based, least-cost, and weight-based routing, to enable seamless VoIP services for retail and wholesale call termination providers.

It provides customized routing through custom database integration for filtering, custom processing of SIP headers, and customizable CallXML scripts. These routing features combine to facilitate sophisticated call flows.

Fully Integrated Billing Solution

Softswitches come with dynamic billing solutions for accurate and real-time billing, irrespective of the traffic volume. Whether it’s a postpaid or prepaid subscription, the bill for every minute gets updated accurately and transparently.

The solution supports multiple currencies and multi-layer charging for affordable packages. Some of its billing functions include dropping live calls if the balance is out of credit, issuing low-balance notifications, and importing/exporting price lists.

Detailed Network Performance Analysis and Reporting

VoIP switches help businesses, service providers, and carriers make informed decisions with detailed performance reports, revenue reports, and sales reports for payments. The real-time dashboard reports the following attributes:

Charts, reports for concurrent call duration, ASR (Answer-Seizure Ratio)
Current calls for originators and terminators
CDR (Call Detail Record) and traffic reports
Basic call information with the recorded file name and custom fields
RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) statistics
SIP (Signal Initiation Protocol) trace
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) alerting for customers (originators)

All-in-one Web User Interface

VoIP switches allow effortless management and monitoring of VoIP business functions through intuitive web UI. Apart from routing, reporting, monitoring, and billing, such platforms have extensive features, like self-testing, audio processing, and call recording.

Users can manage DID numbers, clients, and payments on these self-care web portals. It can collaborate with third parties, allowing integration with all the available DID providers, card payment providers, etc.

Enjoy Seamless Call Flow by Choosing the Right Switch for Your Network

Software-based VoIP switches are more cost-effective, scalable, reliable, and versatile than traditional switches. Its modern technology and latest protocols allow optimized network performance and effective traffic monitoring through powerful additional features. VoIP service providers must assess their network’s demands and choose the right VoIP switch to ensure QoS and complete control over their network.

Aayush Barot

Aayush hails from Mumbai and is now based out of New York. He completed his Bachelors in Business from Jai Hind College Mumbai and has earned various accolades as an independent professional for Business and Marketing. He is an ardent fan of his business and considers work as a way of relaxation. Today he is the Chief Business Management Officer at Bankai Group, where he started as a Sales Executive, 11 years ago. Aayush comes from a Hospitality Business Family but chose to do something entirely different into Telecommunications. He handles Voice and Services portfolio for Bankai Group and has steered the growth of business by almost 40% year on year. Under his leadership, the Voice Vertical grew from $50 million/year to $340 million/year from 2005 to 2015. You can reach him at [email protected].