What Is Voice Termination?

Voice termination is a fundamental aspect of modern business communications, allowing companies to engage in global conversations efficiently. Its growing importance can be linked to the rise of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies, which have transformed the way companies and organizations communicate.

Understanding VoIP

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that converts voice signals into digital data that can be transmitted over the internet. This technology offers several advantages over traditional telephony, including reduced costs, enhanced flexibility, and the ability to place international calls more conveniently. These benefits are primary drivers for businesses to adopt VoIP solutions.

Example of Voice Termination

This refers to the process of routing a phone call to deliver it to an endpoint with the help of another carrier. After the call is routed and delivered to its endpoint, it is successfully terminated. 

For instance, a call going from the US to Estonia cannot be directly routed from AT&T (the caller’s operator) to Telia (the recipient’s operator) because these two companies do not have signed agreements. Therefore, the call goes through a third party who has an agreement with both companies. 

Voice termination service providers play a crucial role in this process, acting as intermediaries between the VoIP provider and the final recipient. They ensure that voice traffic termination occurs effectively and efficiently, regardless of where the recipient is located in the world.

What Does A-Z Termination Mean?

Wholesale A-Z VoIP termination refers to the process of allowing calls to be routed and directed to any destination worldwide.

Call Origination & Termination in VoIP

In the context of VoIP, call origination and termination constitute the two-part process of making a phone call. Call origination is where calls are dialed from; it requires a phone number to operate the origination service. As for call termination, it refers to the point where the call is routed and completed, or the party that receives the call. Essentially, it's when an outbound call has been successfully delivered to the number that was dialed. 

Who Uses Voice Termination Services?

Various organizations across industries use call termination services, especially those with an international presence or heavy reliance on communication. These services are vital in the call termination business, ensuring the efficient routing of voice calls, particularly international calls.

Business Process Outsourcing

Business process outsourcing refers to an outsourced call center service that handles elements of a company’s operations that the company itself doesn’t have the means to carry out. Such tasks may include setting up the software, maintaining compliance, and hiring and training call center agents. 

The fact that BPOs may be handling the call center operations of several companies indicates the importance of voice termination providers. This is because a BPO’s operations could be suffering from dropped calls and subpar voice quality, and the slightest difference in termination rates can impact the company’s bottom line.

Partnered Services and Enterprises

VoIP termination providers often partner with enterprises as well as medium-sized companies that have international call needs. Partnered services may also consist of communication platforms that collaborate with one or more termination providers. This is to enhance their own services in areas where they don't have a network. 

Communication Companies

Instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger utilize VoIP services to conduct their calling operations. Calls that users place from mobile apps go through multiple networks before reaching the endpoint, especially if the person receiving the call lives in a different country. A lot of these applications also feature communication APIs for SMS, file sharing, and video calling as part of data packets that travel through the cloud and reassemble at their destination. 

Benefits of Using VoIP Termination Services

VoIP termination services facilitate high-quality voice communication across international borders and offer businesses the flexibility to scale according to their needs. The benefits of termination service providers include: 

• Cost savings: Rates are almost always more affordable than those of PSTN-based services. Rates of wholesale termination come as an advantage for qualifying businesses in particular

• Improved voice quality: Providers of call termination always work to minimize issues in terms of poor audio quality, post-dial delays, and other nuisances that can happen when placing long-distance calls

• Expanded coverage: By partnering with international VoIP termination providers, businesses can offer global call coverage or A-to-Z termination. This also has the potential to extend the coverage of inbound numbers

• Consolidated technology: Most call termination carriers offer a level of unified communication integration. This enables companies to continue using their systems without compromising productivity while the upgrade takes place

• PSTN replacement: A business that has local customers, and can rely on a local telephone network, would still benefit from a termination provider. These providers offer a range of call services that local vendors are unable to match and for much less

Understanding VoIP Termination Providers

VoIP termination providers are key players in the business. They allow for the termination of calls, ensuring they reach their intended destination. There are three different categories of termination providers:

Tier 1 Providers

A tier 1 telecom carrier will have its own infrastructure and a global network of direct connections between every point. This enables it to offer reliable and high-quality voice services. Tier 1 providers peer with carriers in Tier 2 and even Tier 3, while prioritizing their own traffic. 

Tier 2 Providers

Peering often takes place between Tier 2 providers and one or several Tier 1 providers. Most Tier 2 telecom carriers benefit from Tier 1 voice networks while others have infrastructures of their own. They may also have direct connections with several Tier 1 providers, allowing them to route calls via the most suitable network. 

Tier 3 Providers

Ideal for niche use cases, Tier 3 telecom carriers consist of startup or niche providers that use Tier 2 carriers for hosting their calls. The more handoffs take place between networks, however, the higher the risk of jitter, audio problems, dropped calls, and post-dial delay. Tier 1 providers, for example, don’t require any handoffs to connect VoIP calls, while those in Tier 2 reduce handoffs. 

Choosing the Right Service

When choosing a provider, factors such as call quality, reliability, cost, and the provider's network coverage should be considered. A high-quality service should ensure that each call is routed efficiently, providing a reliable and seamless communication experience.

Costs and Implications 

The cost of call termination can vary significantly, depending on several factors such as the destination of the VoIP call, the service provider, and the volume of the calls. Businesses need to understand these costs and select a termination service provider that offers a balance of cost-effectiveness and quality.