My Country Mobile: Wholesale VoIP Termination Guide

Introduction to Wholesale VoIP Termination

Wholesale VoIP termination refers to the process of terminating voice calls over the internet by wholesale carriers and service providers. It enables the transmission of voice traffic globally by routing calls between different networks and protocol systems.

Wholesale VoIP termination plays a crucial role in modern telecommunications by allowing businesses to leverage the public internet to connect phone systems and enable seamless communication. It provides tremendous value in an increasingly interconnected world by eliminating distance barriers and allowing companies to expand their reach cost-effectively.

The wholesale VoIP termination market essentially facilitates the interconnection of voice traffic between local, long-distance, and international carriers. It provides the underlying network infrastructure that powers retail VoIP offerings as well as business phone solutions.

Importance in Modern Telecommunications

• Cost efficiency - Wholesale VoIP termination drastically reduces costs compared to conventional telephone networks. This allows businesses to save on communication costs.
• Flexible scalability - The use of IP networks means capacity can be added or reduced based on usage and demand. This provides flexibility as businesses grow.
• Global reach - Internet-based interconnection allows calls to be connected anywhere with an internet connection, greatly expanding reach.
• Reliable call quality - Modern codecs and network engineering provide good call quality rivaling conventional networks.
• Faster provisioning - Using software-based equipment like softswitches streamlines the process of connecting new clients.

Role in Connecting Global Voice Traffic

Wholesale VoIP termination underpins international and cross-border voice traffic by interconnecting telecom operators globally over IP. This enables automated call routing and simplified settlements between operators. Key roles include:

• Local termination - Connecting international calls to local telephone networks for call completion.
• Hubbing - Aggregating traffic between different regions to minimize bilateral routes.
• Number portability - Enabling end users to retain numbers when switching carriers.
• Interoperability - Transcoding between different protocols and codecs to enable seamless interconnection.

How Wholesale VoIP Termination Works

Wholesale VoIP termination relies on the internet and broadband IP networks to transmit voice traffic globally between carriers. Here is an overview of how it works:

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

VoIP converts voice signals from analog to digital format and transmits them as data packets over IP networks. Key protocols include:

• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) - Signaling protocol that establishes and controls voice sessions.
• Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) - Carries the encoded voice data packets.
• Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) - Encrypted version of RTP for added security.

VoIP protocols for signaling, transport, and security of voice traffic.

Significance of Termination in VoIP Communication

For end-to-end VoIP calls, the call origin and destination must be interconnected. Termination refers to interfacing the VoIP network with conventional PSTN networks on either end, enabling connectivity.

Wholesale termination involves interconnecting the VoIP systems of international carriers to route global traffic. This facilitates wholesale call routing efficiently.

Routing and Call Flow in Wholesale VoIP Termination

Wholesale VoIP termination relies on complex hierarchical routing between Tier 1, 2, and 3 carriers. A typical call flow is:

1. Call request is initiated via a SIP invite message.
2. Request is routed to the destination carrier based on routing tables and intercarrier agreements.
3. Destination carrier terminates the call on the local PSTN network.
4. Voice data transmitted via RTP is converted to analog signal for the receiving phone.
5. Call details are recorded for billing and reconciliation.

Typical call routing in Wholesale VoIP Termination.

Points of Interconnection and Intercarrier Agreements

For global Wholesale VoIP termination, carriers interconnect at physical points of interconnection (POIs) to exchange traffic. This requires:

• High-capacity IP connections between POIs
• Signaling and provisioning to enable calls between networks
• Routing based on optimal path and cost via peering or transit agreements
• Agreements on rates and billing for call termination

Key Players and Entities

The Wholesale VoIP termination ecosystem comprises of various interconnected telecom entities:

VoIP Carriers and Service Providers

These are telecom companies that provide retail and business VoIP services by leveraging wholesale termination partners for connectivity. They manage end user accounts.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

ISPs provide the internet connectivity to enable VoIP services. Sufficient bandwidth and QoS from ISPs is vital for call quality.

Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Carriers

Tier 1 carriers form the core IP backbone of the internet. Tier 2 regional carriers interconnect with and pay Tier 1s for transit. Tier 3s are local access providers.

Hierarchy of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 carriers.

VoIP Aggregators

Aggregators manage routing, call switching, and termination capacity to enable interconnection between various carriers.

Benefits of Wholesale VoIP Termination

Here are some of the major benefits of Wholesale VoIP termination for businesses:

Cost Efficiency and Economies of Scale

Using consolidated IP networks instead of separate PSTN infrastructure significantly reduces costs for carriers. These savings extend to businesses via wholesale rates.

Global Reach and Connectivity

The universal nature of IP networking allows VoIP calls to connect destinations worldwide simply using internet connectivity.

High Quality Voice Transmission

Modern VoIP codecs like G.711, G.729, and Opus combined with QoS deliver call quality on par with traditional PSTN networks.

Scalability and Flexibility for Businesses

The use of software for routing and session handling provides increased flexibility. Capacity can be adjusted dynamically enabling scalability.

Technical Infrastructure

Here are some of the core technical components required for wholesale VoIP termination:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

SIP is the signaling protocol for establishing, controlling and terminating voice sessions over IP networks. It also facilitates advanced functions like call transfer and redirection.

Media Gateways and Softswitches

Media gateways interface between VoIP and PSTN networks for call termination. Softswitches are software solutions that handle call routing and interconnection.

Redundancy and Failover Mechanisms

Critical components are clustered with spares to prevent downtime in case of failures. Traffic is routed to redundant links or data centers if an outage occurs.

Quality of Service Considerations

Traffic shaping, prioritization, and monitoring mechanisms ensure quality metrics like low latency, jitter and packet loss for uninterrupted voice transmission.

Challenges in Wholesale VoIP Termination

Some key challenges faced in wholesale VoIP termination include:

Call Quality Issues

Network congestion, improper QoS configurations and interoperability issues can result in choppy calls, echoes or drops. Requires ongoing monitoring.

Fraud Prevention

VoIP networks face threats like hacking, spam calls and robocalling. Security mechanisms like encryption, access control and fraud detection systems are essential.

Regulatory Compliance

Different countries have specific regulations regarding lawful interception, emergency services, and data retention for VoIP calls. Carriers must ensure compliance.

Network Congestion Management

Traffic engineering mechanisms like MPLS are needed to route voice data optimally without congestion which can affect call quality.

Quality of Service in Wholesale VoIP

Quality of Service (QoS) refers to mechanisms for ensuring reliable VoIP call quality free of glitches and echoes. Here are some considerations:

Factors Affecting Call Quality

• Network bandwidth - Minimum 50-100 kbps per call required.
• Latency and jitter - Should be under 150ms and less than 30ms respectively.
• Packet loss - Must be kept below 1% for high-quality calls.
• Echo cancellation - Key for natural-sounding call audio.
• Codecs - G.711 and G.729 maintain call clarity.

QoS Monitoring and Management Tools

• Protocol analyzers - For network traffic monitoring and detection of QoS issues.
• MOS scorers - Measures call quality Mean Opinion Scores (MOS) based on factors like latency and packet loss.
• SNMP monitoring - Remote monitoring of network device performance.

Importance of QoS for Customer Satisfaction

Maintaining stringent QoS standards ensures customer expectations for call reliability are met. This results in greater customer retention and increased utilization of services.

Trends and Innovations

Some leading edge trends shaping wholesale VoIP termination:

High-Definition Voice Calling

New codecs like EVS and Opus HD deliver superior call quality approaching high-fidelity audio. This enhances call experiences.

VoIP over 5G Networks

5G networks provide higher bandwidth, lower latency, and improved QoS - which enhance VoIP call capacity and quality.

Integration with Unified Communications

VoIP termination integrated into UC solutions allows businesses to unify voice, conferencing, messaging, and collaboration.

AI for VoIP Optimization

AI and machine learning is being used for predictive QoS and bandwidth management, automated fraud detection etc.

Choosing a Wholesale VoIP Provider

MyCountryMobile – Formed in 2010, MyCountryMobile is a wholesale VoIP provider focused on delivering affordable international coverage to resellers. They own and operate a global private VoIP network connected with top-tier carriers. MyCountryMobile has an easy-to-use reseller portal.

Nextiva - Founded in 2006, Nextiva is a leading business VoIP provider that expanded into the wholesale market with its Nextiva Reseller Program. Nextiva handles the network operations and infrastructure, enabling partners to resell under their own brand with full back-end support. Their offerings include hosted VoIP, unified communications, call center, and contact center solutions.

Vonage - Vonage is a publicly traded global provider of cloud communications for businesses. They have over 120 patents related to VoIP communications and serve over 1 million business users. Vonage acquired Nexmo, a leading VoIP API platform, in 2016 to expand its wholesale offerings. Their network spans across Europe, Asia and North America.

Avoxi - Avoxi is a newer entrant into the wholesale VoIP market having been founded in 2015. They focus primarily on serving small-to-medium sized business clients through resellers. Avoxi provides tools for resellers to customize billing, provisioning and account management. They have built integrations with leading CRMs and ERPs.

Here are key criteria businesses should evaluate when selecting a wholesale VoIP termination partner:

Reliability and Uptime

The network must deliver guaranteed reliability and redundancy with maximum possible uptime approaching 99.999%.

Pricing Structures

Pricing models like per minute charges, flat monthly rates, or hybrid options should provide value and be competitive.

Customer Support

24/7 technical support and prompt issue resolution ensures a smooth experience. API integrations can also help.

Scalability Options

The ability to efficiently scale capacity up or down based on usage demand provides flexibility for growth.

Case Studies

Here are some real-world examples of successful wholesale VoIP termination implementations:

Global Wholesale Carrier

• Tier 1 carrier needed to expand termination capacity for growing call volumes between North America and Asia.
• Deployed redundant VoIP termination gateways in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo using modular software gateways capable of scaling up to 10,000 simultaneous calls per server.
• By leveraging wholesale VoIP they expanded capacity at 60% lower cost compared to legacy networks. Call quality also improved.

Regional Business Provider

• A regional telecom provider serving 5000 SMB clients needed to connect their VoIP platform to western Europe.
• By partnering with a wholesale VoIP termination partner, they were able to extend VoIP calling to France, Germany and UK with just an IP connection.
• This allowed them to expand their addressable market and offer global calling cost-effectively without infrastructure expansion.

Call Center Operator

• A 1000 seat call center needed to optimize costs for inbound toll-free calls.
• They integrated SIP trunking with existing VoIP PBX systems and routed inbound DIDs via wholesale VoIP termination.
• This reduced call connectivity costs by over 50% compared to PRI lines, enabling major cost savings. Call quality also improved remarkably.

Future Outlook

Here is what the future holds for wholesale VoIP termination:

Evolving Access Network Technologies

Fiber, 5G and WiFi 6 will enhance last mile connectivity, improving end-to-end call quality and enabling more advanced applications.

Growth in Wholesale VoIP Market Share

More carriers will shift voice traffic to IP networks from legacy networks leading to strong growth for wholesale VoIP termination services.

Increasing Use of AI for Optimization

Expect wider adoption of machine learning for traffic routing, capacity forecasting, troubleshooting and security. This will optimize costs and quality.

Adoption of New Signaling Protocols

Emerging signaling protocols like WebRTC may gain wider adoption allowing web browsers to directly interface with VoIP networks.

Conclusion

In summary, Wholesale VoIP termination serves the vital purpose of interconnecting global voice networks over the internet. Powered by SIP, media gateways and optimized IP infrastructure, it delivers tremendous value like cost savings, flexibility, higher call quality and global reach.

As carriers continue transitioning from legacy to VoIP networks, wholesale VoIP termination will become integral for global communications. Businesses should leverage wholesale VoIP partners to reap the benefits of cutting-edge voice and UC solutions at competitive rates. With continuous evolution in protocols, infrastructure and capabilities - the future remains bright for wholesale VoIP termination driving the future of global voice interconnection.