If your business still pays for a bundle of traditional phone lines, you have probably heard the
term SIP trunking. It is one of the simplest ways to modernize a phone system without replacing
it, and for many businesses it means a smaller monthly bill.
What is a SIP trunk?
SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol, the standard that sets up phone calls over the
internet. A SIP trunk is a virtual phone line: instead of physical copper lines running into your
building, your phone system connects to your provider over your data connection, and calls travel
that way.
One trunk can carry many calls at once. You decide how many simultaneous calls you need, and that
number can go up or down as your business changes.
How is it different from traditional phone lines?
With traditional lines, each line carries one call. If you have eight lines and a ninth person
calls, they get a busy signal, and adding capacity means ordering and installing more lines.
With SIP trunking:
- Capacity is a setting, not a cable. You can add call paths for a busy season and scale back
later. - No per-line hardware. There are no physical lines to install or maintain for each call.
- Numbers are portable. Your phone numbers live with your provider rather than a copper line, so
they can follow you if you move offices. - One connection does more. The same internet connection that runs your office can carry your
calls.
Do I need a new phone system?
Often, no. SIP trunking connects to the phone system you already have, whether that is an
on-premise PBX or a newer IP system. Older systems sometimes need an adapter or
gateway, and some very old systems are better replaced, but in many cases you keep your phones and
just change how calls reach them.
If you’d rather not manage a phone system at all, a hosted PBX is the alternative:
the whole system runs in the cloud.
Will it actually save money?
For many businesses, yes, because you stop paying for individual physical lines and the maintenance
that goes with them. How much you save depends on how many lines you have now, how many calls you
make at once and what your current carrier charges. The honest answer is to compare your current bill
against a quote for the same calling needs.
What do I need to make it work?
- A reliable internet connection. Voice calls need consistent quality, so the connection matters
more than raw speed. - A properly configured network. Voice traffic should be prioritized so calls stay clear when
someone is downloading a large file. - A plan for outages. Good SIP providers can reroute calls to mobiles or another location
automatically if your connection drops.
Keeping your numbers
You don’t need to change your phone numbers to switch. They can be ported from your current
carrier, and with planning the switch happens without losing service. Our
Intra Line service handles porting, new local and toll-free numbers, and setup on
your existing phone system.
Is SIP trunking right for you?
SIP trunking is usually worth a look if you:
- pay for several traditional phone lines;
- have a phone system you’re happy with and don’t want to replace;
- need extra call capacity at certain times of year; or
- are planning an office move and want your numbers to come with you.
Find out what you’d save
Intra Systems has connected business phone systems across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland since
1990. We can look at your current setup and bill, confirm whether your system is compatible and
give you a straight comparison.
Learn more about SIP trunking, or
request a quote.