Introduction to Wholesale Call Termination
Wholesale call termination refers to the routing and handover of voice calls from one telecom carrier’s network to the destination network where the call needs to be completed. It enables long distance carriers, ISPs and other businesses to seamlessly terminate international calls on their network by interconnecting with the terminating carrier in the destination country.
Without wholesale termination partners, carriers would be confined to just their own network reach. But leveraging termination services gives them global coverage and completes end-user calls worldwide. Wholesale termination uses extensive mutual agreements between carriers to enable this interconnectivity.
Wholesale Call Termination Providers
Some leading global wholesale call termination providers include:
- Verizon – A US telecom giant and top international voice carrier.
- Deutsche Telekom – A dominant player in Europe offering pan-European termination.
- Orange – Multinational provider present across Europe, Africa and Middle East.
- AT&T – Major US carrier providing wholesale termination services globally.
- Tata Communications – Leading India-based international voice termination provider.
- Acepeak – Emerging wholesale termination provider with presence across Americas, Asia and Europe.
These and many other wholesale termination partners enable voice connectivity between hundreds of telecom networks worldwide.
How Wholesale Call Termination Works
The technical process of wholesale call termination involves:
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Call Initiation
The international call is initiated on the originating carrier's network.
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Signaling
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling establishes the call route and parameters.
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Interconnection
The call enters the terminating carrier's network through pre-established interconnections.
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Routing
The terminating carrier routes the inbound call to the destination based on the number diale
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Termination
The call is handed off to the destination carrier for final completion.
The Importance of Quality Termination
Maintaining excellent voice quality is paramount in wholesale termination, as poor quality leads to customer dissatisfaction and reduces competitiveness. Some measures termination partners undertake are:
- Optimizing network routing to minimize latency, jitter, echo or packet loss.
- Implementing quality safeguards like alternate routing, traffic shaping, and QoS monitoring.
- Regularly upgrading network infrastructure to support heavy traffic volumes.
- Establishing comprehensive SLAs for quality parameters like ASR, NER, MOS score etc.
Types of Wholesale Call Termination Services
Wholesale termination providers offer various services for completing calls:
1. International Termination:- For terminating inbound international long distance calls.
2. Local Call Termination:-To terminate local calls via local number portability.
3. SIP Trunking :-IP-based trunking enables connectivity for VoIP platforms and PBX systems.
4.Toll-Free Termination:-Routes inbound calls to toll-free numbers.
5. Mobile Termination:-Completes calls to domestic and international mobile networks.
Choosing the Right Call Termination Partner
Businesses should evaluate wholesale termination providers based on:
Call Quality and Reliability
A strong track record in delivering HD voice services with minimal call drops.
Pricing Structures
Competitive transparent per minute pricing and monthly plans.
Termination Options
Extensive reach across geographies for international and local call termination.
Customer Support
24/7 technical assistance for issues resolution and account management.
Cost Efficiency and Pricing Models
Wholesale termination offers significant cost benefits over standard international calling:
- Per minute rates are very competitive starting under $0.01 for some destinations.
- Flat-rate monthly pricing available based on committed traffic volumes.
- Large volume discounts can further reduce effective per minute costs.
- Savings of up to 80% compared to conventional international call rates.
Network Infrastructure and Reliability
Robust network infrastructure is critical for reliable wholesale call termination:
- Termination providers invest heavily in building global IP networks with significant redundancies.
- Multiple peering partnerships provide failover routing if issues arise on a termination route.
- State-of-the-art data centers enhance uptime and performance.
- 24/7 monitoring and support from network ops teams enables proactive optimization.
International Termination and Global Reach
Wholesale termination enables completing calls to other countries:
- Termination providers maintain direct interconnections or peering partnerships with foreign carriers.
- This allows terminating international calls seamlessly to mobile/landline networks worldwide.
- Coverage spans desirable business destinations across Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
Future Trends and Innovations
Key developments shaping wholesale call termination:
- Integration with cloud communications platforms to offer termination as a seamless cloud service.
- Using AI and automation for predictive network monitoring and traffic optimization.
- Adoption of WebRTC technologies enabling browser-to-browser termination.
- Leveraging blockchain in managing records and settlement processes between carriers.
- Expansion of termination services for OTT players.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the difference between Wholesale and Retail Call Termination?
Wholesale Call Termination involves bulk routing of voice calls between carriers at lower rates, catering to telecom providers. In contrast, Retail Call Termination serves individual end-users with higher-priced call termination services, enabling direct communication for consumers and businesses. The key distinction lies in the target audience and pricing structure.
How are Wholesale Call Termination rates determined?
Wholesale Call Termination rates are determined by several factors, including destination country, call volume, call duration, quality of service (QoS), and negotiated agreements between telecom carriers.
What is CLI (Calling Line Identification) and why is it important?
CLI (Calling Line Identification) displays the caller’s phone number to the recipient. It’s essential as it enhances call transparency, allowing users to identify callers, maintain privacy, and ensure security. Accurate CLI is crucial in telecommunications, ensuring accurate caller identification and trust in voice communication.
How can I choose a Wholesale Termination provider?
Selecting a Wholesale Termination provider involves considering factors such as competitive pricing, network coverage, reliable Quality of Service (QoS), responsive customer support, and a reputable track record. Research potential providers, compare their offerings, to make an informed decision aligning with your business needs.
What is AZ Termination?
A-Z Termination is a service in the telecommunications industry that provides call routing to destinations worldwide, covering all countries from A to Z. It enables telecom carriers to terminate voice calls globally, offering extensive international reach and connectivity for their customers.
