When you are ready to find the right SIP trunk provider for your business, it’s important for you to understand the costs.
Using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), these trunks function like a bundle of phone lines. Many companies rely on SIP trunks to help open up those voice lines for the office.
The cost of a SIP trunk can vary depending on several factors.
Here are a few things that you will want to know about the costs associated with SIP trunks.
Are you interested in learning how SIP trunking can help your company’s communications? Reach out to G12 Communications to find out how SIP trunking can add flexibility and scalability to your PBX system.
What Is SIP Trunking?
First of all, what is SIP trunking? With this method, connectivity to VoIP can be provided between an on-premises phone system, like IP PBX, or the Public Switched Telephone Network, also known as PSTN.
With VoIP, you can choose between a SIP trunk or hosted PBX. With a hosted PBX, the phone system is handled by a service provider, which is entirely cloud-based. A SIP trunk allows you to reduce the monthly phone service fee without sacrificing any quality.
Related: G12 Communications Brings PSTN Connectivity to Customers of Major CCaaS Providers
How Does a SIP Trunk Work?
To route voice calls, a SIP trunk does not use any of those traditional telephone lines. Instead, all the voice calls are transmitted over data networks. Think of a SIP trunk like an intermediary between your internet telephony service provider (ITSP) and phone system. A SIP server can handle all of the signaling and access from a centralized location, much like an IP PBX.
SIP Trunk Pricing Factors
If you are ready to choose SIP trunking for your business, here are some of the most common factors that can affect pricing:
- Monthly subscription rate: The price per channel of voice service
- Outbound call rates: Many metered plans charge per minute of talk time
- Additional add-ons: Optional features like auto-attendant or call recording can cost extra.
- Setup fees: One-time activation costs are required to activate SIP trunk services
Monthly costs are either charged with a metered or unmetered plan. With a metered plan, there is a per-minute charge for outbound calls and a monthly fee. Unmetered plans include unlimited calling for a set price but still have a monthly fee.
How Much Does a SIP Trunk Cost?
In general, the price of a SIP trunk can range from $15 to $25 per line for every month of service. Many plans offer significant deals for those who want to have a metered plan. These plans are great for those who do not expect the need for long-distance calls.
If you know your monthly averages for calls and can forecast your data needs, then a metered plan might make sense for your business.
Many of these metered plans come with a toll-free number and cost as little as $0.008 per domestic call. However, international calling rates typically start at $0.01 per minute and vary depending on which country you are trying to reach.
For those wanting more flexibility, it might be a good idea to think about an unmetered plan. The majority of these plans include unlimited calling to the United States and Canada. Some providers will add Mexico to those unlimited countries. For companies with a lot of phone usage, the unmetered SIP trunking plan is the best option.
Related: Case Study: Transforming Internal Communication Across Hundreds of Locations Worldwide
Are SIP Trunks Affordable?
If you want to know the value of a SIP trunk, look at your current phone bill. In many cases, SIP trunks are an affordable option. With these plans, there is no need for expensive plain old telephone service lines. Plus, there is a lower cost of per-minute calling, even with a metered plan.
SIP trunks use internet technology to place calls through VoIPs. Finally, you can maximize your benefits by using your existing phone systems and adding a cloud-based PBX.
Those legacy phone lines are expensive to manage. Some of that equipment will become obsolete with no technical help to resolve any issues in a few years.
Differences Between SIP Trunking and Hosted PBX
Many people have a choice between SIP trunking and hosted PBX. There are critical differences between those two VoIP phone system options. The cost of setup is low for a hosted PBX if you don’t have any equipment. For those who have existing equipment, initial costs are similar for SIP. Along with that, those ongoing costs are identical with both hosted PBX and SIP trunks.
Maintenance is handled by your internal IT team with a SIP trunk, while your providers maintain hosted PBX. Smaller companies can benefit from hosted PBX options. SIP trunking works best for businesses that are growing. SIP trunking shines in call quality and security. You can expect a more secure phone system that can handle a high call volume.
Before selecting a plan, make sure to verify your resources and requirements for your next phone system. A SIP trunk is often the best option for many businesses, especially those on the move. With this buyer’s guide, you can have confidence that you will choose the right phone system for your business.
Related: How G12 Communications Makes Calling from Teams Simple
Get Started With SIP Trunking
SIP trunking is more affordable than ever. With this system, you can take your business to the next level. These cloud-based solutions can power your company’s entire phone system for a fraction of the price of a traditional one.
SIP trunking allows your VoIP phone system to grow while you never have to worry about maintenance or high costs. You can optimize your PBX with a reputable SIP trunk provider.
Are you searching for an on-demand scale for all your business communications needs? G12 Communications modernizes your company’s communications by using your PBX to send and receive calls from an IP network. With our help, you can boost the quality of your communication network.
