What is Direct Routing?

For those that are here looking for a quick explanation, Direct Routing is the most popular method of enabling external calling in Microsoft Teams.

Here is our definition of what Direct Routing is - With Direct Routing, calls are routed through SIP Trunks (a protocol for managing virtual phone lines that go over the internet) to a Session Border Controller (a device that can be either physical or virtual which manages and controls access to private networks) and onwards to the Microsoft Teams network. This means people on the Public Switched Telephone Network (the majority of telephone networks in the world) can reach, or be reached by a Microsoft Teams user with a Teams Phone license. You can either build your own Direct Routing solution by putting all of these components together yourself, or go for the vastly more popular version of subscribing to a Direct Routing service. But most importantly a Direct Routing solution can be integrated into virtually any existing hardware and virtually any PBX.

Read on if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation on exactly what Direct Routing is, how Direct Routing works, what features it brings to the table and how you might be able to use Direct Routing going forward.

How does Direct Routing work?

To be more specific Direct Routing is actually the name for the toolkit which enables a connection between Microsoft Teams and an existing phone system and without a method like Direct Routing, calling externally with Microsoft Teams using an existing phone system would be impossible.

Like all good toolkits, Direct routing is made up of a number of parts, so explaining exactly how it works can be done in stages. Starting with the most important part, the first thing we need is a line that is connected to a business phone system at one end (these can be desk phones or softphones), and the Microsoft UI at the other. We then add the SIP Trunks to that line that manage the calls and get them where they need to go.

But Direct Routing laid out like this is not secure. As part of the Direct Routing package a Session Border Controller (SBC) is deployed to fully secure a line. An important distinction to make is that a Session Border Controller (SBC) is not a firewall - An SBC is far more specialized and tailored to handle the intricate call traffic that is routed through everyday communications. With an SBC the Direct Routing framework is complete!

Even though Direct Routing can allow you to deploy voice with flexibility and ease, building it yourself by adding any kind of technical stack to your offering is both time-consuming and costly. There are options available however that let you deploy Direct Routing at a fraction of the cost.

The benefits of Direct Routing

As the most dominant form of connecting voice to Teams, you'd expect Direct Routing to have a long list of upsides, and you'd be right. When compared to a traditional PBX solution, Direct Routing:

• Adds flexibility
• Saves on costs
• Allows businesses to have all of their communication and collaboration in one place
• Enables Hybrid and remote work
• Adds reportability

Direct Routing as a service (DRaaS)

As we saw earlier, Call2Teams is an example of Direct Routing as a Service (DRaaS) which allows providers to instantly deploy a native Direct Routing solution without investing in any new software or hardware. DRaaS has become the dominant form of Direct Routing in recent years and on top of all the benefits we have already described, it allows businesses to deploy Direct Routing with minimal costs, minimal resource and minimal risk.

Below is an example of how Call2Teams plays a key part in enabling DRaaS solutions for SIP Trunks.

And the diagram below shows just how Call2Teams helps Providers seamlessly enable Direct Routing for businesses with existing PBX infrastructures in place.

If you're a Provider looking to find out more about how to integrate a Direct Routing solution, get in touch today.

Direct Routing FAQs

What is Direct Routing?

Direct Routing is the name for the toolkit which enables a connection between Microsoft Teams and an existing phone system

How does Direct Routing work?

Direct Routing works by routing calls through SIP Trunks to a Session Border Controller  and onwards to the Microsoft Teams network.

What are the benefits of Direct Routing?

Some of the benefits of using Direct Routing in Teams include increased flexibility, cost savings, and the ability to take advantage of Teams as your calling interface, completing the picture by bringing voice calls to the other collaboration tools available within Teams Unified Communications.

What is the difference between Direct Routing and a Calling Plan?

The main difference between Microsoft Calling Plans and Direct Routing is that with DRaaS you can keep your existing telephony provider and numbers. You can learn more about the options for calling in Microsoft Teams here.

Do I need to have a specific phone system to use Direct Routing?

Direct Routing is compatible with a wide range of phone systems, including both on-premise and cloud-based systems. It is not specific to a certain phone type.

How do I set up Direct Routing in Teams?

You can set up Direct Routing in teams manually or by using a Direct Routing service, such as Call2Teams.

Can I make emergency calls with Direct Routing?

Yes, emergency calls can be made through Direct Routing, as long as the necessary routing and location information has been set up.  We offer full E911 support for our partners who need to comply with Ray Baum's Act.

What are the costs associated with Direct Routing?

Conventional Direct Routing has a few costs that come with it. Some of the costly aspects of self-build include deployment, integration, hardware and licensing. On top of this there is also the cost of maintenance. Direct Routing as a Service offers a more cost-effective, managed solution where there is usually only one per user, per month cost.

Can I use Direct Routing to integrate multiple phone systems with Teams?

Yes, you can use Direct Routing to integrate multiple phone systems with Teams. By using Direct Routing SBCs, you can connect multiple phone systems to Microsoft Teams and route calls between them. This can be useful for organizations that have multiple locations or have acquired companies with their own phone systems.