Today, Microsoft announced the general availability of Operator Connect, a new operator-managed service for bringing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) calling to Microsoft Teams.
In addition to Microsoft’s network of global operator partners, local telecommunications provider Singtel has become the first operator based in Singapore to leverage this service and offer the Unified Communications (UC) Direct Connect service for Microsoft Teams, giving businesses the option to integrate their business contacts onto Teams and use it as a key mode of communication.
With Operator Connect, businesses will be able to activate PSTN services in Teams with participating operators and enjoy the following benefits:
- Leverage existing operator contracts: Keep their preferred operator and contracts, while enabling a modern calling experience in Teams
- Quickly deploy calling in Teams: Create a connection to their operator and assign phone numbers to users, all from the Teams admin center, in a matter of minutes.
- Reduce costs of hardware and management: PSTN calling services and Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are managed by operators, saving on hardware purchase and management
- Enhanced support and reliability: Operators provide technical support and shared service level agreements, while Azure-powered direct peering creates a 1:1 network connection for greater reliability.
Click here for more information on the announcement.