Traditionally, Session Border Controllers (SBCs) were designed to keep IP networks from being exposed to the public internet, functioning as firewalls. However, as the popularity of fixed-line voice telephony decreased significantly, carriers started perceiving SBCs as necessary cost burdens, which they were forced to maintain to comply with regulatory license obligations.
But the truth of the matter is, that what were once essential yet burdensome components in network architecture have evolved into dynamic, feature-rich enablers.
Think about it: What if carriers' SBCs can actually consolidate network infrastructure costs while also functioning as a revenue engine?
According to Andreas Hipp, CEO and Co-Founder of Cataleya, they sure can.
By looking at key enterprise communication use cases, it becomes clear how SBCs can help operators reduce costs and generate new revenue streams. Let's explore.
SBCs in Modern Service Provider Networks
There are several key enterprise communications use cases where network operators can harness SBCs to revolutionize their service offerings:
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS): In the UCaaS realm of Unified, SBCs play a pivotal role by supporting collaboration suites and hosted PBX solutions.
"Practically every UC platform offers the possibility of calling and receiving calls from the PSTN, and the SBC always sits in between," Hipp explains.
"Within UCaaS, there are also more specific use cases like Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and Zoom Phone Premise Peering, where SBCs are a crucial component," he adds.
Virtual Numbers and SIP Trunking: "If a company has access from the public PSTN, typically they're assigned with virtual telephone numbers," Hipp explains.
Operators provide such numbers to allow their enterprise customers to establish a local presence in various regions without physical offices.
