Microsoft’s launch of Operator Connect will transform telephony within the Public Sector

Recently, Microsoft launched their Operator Connect service, which helps organisations connect Teams Phone to public switched telephone network (PSTN) operators.

With chat and video, audio calls remain an important component of Teams, and there are now 250 million active Team users worldwide.

The new hybrid way of working requires tools that enable workers to be flexible and mobile, moving from home to car, to office to car, and home again. The ability to transfer calls between devices is something that users have been crying out for and particularly within the Public Sector and NHS environments.

In the past, there have been challenges with telephony in the Public Sector and particularly in the NHS including ageing legacy systems, lack of compatibility, high cost to administer, difficulties managing multiple suppliers and being on expensive calling plans.

With Operator Connect, businesses will be able to maintain their existing operator relationships, saving money on infrastructure purchases and management, while benefiting from shared technical support.  Whilst most Teams telephony customers opt for Direct Routing for PSTN connectivity, many of them lack the internal skills and expertise required for deployments. Operator Connect adds a simpler option for these organisations.

Simple and Seamless 

Operator Connect provides seamless and integrated calling for your business via Microsoft Teams.

Operator Connect makes it simple to bring your operator to Teams if they are participating in the program, unlocking several important benefits and features:

  • Simple and quick to set up – It can take just a few minutes to connect your Teams tenancy to Operator Connect service and assign phone numbers to users, all from the Team Admin Center. Plus, you don’t need to be an expert in voice to set up calling to Teams.
  • You can keep your current SIP and contract by utilising existing PSTN infrastructure.
  • Operator-managed infrastructure with cost savings – Your provider manages the PSTN calling services and Session Border Controllers (SBCs) which allow you to save money on hardware purchases and management costs.
  • Enhanced support and reliability – Providers give technical support and shared service level agreements which will improve support service. Direct peering powered creates a one-to-one network connection for enhanced reliability.

For more information about Operator Connect, please call 0333 014 0555 or visit this page to learn more about Operator Connect.