Start with the carrier, because each of the four options is a different answer to who provides your phone service. If you want Microsoft to do it and Microsoft sells Calling Plans where your users are, buy a Calling Plan. If you'd rather use a phone company, Operator Connect works when that company is in Microsoft's program. Teams Phone Mobile is for people whose work number has to be the one on their SIM. Direct Routing is for a carrier or equipment the other routes can't take in.
\n","summary":"Start with who you want as your carrier. A Calling Plan makes it Microsoft, Operator Connect uses a participating phone company, Teams Phone Mobile puts the number on a SIM, and Direct Routing connects a carrier you choose or existing equipment through a session border controller. One tenant can combine them.","publishedAt":"2026-08-03T03:43:05.249","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","editorialStatus":"APPROVED","lastReviewedAt":"2026-10-10T03:45:05.433","nextReviewDueAt":"2026-12-14T00:00:00","templateVersion":"v2","aliases":["Which Teams Phone PSTN connectivity option should I choose?","How do I decide between Calling Plan, Operator Connect, Teams Phone Mobile, and Direct Routing?","What criteria decide Teams Phone PSTN connectivity?","How do I compare Teams Phone PSTN options for my organization?","Calling Plan vs Operator Connect vs Direct Routing: how do I pick?"],"confidenceScore":88,"confidenceLabel":"High","canonicalUrl":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"contributorOrganizationProfile":null,"contributorPerson":null,"sections":[{"id":"ad7c5918-1e26-479a-aca7-4d2d36eee527","sectionKey":"what_you_are_choosing","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"What you are choosing between","introMarkdown":"All four options do the same job. Each one connects Teams Phone to the public switched telephone network, or PSTN, and brings phone numbers into your tenant. Every user has to be licensed for Teams Phone whichever one you pick. The options [differ in who the operator is and who manages the link](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity).","introHtml":"All four options do the same job. Each one connects Teams Phone to the public switched telephone network, or PSTN, and brings phone numbers into your tenant. Every user has to be licensed for Teams Phone whichever one you pick. The options differ in who the operator is and who manages the link.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":10},{"id":"5519b78a-0764-4a1b-b202-6b71064e54a3","sectionKey":"options_table","sectionType":"table_section","heading":"The four options by carrier and management","introMarkdown":null,"introHtml":null,"outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{"rows":[{"cells":["Microsoft Calling Plan","Microsoft","Microsoft"]},{"cells":["Operator Connect","A participating phone company you contract with","The phone company, while you manage users and numbers in Teams"]},{"cells":["Teams Phone Mobile","A participating mobile operator","The mobile operator"]},{"cells":["Direct Routing","The PSTN carrier you choose","You, an integrator or a hosted provider, through a certified session border controller"]}],"columns":["Option","Your carrier","Who runs the connection"]},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":20},{"id":"2c258783-fd5f-4a05-82d2-63eabaad5b6b","sectionKey":"calling_plan_availability","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Check where Microsoft sells Calling Plans","introMarkdown":"With a Calling Plan, Microsoft is the operator, so the numbers, the network access and the support all come from the company that already runs your Teams. Microsoft's comparison calls it the fit for organizations that want a fully Microsoft-managed service with the simplest deployment.\n\nAvailability decides whether it's on your list at all. Microsoft sells Calling Plans in some countries and regions, and it [points you to the other routes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-add-on-licensing/microsoft-teams-add-on-licensing) where it doesn't. So look up your users' countries before [deciding whether you need a Calling Plan](https://www.answerstack.io/q/do-i-need-a-calling-plan-with-teams-phone).","introHtml":"With a Calling Plan, Microsoft is the operator, so the numbers, the network access and the support all come from the company that already runs your Teams. Microsoft's comparison calls it the fit for organizations that want a fully Microsoft-managed service with the simplest deployment.
\nAvailability decides whether it's on your list at all. Microsoft sells Calling Plans in some countries and regions, and it points you to the other routes where it doesn't. So look up your users' countries before deciding whether you need a Calling Plan.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":30},{"id":"956f6f27-22f5-4080-bbd0-f45a1dd1d07b","sectionKey":"operator_connect","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"See whether your carrier is in the Operator Connect program","introMarkdown":"Operator Connect puts a phone company in Microsoft's place as the carrier. Microsoft [recommends it](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-plan) when you want a managed connection without running your own session border controllers, or when you want to stay with a phone company that offers it. A session border controller, or SBC, is the device that sits between a carrier's network and Teams.\n\nUnder Operator Connect, Microsoft is responsible for Teams and its admin center. The operator is responsible for PSTN connectivity, for providing and porting numbers, for the calling service and for support on all of those. You enable the operator in the Teams admin center and assign its numbers to users there.\n\nOperators aren't interchangeable, so the choice continues inside this option. Microsoft suggests comparing them on country coverage, number availability and porting support, service offerings and any relationship you already have. Pricing models differ too, and Atlantech Online's [Operator Connect page](https://www.atlantech.net/solutions/voice/operatorconnect) shows two of them. The first is a flat rate \"as low as $3 per user/month,\" with unlimited US calling and number porting listed. The second charges a small per-user cost plus a shared pool of PSTN capacity. Atlantech describes that one as suited to organizations of 500 or more users where only a fraction are on a call at once.\n\nThe two models put the cost in different units, so which one is easier to budget depends on how many of your users are on outside calls at the same moment. Atlantech publishes no rate for the shared model, so that side of the comparison needs a quote. Ask for both quotes on the same user count and the same peak number of calls, so the two can be compared.\n\nBoth prices are for the carrier's service. Microsoft licensing is separate, and users who already have Teams Phone through an existing subscription don't need it again.","introHtml":"Operator Connect puts a phone company in Microsoft's place as the carrier. Microsoft recommends it when you want a managed connection without running your own session border controllers, or when you want to stay with a phone company that offers it. A session border controller, or SBC, is the device that sits between a carrier's network and Teams.
\nUnder Operator Connect, Microsoft is responsible for Teams and its admin center. The operator is responsible for PSTN connectivity, for providing and porting numbers, for the calling service and for support on all of those. You enable the operator in the Teams admin center and assign its numbers to users there.
\nOperators aren't interchangeable, so the choice continues inside this option. Microsoft suggests comparing them on country coverage, number availability and porting support, service offerings and any relationship you already have. Pricing models differ too, and Atlantech Online's Operator Connect page shows two of them. The first is a flat rate "as low as $3 per user/month," with unlimited US calling and number porting listed. The second charges a small per-user cost plus a shared pool of PSTN capacity. Atlantech describes that one as suited to organizations of 500 or more users where only a fraction are on a call at once.
\nThe two models put the cost in different units, so which one is easier to budget depends on how many of your users are on outside calls at the same moment. Atlantech publishes no rate for the shared model, so that side of the comparison needs a quote. Ask for both quotes on the same user count and the same peak number of calls, so the two can be compared.
\nBoth prices are for the carrier's service. Microsoft licensing is separate, and users who already have Teams Phone through an existing subscription don't need it again.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":40},{"id":"f90e1cc4-260b-4447-884a-b9e6b4b6670b","sectionKey":"teams_phone_mobile","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Decide whether the number has to live on a SIM","introMarkdown":"Teams Phone Mobile is [meant for mobile-first employees](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-mobile-plan), such as field workers and sales representatives, who should have a single business number. That number is the one on a company-provided SIM. The user can make and receive calls on it through the phone's own dialer or through Teams.\n\nThe mobile operator has to take part in the program in the countries where you need it. Teams Phone Mobile also supports user numbers only, so it can't carry the number for an auto attendant, a call queue or a conference bridge. A company that picks it for field staff still needs another route for a main line answered by an auto attendant or a queue.","introHtml":"Teams Phone Mobile is meant for mobile-first employees, such as field workers and sales representatives, who should have a single business number. That number is the one on a company-provided SIM. The user can make and receive calls on it through the phone's own dialer or through Teams.
\nThe mobile operator has to take part in the program in the countries where you need it. Teams Phone Mobile also supports user numbers only, so it can't carry the number for an auto attendant, a call queue or a conference bridge. A company that picks it for field staff still needs another route for a main line answered by an auto attendant or a queue.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":50},{"id":"1d73d657-d4ee-4895-8575-ab3c4985d085","sectionKey":"direct_routing","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Account for the carrier and equipment you already have","introMarkdown":"Direct Routing [suits a particular set of cases](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-plan): an existing carrier relationship you want to keep, a third-party PBX or analog devices that have to stay connected, advanced call routing, and deployments that span several countries. You use the carrier you choose, because the link is an SBC connected to Teams.\n\nThe SBC brings work of its own. It has to be a model Microsoft has certified, and it needs DNS records, certificates and firewall rules of its own. You don't have to own or run the device yourself. Microsoft allows it to be procured, installed and managed by you, by your integrator or by a hosted Direct Routing provider. So the question to settle is who operates the SBC and who answers when a call fails.\n\nAtlantech's [explanation of Operator Connect](https://www.atlantech.net/blog/microsoft-operator-connect-explained) states the trade from a carrier's point of view. Operator Connect removes the work of managing SBCs. In exchange, you give up some control over call routing, customization and integration with older systems. That control matters when you have a PBX to keep in service or routing rules particular to your business, and Direct Routing is the route built for those cases. That trade is one [difference between Direct Routing and Operator Connect](https://www.answerstack.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-direct-routing-and-operator-connect).\n\nEmergency calling is one place the difference shows up in setup. Direct Routing [requires you to configure specific call routing policies](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-are-emergency-locations-addresses-and-call-routing) for emergency calls. With the other options, the carrier handles much of that configuration.","introHtml":"Direct Routing suits a particular set of cases: an existing carrier relationship you want to keep, a third-party PBX or analog devices that have to stay connected, advanced call routing, and deployments that span several countries. You use the carrier you choose, because the link is an SBC connected to Teams.
\nThe SBC brings work of its own. It has to be a model Microsoft has certified, and it needs DNS records, certificates and firewall rules of its own. You don't have to own or run the device yourself. Microsoft allows it to be procured, installed and managed by you, by your integrator or by a hosted Direct Routing provider. So the question to settle is who operates the SBC and who answers when a call fails.
\nAtlantech's explanation of Operator Connect states the trade from a carrier's point of view. Operator Connect removes the work of managing SBCs. In exchange, you give up some control over call routing, customization and integration with older systems. That control matters when you have a PBX to keep in service or routing rules particular to your business, and Direct Routing is the route built for those cases. That trade is one difference between Direct Routing and Operator Connect.
\nEmergency calling is one place the difference shows up in setup. Direct Routing requires you to configure specific call routing policies for emergency calls. With the other options, the carrier handles much of that configuration.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":60},{"id":"72084518-d5e3-4317-9bf4-68a0ec03819f","sectionKey":"mixing_options","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"You can use more than one option","introMarkdown":"One tenant can run several routes at once, assigned by user or by location. Microsoft gives an example of Teams Phone Mobile for mobile workers, Operator Connect for knowledge workers and Direct Routing for workers in remote regions.\n\nSuppose a company has 120 people in the United States. Ninety work at desks, 20 are field technicians with company phones, and ten work in a warehouse that still has an older PBX and an overhead paging system. The desk workers can go on Operator Connect with the company's current carrier, if that carrier is in the program. The technicians can use Teams Phone Mobile, if their mobile operator participates. Assume the warehouse's PBX and paging equipment can be connected through a certified SBC. Then the warehouse can use Direct Routing and keep them in service. All 120 are on the same Teams Phone system, and each has to be licensed for Teams Phone, which some may already be through their existing Microsoft subscription.\n\nPrice doesn't sort the options in a fixed order. The total depends on the quotes you get and on how much your users call, so compare routes using the same users and the same calling pattern. Add the Microsoft licensing to each route to see [what Teams Phone costs](https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-much-does-teams-phone-cost) in full.\n\nThe first choice also doesn't lock in the rest. Microsoft lets you add and manage these connections over time, in any order. A company can start every user on the simplest route available to it and add a different route for specific groups later, once it knows which of them need something else.","introHtml":"One tenant can run several routes at once, assigned by user or by location. Microsoft gives an example of Teams Phone Mobile for mobile workers, Operator Connect for knowledge workers and Direct Routing for workers in remote regions.
\nSuppose a company has 120 people in the United States. Ninety work at desks, 20 are field technicians with company phones, and ten work in a warehouse that still has an older PBX and an overhead paging system. The desk workers can go on Operator Connect with the company's current carrier, if that carrier is in the program. The technicians can use Teams Phone Mobile, if their mobile operator participates. Assume the warehouse's PBX and paging equipment can be connected through a certified SBC. Then the warehouse can use Direct Routing and keep them in service. All 120 are on the same Teams Phone system, and each has to be licensed for Teams Phone, which some may already be through their existing Microsoft subscription.
\nPrice doesn't sort the options in a fixed order. The total depends on the quotes you get and on how much your users call, so compare routes using the same users and the same calling pattern. Add the Microsoft licensing to each route to see what Teams Phone costs in full.
\nThe first choice also doesn't lock in the rest. Microsoft lets you add and manage these connections over time, in any order. A company can start every user on the simplest route available to it and add a different route for specific groups later, once it knows which of them need something else.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":70}],"citations":[{"title":"Microsoft - PSTN connectivity options","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Microsoft's Teams Phone is a highly flexible platform, supporting several methods to connect with the PSTN, and you can equip your tenant with as many of the available PSTN integrations as you'd like.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"The four PSTN connectivity models and what each one requires (Calling Plan license; third-party provider contract for Operator Connect and Teams Phone Mobile; provider contract plus a certified SBC for Direct Routing); Microsoft supplies PSTN access, numbers, US emergency screening and support with ","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft"},{"title":"Microsoft - Plan for Operator Connect","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-plan","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Your Operator Connect provider is responsible for: PSTN connectivity. Telephone number provisioning and porting. Calling services. PSTN-related support and troubleshooting.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Operator Connect prerequisites: Teams Phone licenses, Teams Only mode, and a Microsoft-certified provider available in the countries or regions of deployment; the support boundary that places PSTN connectivity, number provisioning and porting, calling services, and PSTN troubleshooting with the oper","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft"},{"title":"Plan for Teams Phone Mobile - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-mobile-plan","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Emergency address management for Teams endpoints can vary depending on your operator. Your operator might assign emergency addresses, allow you to manage them in the Teams admin center, or require you to contact the operator to make changes.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Teams Phone Mobile requires an eligible mobile subscription with a participating operator and TeamsOnly mode for assigned users; a call can move from the native dialer to Teams without dropping; compliance recording can be available for native dialer and Teams app calls when the organization has the","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Plan Direct Routing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-plan","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Direct Routing isn't supported in Islands mode.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"The Direct Routing infrastructure requirement list (certified SBC, PSTN trunks, verified Microsoft 365 domain that is not *.onmicrosoft.com, public IP reachable by Teams, public DNS entry for the SBC FQDN, trusted public certificate, firewall rules for signaling and media); Direct Routing is not sup","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Session Border Controllers certified for Direct Routing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-border-controllers","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"We're not accepting new nominations for certification until further notice.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Microsoft supports Teams Phone with Direct Routing only on certified devices; customers must contact the SBC vendor first and present a vendor investigation report to escalate to Microsoft; certification is granted to specific firmware versions; Microsoft is not accepting new nominations for certifi","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) for Direct Routing","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-survivable-branch-appliance","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"SBA mode is activated only on desktop clients on a physical machine. VMs and web clients aren't supported at the moment.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"The SBA is distributable code Microsoft provides to SBC vendors who embed it in firmware or ship it to run on a separate VM or hardware; media bypass is a prerequisite; the firewall ports required (3443, 4444, 8443, 5061 or the configured SBC port, UDP 123, 443); supported clients are Teams Windows ","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Plan for media bypass with Direct Routing","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-plan-media-bypass","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"For media bypass, Microsoft uses a version of Transport Relays that requires opening ports 50 000 to 59 999 between the Teams Transport Relays and the SBC.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Media bypass keeps media between the SBC and the client and requires the SBC and client to be in the same location or network; the client must have access to the SBC's public IP address, and where it does not, media flows through Teams Transport Relays requiring ports 50000 to 59999 to be open to th","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Country/region availability - Audio Conferencing, Calling Plans - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/calling-plan-overview","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Availability doesn't indicate whether Know Your Customer (KYC) verification is required. Before acquiring or porting telephone numbers, verify whether KYC applies for the selected country or region and obtain KYC approval.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Calling Plan availability is published as a per-country and per-region lookup; availability does not indicate whether Know Your Customer verification is required, KYC review is completed at the tenant level, and most reviews finish within three business days, so KYC should be started early to avoid ","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Transfer phone numbers to Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/phone-number-calling-plans/transfer-phone-numbers-to-teams","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Use the drop-down to select the country/region where you're getting numbers. Find information about availability and the downloadable PDF LOA forms required for porting numbers.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Porting numbers into Microsoft Teams Calling Plans runs through a per-country or per-region process with downloadable letter-of-authorization forms and country-specific documentation.","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Plan and manage emergency calling - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-are-emergency-locations-addresses-and-call-routing","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Security desk notifications are available with Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connect, and Direct Routing.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Emergency calling configuration differs by PSTN connectivity option; Direct Routing requires configuring specific call routing policies while the carrier handles much of the configuration under the other options; security desk notifications are available with Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connec","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Plan Operator Connect for India","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-india-plan","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Acquire the India-specific Microsoft Teams Phone license from a licensed Indian telecommunications operator. This requirement applies even if the user already has a Teams Phone entitlement, such as the entitlement included with an E5 license.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Operator Connect for India is a country-specific PSTN connectivity option designed to meet India's telephony regulatory requirements; the India operator provides the India-specific Teams Phone license, required even when the user already has an entitlement such as E5; assigned users must be in Teams","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Microsoft 365 Operator Directory","url":"https://microsoftpartners.microsoft.com/abs/Operator-Directory/","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"This page provides a directory of operators with whom Microsoft delivers joint services that provide deeper integration into the Teams platform.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"The Microsoft-run directory of operators participating in Operator Connect and Teams Phone Mobile and the countries or regions where their service is available; this is where country coverage for both operator-led options is confirmed. The page loaded on the verification date but returns its operato","domain":"microsoftpartners.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft"},{"title":"Introduction to Teams recording","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-recording-policy","excerpt":null,"quoteText":"Compliance recording: Calls, meetings, and events that are automatically recorded without user intervention and owned by the company, using a third-party solution.","sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","supportsText":"Compliance recording is automatic, admin-owned recording delivered through a third-party solution and configured with user policy, separate from the PSTN connectivity choice; convenience recording policy scope for Teams PSTN calls requires Microsoft 365 E5, Office 365 E5, or Microsoft/Office 365 E3 ","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"}],"revisions":[{"revisedAt":"2026-07-18T03:43:05.249+00:00","versionLabel":"Originally published","note":"","reviewedBy":null}],"relatedAnswers":[{"id":"1993a40e-6259-4856-9885-d80d2aaf68f1","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-direct-routing-and-operator-connect","question":"What is the difference between Direct Routing and Operator Connect?","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T03:39:37.83","confidenceScore":94,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Both connect Teams Phone to the public phone network through a carrier other than Microsoft. Operator Connect uses a carrier in Microsoft's program that has already built the connection. Direct Routing uses a carrier you choose through a session border controller run by you, an integrator or a provider, and allows more custom integration.","url":"/q/what-is-the-difference-between-direct-routing-and-operator-connect"},{"id":"67fc8518-2dba-4c3b-8029-0a39c59afd28","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-teams-phone-and-a-calling-plan","question":"What is the difference between Teams Phone and a Calling Plan?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T03:41:44.225","confidenceScore":86,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Teams Phone is the phone system license and a Calling Plan is carrier service from Microsoft. Anyone in Teams who calls outside numbers needs Teams Phone; a Calling Plan applies only where Microsoft is the carrier.","url":"/q/what-is-the-difference-between-teams-phone-and-a-calling-plan"},{"id":"856a2341-d0c5-4496-a8d2-d97388060c1c","slug":"how-much-does-teams-phone-cost","question":"How much does Teams Phone cost?","publishedAt":"2026-06-09T03:40:01.318","confidenceScore":76,"confidenceLabel":"Medium","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"In the US, Microsoft lists Teams Phone Standard at $10 per user per month, paid yearly, with no outside calling. Bundles with Microsoft calling are $13, $17 and $34. Each assumes a Teams license. With a carrier, a user who needs the add-on costs $10 plus the carrier's charge, such as Atlantech's published floor of $3 per user per month.","url":"/q/how-much-does-teams-phone-cost"},{"id":"56a92390-37b7-4baa-95b6-4ea51512b1b0","slug":"does-a-teams-phone-license-include-a-phone-number","question":"Does a Teams Phone license include a phone number?","publishedAt":"2026-06-02T03:39:27.013","confidenceScore":96,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"No. A Teams Phone license provides the phone system, and phone numbers come from the carrier that connects Teams to the public phone network. A Calling Plan makes Microsoft that carrier. Numbers are acquired or ported, then assigned, and Shared Calling lets a group of users share one number.","url":"/q/does-a-teams-phone-license-include-a-phone-number"}],"contributorStats":{"verifiedAnswers":149,"openDisputes":0},"schemaJson":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Question","name":"How do I choose a PSTN connectivity option for Teams Phone?","text":"How do I choose a PSTN connectivity option for Teams Phone?","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-do-i-choose-a-pstn-connectivity-option-for-teams-phone","answerCount":1,"datePublished":"2026-08-03T03:43:05.249","about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"Teams Phone"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Telecommunications"}],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Start with the carrier, because each of the four options is a different answer to who provides your phone service. If you want Microsoft to do it and Microsoft sells Calling Plans where your users are, buy a Calling Plan. If you'd rather use a phone company, Operator Connect works when that company is in Microsoft's program. Teams Phone Mobile is for people whose work number has to be the one on their SIM. Direct Routing is for a carrier or equipment the other routes can't take in.","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-do-i-choose-a-pstn-connectivity-option-for-teams-phone","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2026-08-03T03:43:05.249","dateModified":"2026-09-14T00:00:00","citation":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft - PSTN connectivity options","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft - Plan for Operator Connect","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-plan"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Plan for Teams Phone Mobile - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-mobile-plan"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Plan Direct Routing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-plan"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Session Border Controllers certified for Direct Routing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-border-controllers"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) for Direct Routing","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-survivable-branch-appliance"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Plan for media bypass with Direct Routing","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/direct-routing-plan-media-bypass"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Country/region availability - Audio Conferencing, Calling Plans - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/calling-plan-overview"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Transfer phone numbers to Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/phone-number-calling-plans/transfer-phone-numbers-to-teams"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Plan and manage emergency calling - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-are-emergency-locations-addresses-and-call-routing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Plan Operator Connect for India","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-india-plan"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft 365 Operator Directory","url":"https://microsoftpartners.microsoft.com/abs/Operator-Directory/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Introduction to Teams recording","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-recording-policy"}]}}}