[Asterisk-Users] Provisioning CO lines

[Steven Critchfield]

On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 14:38, David Carr wrote:
> I discovered and deployed a solution some would consider counter-intuitive.
> For whatever reason, I can get a dedicated long-distance T1 for about $400
> MRC ($16 per line) while a "local" T1 costs over $1,200 MRC ($50 per line).
> My telco automatically assumed I would want/need the local T1 for my local
> traffic but when I did the math it was all backwards.
> 
> All inbound calls for a local T1 are free. However, most companies hook a
> toll-free number to ring through to their local number so many incoming
> calls cost the switched long-distance rate of 5 cents per minute. Outbound
> local calls are free too, but outbound long-distance calls were 5 cents per
> minute for switched long-distance.
> 
> For the dedicated long-distance T1, all inbound and outbound calls cost 1.9
> cents per minute, even if you are calling a toll-free number or the company
> next door. Instead of having local DIDs, we simply got a huge supply of
> toll-free numbers, all with unique DNIS so we use them as DIDs for not only
> direct voice numbers but also direct fax numbers.
> 
> The short story is that 90% of our outbound calls were long-distance and 90%
> of our incoming calls were toll-free so paying $800 more MRC and 3.1 cents
> more per minute for a local T1 made no sense. The break-even point is going
> to be different for everyone depending on your total call volume and the
> relative difference between costs for each type of line. For us, the
> break-even occured at around 40% local calls. What I mean is that if 40 or
> more percent of our inbound and outbound calls were to local numbers, then
> getting local calls for free benefits us enough so that a local T1 saves us
> money.


Thats very interesting. Do you mind mentioning the carrier you choose
for this? We have been trying to figure out how to save money for a
client of ours, and this sounds like the option for them. They have a
expanding clientele outside of the local calling zone and they are
paying for a 1800 number to forward to our local lines. If we could drop
in a long distance T1 that only was used for their remote customers that
cost less, we might be able to split the difference for a while with our
customer.


> -----Original Message-----
> > From: asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com
> > [mailto:asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com]On Behalf Of Mike Ciholas
> > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:21 AM
> > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Provisioning CO lines
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > This is a NEWBIE question, so all you experienced types that are
> > tired of stupid questions can move on...
> >
> > I've pretty much given up trying to do my entire phone system
> > over IP (including local service), so I have to select and
> > provision my local CO lines.  I need about 10-12 lines which can
> > be POTS lines, of course.  But, I thought, why not get something
> > digital and expandable like a DS1, PRI, T1 or whatever they call
> > it with 23 or 24 channels of 64 kbps voice.  It seems like it
> > would be simpler for me to deal with this (and better quality)
> > and it *should* be simpler for the phone company, too.
> >
> > However, while everyone can sell me POTS lines, when I ask about
> > getting these in some sort of digital muxed interface, I seem to
> > confuse the providers.  In one case, I was able to get something
> > called "channelized T1" which cost a lot and did not actually
> > include the "phone" service for any of the channels, that was
> > additional.  So the cost to go from POTS lines to something
> > digital was extreme, so much more than I can't understand why
> > anyone would have T1 voice interfaces, yet all the PBXes have
> > this and it seems commonly used.  I must be doing this "wrong".
> >
> > Okay, so I need help with:
> >
> > 1. Understanding terminology so I can ask for the "right thing".
> >
> > 2. Advice on when it is reasonable to go POTS versus something
> > else and what that something else is.
> >
> > 3. Feedback on what others are doing with 10-12 lines in the US
> > that may want to expand to ~20 lines.
> >
> > 4. Interfacing so many POTS lines to Asterisk.  I guess that
> > means an FXO channel bank to T1 card?  Kind of stupid to go
> > digital/analog/digital in the last 100 feet.
> >
> > Help?
> >
> > --
> > Mike Ciholas                            (812) 476-2721 voice
> > CIHOLAS Enterprises                     (812) 476-2881 fax
> > 2626 Kotter Ave, Unit D                 mikec at ciholas.com
> > Evansville, IN 47715                    http://www.ciholas.com
> >
> >
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> > Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> >
> 
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-- 
Steven Critchfield  <critch at basesys.com>