Connection to the PSTN

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 17, 2007 Posts: 2

I've been wondering this for a while. Say I have a Vonage number that is geographically assigned to Scranton. When I make a call with my Vonage phone, does it take the IP packets to that POTS line in Scranton and connect from there, or do the packets go straight to the closest connection to the PSTN by the destination? How about if somebody calls you? Does the call route through the POTS line in Scranton, or does it route to the nearest switch? By the way,,let's say I live about an hour and a half from Scranton.

Posts: 831 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 831

I have had the same curiosity. Reading how Voip works, etc., the way I understand it is as follows:

If you make a call from Scranton, your Voip connects directly to Vonage who routes your packets to the destination area partner who then connects to the local PSTN (Global Crossing?). The destination partner may not be local to your calling destination, but probably is the least expensive to connect.

However, I do wonder if Vonage and other Voip carriers are using enum. If so, if calling a Comcast Voip user, before going to the Vonage partner, a lookup in enum would occur, and then connecting directly to Comcast, (enumber@comcast.com) which would then connect to the customer. This would save partner and local telco costs.

Anyone else have a comment or better info?

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 17, 2007 Posts: 2

"[If you make a call from Scranton, your Voip connects directly to Vonage who routes your packets to the destination area partner who then connects to the local PSTN (Global Crossing?). The destination partner may not be local to your calling destination, but probably is the least expensive to connect.]" [quote]

So how do you suppose that would work in reverse? For example, I am in Philadelphia with my Vonage on business. But my number is for Scranton. If somebody calls me from, say, New York, will the calll route through Scranton before being transmitted to my Vonage device in Philly?

By the way, your first explanation was very good and made a lot of sense. And as for enum, I wonder the same thing.

Posts: 831 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 831

I is my understanding that your number, having been ported out, connects to Vonage's partner, from PSTN to their computers that route the call to Vonage via packets.Vonage knows your current IP address via the Vonage router/device and connect you over the internet.

I am fuzzy as to WHERE the patner needs to be. Do they need a local presence or if they are 200 miles away, say a western PA number but the partner is physically in Harrisburg, is there a LD charge from the telco in Eastern PA to move the call to Harrisburg?

It is my understanding that the Vonage router/device, hits Vonage every so often which in turn allows Vonage to determine the source (your) IP and stores it.So you could be in London, as far as Vonage is concerned, your IP is the destination, not the town.