Get Digital Voice Ready - PSTN Switch Off 2025

In the realm of telecoms, change is inevitable, and adaptation is key to staying connected in an ever-evolving digital landscape. One significant transformation on the horizon is the planned switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a move that will have profound implications for businesses and consumers alike. As the traditional copper-based infrastructure makes way for newer technologies, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, it's essential to understand what this transition entails and how embracing VoIP can help you stay ahead in the digital age.


Simon
Simon has been with VoiceHost for 10+ years and his management duties include operations, regulatory, standards, industry and internal process compliance.

MITEL IP PBX SIP Trunk configuration

This document provides a reference to Mitel Authorized Solutions providers for configuring the Mitel 3300 ICP to connect to VoiceHost SIP trunks. The different devices can be configured in various configurations depending on your VoIP solution. This document covers a basic setup with the required option setup.

Interop History

VersionDateReasonDownload
1November 2013Initial Interop with Mitel 3300 6.0 SP1 and VoiceHostDownload the Mitel 3300 Interop Guide

Interop Status

The Interop of VoiceHost trunk line has been given a Certification status. This service provider or trunking device will be included in the SIP CoE Reference Guide. The status VoiceHost trunk line achieved is: COMPATIBLE

The most common certification which means VoiceHost SIP trunk has been tested and/or validated by the Mitel SIP CoE team.

Product support will provide all necessary support related to the interop, but issues unique or specific to the 3rd party will be referred to the 3rd party as appropriate.

Software & Hardware Setup

This was the test setup to generate a basic SIP call between VoiceHost trunk line and the 3300ICP.

ManufacturerVariantSoftware Version
Mitel3300ICP MXe12.0.1.24
MitelMinet sets:5340,5220,533005.02.01.07
MitelMBG - Teleworker8.0.12.0
MitelMBG - Gateway8.0.12.0

Provisioning and Compatible Hosted PBX Handsets

What is VoIP Phone Provisioning?

Most phones that are SIP compatible can work to some level with our system. However, if a phone cannot be provisioned with our service then we can only assist in a limited role in their configuration for any deployment and cannot accept any liability for any problems arising from their use. We take no responsibility for externally sourced hardware via third-party suppliers and cannot guarantee successful deployment and continued usage with the VoiceHost platform.

Provisioning is a FREE service for all SIP phones purchased from our VoIP store: https://store.voicehost.co.uk

How to auto-provision to the platform
To auto-provision a device onto the VoiceHost Hosted PBX simply login to your account and select 'provisioning' from the menu and follow the simple instructions.

Auto-provisionable phones purchased from the VoiceHost VoIP Store already have this information pre-populated.

VoiceHost can Auto-Provision the following handsets:
Snom
Cisco | Linksys
Yealink
Polycom
Grandstream
Gigaset
Panasonic
Fanvil
300PAP2TT19PSoundPoint IP300GXV3240Gigaset N510 IP ProKX-UT123 
320SPA112T20PSoundPoint IP301GXV3275Gigaset N300 IP ProKX-UT133 
360SPA122T21PSoundPoint IP320GXP2130 KX-TGP500 
370SPA301T22PSoundPoint IP321GXP2140   
710SPA303T23GSoundPoint IP330GXP2160   
720SPA501GT26PSoundPoint IP331GXP2170   
760SPA502GT28PSoundPoint IP335GAC2500   
820SPA504GT32GSoundPoint IP430GXP1610   
821SPA508GT38GSoundPoint IP450GXP1620   
870SPA509GT40PSoundPoint IP500GXP1625   
D120SPA512GT41PNSoundPoint IP501GXP1628   
D305SPA514GT42GNSoundPoint IP550GXP1630   
D310SPA525GT46GNSoundPoint IP560HT802   
D315SPA525G2T48GNSoundPoint IP650GVC3203   
D345SPA-921W52PVVX201    
D710SPA-922VP530VVX310    
D712SPA-941CP860VVX400    
D715SPA-942 VVX500    
D725SPA-962 VVX600    
D765SPA-2102      
D785CP 7811      
M9 CP 7821      
Meeting PointCP 8841      
M700CP 8851      
VISIONCP 8861      

VoiceHost pre-configuration available (Recommended):

  1. All Gigaset desk phones excluding the Maxwell
  2. Gigaset IP DECT Bases
  3. Gigaset N720IP multi-cell DECT
  4. Zoiper Softphone for Windows PC, Macintosh OSX, iOS, Android.

Phones that are Manually configurable but cannot be provisioned (Not recommended):

  1. Snom m3
  2. Aastra 67xxi and 5xi (needs latest firmware to operate correctly and fix an IP address limitation bug within the web configuration)
  3. Mitel 5330
  4. Any other SIP compatible device or Softphone
  5. Counterpath X-Lite or Counterpath Bria
  6. Media5 fone
  7. Eyebeam (end-of-life)

Other Devices (Non-Standard Phones):

  1. ProTalk - Door Entry SIP devices (needs IP address of registrar/proxy to operate correctly) - (Door Entry/Access Control)
  2. Paxton Access Net2Entry (IPv6 and IPv4 SIP stack as stand-alone or as a Paxton Net2 system) (Door Entry/Access Control)
  3. 2n Helios Modular Door Entry SIP devices (Door Entry/Access Control)
  4. Algo (SIP Alerter/Strobe)

CISCO & LINKSYS SPA PROVISIONING

This URL goes in the web configuration of the phone (menu button -> option 9 -> current IP will give you the current IP address of the phone, pop this into a web browser's address bar to load the web configuration of the phone).

Navigate to Admin Login -> Advanced -> Provisioning tab and locate the section called "Profile Rule".

Remove any existing entries in this text box, and input the URL above, if you copy and paste it be careful not to have any trailing spaces.

Above the Profile Rule section, there are Resync Delay values and a Resync Periodic value, change these to 1 second (our script will re-write these with correct values), click Submit All Changes, and the phone will restart. Changing the values makes the phone immediately talk to our provisioning service, rather than waiting for 10-20 minutes, to fetch the settings.

The phone should then communicate immediately with our provisioning service, it may go through a series of firmware updates, when completed it should be ready for use.

SNOM PROVISIONING

Navigate via the phone HTTP login to Advanced -> Update -> Setting URL in the web configuration:

Set "Subscribe Config" to "yes", save and reboot the phone, this should then communicate immediately with our provisioning service to take the settings required.

Note: this only works on version 7 firmware or later, previous versions must have their firmware upgraded to minimum version 7.3.30

YEALINK PROVISIONING

On the Phone: Press OK, make a note of the IP address of the phone.

From a Computer connected to the same network: Open an internet Browser Put the IP address into the address bar. It will now ask for you phones username and password, enter it here. On the main menu click Upgrade. Now click Advanced. Copy the URL into Provisioning Server; Now click confirm.

Note: only works on major version 70 or later, previous versions must have their firmware upgraded to minimum version 70.23.6

PANASONIC PROVISIONING

Note: basic support only, i.e. seat details and SIP settings for connectivity

GRANDSTREAM PROVISIONING

Note: basic support only, i.e. seat details and SIP settings for connectivity

POLYCOM PROVISIONING

Note: basic support only, i.e. seat details and SIP settings for connectivity

GIGASET PROVISIONING

Note: basic support only, i.e. seat details and SIP settings for connectivity

FANVIL PROVISIONING

Note: basic support only, i.e. seat details and SIP settings for connectivity

Telephone Number Presentation or Spoofing

DISCLAIMER - Number Presentation is not ever guaranteed

VoiceHost Ltd is committed to industry best practice and regulatory compliance is imperative. VoiceHost accepts no liability for the misuse of number presentation and reserves the right to terminate user service should any aspect of this policy be breached.

The policy details the guidelines for the provision of Calling Line Identification Facilities and other related services over Electronic Communications Networks define presentation numbers and the requirements that apply to them.

If permission is revoked or expires, it is the responsibility of either the account holder or the number owner to inform VoiceHost Ltd in writing to remove the presentation number and will be actioned within 10 working days of confirmation of receipt. The VoiceHost account must not continue to make calls using the presentation number after the permission has been revoked or expired. VoiceHost Ltd does not accept any liability if the number is used after the permission has been revoked or expires. It is not possible to request a specific start or removal date, due to the process requiring manual intervention.

WHAT IS NUMBER PRESENTATION | SPOOFING?

A presentation number is a number nominated or provided by the caller that can identify that caller or be used to make a return or subsequent call. In the UK the industry has recognised a number of scenarios where presentation numbers may be provided, as a commercial service, to meet differing customer calling requirements. The purpose of this guide is to describe the various types of presentation number service that have been developed to meet these end-user requirements and the conditions that are to be observed for their use.

Unlike a network number, a presentation number will not necessarily identify a caller's point of ingress to a public network. However, it may well carry more useful information.


NUMBER PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

The requirements of a presentation number on the VoiceHost network are that:

(i) It must either be
                (a) a dial-able number, or
                (b) a number that has been received from the public network and passed on unchanged

(ii) It will have been allocated either to the caller or if allocated to a third party, only used with the third party's explicit permission

(iii) it must not be a number that connects to a Premium Rate Service prefixed 09 or 070, or to a revenue sharing number that generates an excessive or unexpected call charge (NB the exploitation of a Presentation Number to generate revenue sharing calls may constitute persistent misuse of an Electronic Communications Network or Electronic Communications Service).

(iv) It is supported by an underlying network number.


PROTECTING VOICEHOST CUSTOMERS

We will not allow calls into our network to present excessive revenue generating types 09 and 070. These Inbound calls will be marked as number 'withheld'. 


BENEFITS OF CLI MANIPULATION

Number presentation manipulation of the Calling Line Identifier (CLI) can be beneficial in order to:

  1. Centralised and controlled callbacks to improve telephony capability and efficiency
  2. Protect the privacy of private extensions or mobiles (Pertinent for DISA / Dial-Through)
  3. Give a valid return route should the caller not have a DDI
  4. Allow for updated inward routing whilst telephone number porting is in progress.
  5. Improved perception by giving a local or national geographic image of presence.
TYPES OF NUMBER PRESENTATION
  • Type 1 - A presentation number generated by the subscriber's network provider. The number is stored in the network and applied to an outgoing call at the local exchange by the provider. Because the number is applied by network equipment there is no need for it to be verified each time a call is made – instead, the level of authenticity will depend on the checks made by a network provider that a subscriber is entitled to use a particular presentation number.
  • Type 2 - A presentation number which identifies a caller's extension number behind a DDI switchboard. Although the number or a partial number is generated by the user's own equipment, the network provider is able to check that it falls within the range and length allocated to a particular subscriber. In this way, the authenticity of the number may be ensured. It should be noted that some network providers classify type 2 presentation numbers as network numbers (especially where the full number is constituted at the local exchange). This type of number is considered to carry sufficient authenticity to be classified as a network number and is carried as such by some networks.
  • Type 3 - A presentation number limited to the far-end breakout scenario where a call's ingress to the public network may be geographically remote from where it was originated. The number is generated by the user's equipment and is not capable of being subjected to network verification procedures. Verification is based on a contract between the subscriber and the network provider in which the subscriber gives an undertaking that only authentic calling party numbers will be generated.
  • Type 4 - A presentation number available for the onward transmission of the originating number where a call breaks into a private network and breaks out again before termination, as in a DISA scenario. On the break outbound leg, the number is generated by the user's equipment although it will have already been verified in consequence of having been delivered to the private network. To maintain the verification it is necessary to ensure that the number submitted by the private network is the number that was received. Network providers wishing to offer a type 4 service will require a contractual commitment from customers that they will only submit CLIs that have been received from the public network. Unlike other types of presentation numbers, type 4 numbers may not always be dial-able; this will depend on the nature of the number received from the public network.
  • Type 5 - Presentation numbers that identify separate groups of callers behind a private network switch wishing to send different outgoing CLIs. A typical scenario is a call centre making calls on behalf of more than one client. Type 5 presentation numbers are generated by the user's equipment. Subscribers will need to enter into a similar contractual commitment with their network providers as for type 1 presentation numbers - which they are entitled to use the numbers they have selected.
SPOOFING APPLICATION PROCESS

A signed declaration by a person with subscription authority for the CLI to be presented must be received by VoiceHost prior to presenting the number over the VoiceHost network.

Dropped Calls - Why do they happen?

What causes dropped telephone calls and what can I do to address the causes?

Telephone calls can be dropped for a variety of reasons but if you're suffering regularly then there are few things you can check and remedy to resolve them.

  • SIP Session Timers
  • SIP ALG
  • Talk Off
  • VAD - Voice Activity Detection
  • NAT Issues
SIP Session Timers

SIP session timers tell the SIP Servers that the calls is still alive as looking for a BYE message is not reliable. If a SIP Server thinks one end has hung up (i.e stops receiving KEEP-ALIVE messages) it will drop any open call legs.

SIP ALG

Read our guidance on SIP ALG HERE

Talk Off

Talk Off happens when phone tones (DTMF) are wrongly interpreted during a call. This is easily resolved by ensuring the recommended settings for DTMF transmission OUT-OF-BAND as per RFC2833 are enabled.

VAD - Voice Activity Detection

If in doubt, turn this off as it essentially saves bandwidth by not sending full audio if nobody is talking but not everyone can support it.

NAT Issues

SIP doesn't like NAT. It's that simple. Most people have to use it as IPv4 limitations dictate and few providers fully support IPv6.

Draytek Router VoIP Configuration

How to configure Draytek 27xx and 28xx series routers for VoIP

This config guide applies to following routers:

  1. Draytek Vigor 2820
  2. Draytek Vigor 2830

Settings to change:

  1. Disable SIP ALG
  2. Allow traffic to/from VoiceHost
  3. Update Firmware to latest version
  4. Untick "Accept large fragmented UDP packets" under the firewall configuration

SIP ALG
Issues such as one way audio, lack of incoming calls, registration issues and etc. can be due to SIP ALG

To disable SIP ALG you have to telnet into the router and enter the following commands.

 1. > sys sip_alg 0 -- Disables sip alg
 2. > sys commit -- Apply changes
 3. > sys reboot -- Reboot router

Once the router is back online, reboot the IP phone or press re-register.

Incoming Call Problems

This is caused by a large IP SIP packet that is fragmented, but the router will not forward it. I understand that the new version will work if the checkbox under firewall -> general setup -> Accept large incoming fragmented UDP or ICMP packets is UNTICKED. This is the opposite to what you would expect.

Paxton Access Net2Entry

Paxton Access Net2Entry SIP Intercom Panel Configuration

Once the hardware and configuration utility is installed you should allocate an extension your VoiceHost control panel.

Enter the details for the extension into the SIP tab within the Paxton Access Net2Entry configuration utility.

VoIP calls can be instigated from the Intercom panel and once answered simply press '1' to release the door as per the Net2 settings.

Video codec negotiation is not optional nor transcode and should is forced to H.264 on all other endpoints on the VoiceHost Network.

You will be able to do the following which does have limitations:

  1. Release the Net2 door ACU from any handset or softphone on the VoiceHost network. NOTE: You will not be able to release/open the door off-network (i.e mobile NTS) as DTMF is not carried are per RFC2833 'out-of-band'
  2. Instigating a call directly to the panel will not work as the SIP stack does not register at custom intervals
  3. The far-end will experience echo as the SIP stack doesn't allow the settings to be changed.

Enable SIP in the Net2Entry Configuration Utility

Load the Paxton Access Net2 Entry Configuration Utility and select the site you wish to enable SIP for. Navigate to the SIP Account tab and enter the VoiceHost SIP details as shown below.

Paxton Access Net2Entry SIP Setup

Add Telephone Numbers, Groups, External Numbers into the Address Book. A list of available platform shortcodes is here: https://www.voicehost.co.uk/help/hosted-platform-short-codes

Paxton Access Net2Entry Configuration Utility

You should now be able to make calls to your VoiceHost extension(s) via the Paxton Net2 Entry Intercom Panel

Zoiper Softphone Configuration

  1. Download Zoiper Here
  2. The only option required from this screen to make the softphone work is the Accounts button. All the other options are personal to your own requirements from the phone and will rarely be needed to get Zoiper working with your VoIP account.
  3. After selecting Accounts you then need to add an account by tapping the + symbol highlighted above, then choose SIP account and enter your extension credentials:
    • Account name: This can be set as you wish and is merely for reference. If you’re configuring multiple accounts then it makes sense to set this to something relevant.
    • Domain: As per your VoiceHost control panel.
    • User name: As per your VoiceHost control panel.
    • Password: This is the password relevant to your ext/seat
    • Network Settings: In this option is another setting titled Refresh which should be set to 60.
  4. With all the above done, come out of the Network Settings screen so your back at the SIP Account screen, scroll to the top and tap Register.
  5. Your Zoiper softphone should now be registered.

Configuration instructions for Android and iOS