What is a PRI phone system?

• A PRI phone system uses the Primary Rate Interface (PRI) standard to allow traditional telephone lines securing multiple voice and data signals.
• A PRI phone system operates through a physical connection to the public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and can support up to 23 concurrent voice channels per PRI trunk, and higher capacities via additional PRI trunks
   

For decades, the PRI phone system has been the standard in enterprise telecommunications. But what exactly is a PRI phone system, and what benefits does it offer an organization when compared to other telephony solutions? Here’s a brief primer on “What is a PRI phone system?” that provides some answers.

What is a PRI phone system?

A PRI phone system uses the Primary Rate Interface (PRI) standard on an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) to enable multiple voice and data lines to connect to a business’ private branch exchange system or PBX. A PRI phone system delivers voice and data over copper lines and can concurrently support up to 23 voice channels (or 30 channels in Europe) per PRI trunk, and higher capacities via additional PRI trunks.

What is a PRI phone system vs. a SIP system?

While a PRI phone system maintains a physical connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), SIP trunking utilizes a virtual connection that often shares bandwidth with data connections. A SIP phone system tends to offer greater flexibility and cost savings, while a PRI phone system is thought to provide greater call reliability and quality.

What is a PRI phone system’s most significant advantage?

A PRI phone system offers guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS), thanks to dedicated lines that only serve voice transmission.

What is a PRI phone system’s greatest disadvantage?

A PRI phone system can be expensive to implement and to upgrade, and may require long-term contracts with traditional telecommunications companies, providing less flexibility for the enterprise.

What is a PRI phone system’s capacity?

A single line in a PRI phone system can accommodate 23 simultaneous calls, requiring larger enterprises to have multiple PRI lines.

What is a PRI phone system’s ability to scale?

A PRI phone system cannot scale as easily as a SIP system. To add additional voice capacity to a PRI phone system, enterprises must add physical lines to telecommunications infrastructure, which may take days or weeks to complete.

What is a PRI phone system with Spectrum Enterprise?

Spectrum Enterprise offers options for a PRI phone system as part of a comprehensive suite of fiber solutions for voice, Internet, video and cloud services. A PRI phone system with Spectrum Enterprise provides dedicated bandwidth for voice calls and easy integration with PRI-compatible phone systems. Spectrum Enterprise also offers unlimited local calling and scalable minutes of use packages for long distance, toll free and international calling, along with management and reporting features for increased efficiency and optimal connectivity.