SIP Trunk - Which is better: minutes per trunk or per channel?

In the world of business telephony, there are various approaches when it comes to billing for minutes. A common topic of comparison is between minutes per line and minutes per channel pricing models. But which option is the better choice? Minutes per line and minutes per channel are two different pricing models used in telecommunications, specifically for voice services. 

Pricing models in today's telecommunications industry can be confusing. One important distinction lies between minutes per line and minutes per channel. Let's delve into the differences between the two:

1. Minute packages per line

Minutes per line packages refer to price plans based on the number of concurrent calls or lines needed by a company or organization. Trunks are physical lines or channels that enable voice communication. With this pricing model, customers purchase a specified number of minutes per line. For example, a package might include 1,000 minutes per line per month, deducting all calls made and received via that line from the total allocated minutes.

The advantage of minutes per line is providing a predictable cost structure based on the number of required lines. This is beneficial for companies with a consistent call volume, allowing them to plan communication costs based on the necessary lines, regardless of the number of channels or calls made through each line.

Advantages of Measuring Minutes per Line

✅ Provides a comprehensive overview of total capacity: By considering the combined capacity of multiple lines, a more holistic understanding of available capacity for handling calls is obtained.

✅ Simplifies capacity planning: Measuring minutes per line allows for easier estimation and planning of call volume based on total line group capacity.

✅ Flexibility in channel allocation: It enables dynamic allocation of channels among different lines based on call volume and traffic patterns.

Disadvantages of Measuring Minutes per Line 

❌ Doesn't account for individual channel usage: It may not accurately reflect usage and potential congestion in specific channels within a line, leading to inefficient resource allocation.

❌ Assumes uniform call duration: The metric assumes that each call has the same duration, which may not be the case in reality. This can result in inaccuracies in capacity planning.

2. Minute packages per channel 

Per-channel minute packages, on the other hand, are pricing plans based on the individual channels or lines used to make or receive calls. In this model, the focus is not on the number of lines, but on the number of individual channels or lines that are used. Each channel represents a separate connection or call path, and the customer purchases a certain number of inclusive rentals per channel.

Per-channel minute packages allow companies to allocate specific minutes to each channel rather than sharing all lines. This can be useful for companies with varying call volumes across different channels. It allows them to allocate minutes based on usage patterns and optimize resources accordingly. For example, a company can allocate more minutes to a channel with high call volume and fewer minutes to a channel with lower call volume.

Advantages of measuring minutes per channel

✅ Detailed insights into channel usage: Focusing on individual channels provides a more detailed understanding of how each channel is being used, allowing for targeted optimization and troubleshooting.

✅ Optimizes resource allocation: It helps identify underutilized or congested channels and enables effective distribution and reallocation of resources.

✅ Enables more accurate capacity planning: Minutes per channel considers individual call duration and enables more accurate capacity planning based on the specific usage pattern of each channel

Disadvantages of measuring minutes per channel 

❌ Complexity in managing and monitoring individual channels: Since there may be numerous channels, it requires more effort and monitoring to track the usage of each channel.

❌ Total capacity may not be accurately reflected: Focusing only on individual channels may not provide a holistic view of the total capacity available in the line group, which may lead to inaccurate capacity planning.

3. Conclusion

In summary, the main difference between minutes per line and minutes per channel lies in the unit of measurement. Trunks refer to the total number of connections, while channels represent individual pathways.

The choice between the two pricing models depends on the specific needs of the company, the distribution of call volume, and preferences regarding cost allocation.

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