As organizations migrate their voice workloads to Microsoft Teams, selecting the right Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connectivity model is one of the most critical decisions a voice architect will make. Given the choice between Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connect, and Direct Routing, IT leaders must carefully weigh technical complexity, global coverage, cost structures, and operational control.

In this session, I will break down each connectivity model through a practical, architectural lens. I will analyze the trade-offs between turnkey cloud simplicity and custom Session Border Controller (SBC) flexibility, explore hybrid deployment models for global enterprises, and highlight key criteria to help you choose the best PSTN strategy for your organization.