What is the Purpose of ENUM in VoIP?
Today, let me explain the role of ENUM in Voice over IP (VoIP) systems. If you’ve been following our previous discussions on VoIP, you already know how essential it is for facilitating internet-based voice communication. ENUM, which stands for E.164 Number Mapping, plays a crucial role in enabling VoIP services to efficiently route calls over the internet. Let me walk you through how it works and why it is so important in VoIP systems.
In simple terms, ENUM is a protocol that helps map telephone numbers (specifically, E.164 numbers, the global standard for international phone numbers) to internet-based resources like SIP addresses or other identifiers used in VoIP systems. This mapping allows VoIP systems to determine how to route a call from a traditional telephone number to an internet-based communication system like VoIP.
How Does ENUM Work? When you dial a phone number, especially for VoIP calls, ENUM allows the network to translate that traditional phone number (such as +1 555 123 4567) into a domain name that can be understood by the internet. Instead of using traditional telephone networks to route your call, ENUM helps route your call over the internet using a process similar to domain name resolution (DNS) on the web.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the process: When you dial a phone number in VoIP, the ENUM system checks for a corresponding DNS entry for that number. This entry will typically contain the domain address (like a SIP address) where the call should be routed. The number is first converted into a domain name, and then ENUM looks up this domain name in DNS to find the right destination for the call. In essence, ENUM allows the internet to act as a global phone directory, helping the network route calls to the appropriate VoIP service provider or destination.
Why is ENUM Important in VoIP? ENUM provides several advantages that make it indispensable for modern VoIP systems:
- Efficiency: ENUM enables direct routing of calls over the internet without the need for traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) infrastructure. This reduces the cost and complexity of routing calls through various networks.
- Cost-Effective: Since ENUM enables VoIP calls to be routed over the internet rather than the public switched telephone network, it cuts down on the high costs typically associated with phone calls, especially international ones.
- Seamless Integration: ENUM helps integrate traditional telephony with VoIP, allowing users to dial regular phone numbers and connect with other users on the VoIP network without needing to change their dialing habits.
- Flexibility: It supports multiple protocols like SIP, allowing VoIP providers to seamlessly interconnect with one another and support a broad range of services and devices.
Real-World Applications of ENUM: One real-world use of ENUM is when a user on a VoIP network wants to make a call to a traditional telephone number. Instead of connecting to a PSTN network, the call is routed over the internet using ENUM, offering both cost savings and efficiency. Similarly, when calling another VoIP user, ENUM makes sure the call is routed correctly through the internet, ensuring quality and low latency.
To summarize, ENUM is a protocol that bridges the gap between traditional phone systems and modern internet-based communication networks. By mapping traditional phone numbers to internet addresses, it enables VoIP systems to efficiently route calls, offering both cost-effective and high-quality communication. As we learned in earlier articles, VoIP has revolutionized communication, and ENUM plays an essential part in making it work smoothly and efficiently.