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Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams

Enable best in class seamless and integrated PSTN calling to your Microsoft Teams environment

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BICS named an official Microsoft Teams Operator Connect partner

BICS named an official Microsoft Teams Operator Connect partner

Microsoft Teams for simplified collaboration

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    We live in a hybrid age 

    Working, collaborating, and communicating needs to be seamless across your global organization.

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    Microsoft Teams facilitates collaboration

    Microsoft Teams is the number one tool for businesses who’ve adapted to the “new normal”.

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    Integrate Teams with voice

    Deliver a unified experience to your customers, partners and employees, not all of whom will be using Microsoft Teams.

Seamless voice connectivity with Operator Connect

Seamless voice connectivity with Operator Connect

With Microsoft Operator Connect, BICS helps your organization unlock reliable, global voice calling directly inside Microsoft Teams. As one of the trusted operator connect providers, we simplify telephony by eliminating complex infrastructure, enabling faster deployment, enterprise-grade reliability, and worldwide reach, all from the Teams interface your workforce already knows.

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What is Operator Connect?

Operator Connect is Microsoft’s built-in service that allows companies to enable PSTN calling in Microsoft Teams through approved carriers. Due to this, you don’t need any on-premises hardware or complex configuration, giving organizations a direct, reliable path to cloud telephony.

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    Direct connection between Microsoft Teams and carrier networks

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    Fast provisioning of numbers via Teams Admin Center

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    Enterprise-grade reliability and compliance

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    Simplified management with reduced IT overhead

How BICS integrates with Microsoft Teams

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Direct cloud connectivity

BICS connects directly to Microsoft Azure for a secure, high-quality voice path. This ensures reliable performance with low latency and carrier-grade stability for enterprise calls worldwide.

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Global numbering resources

Through BICS, enterprises can instantly provision local and international numbers inside Teams. This global reach supports multinational operations and simplifies PSTN access across regions.

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Simplified management

With BICS, IT teams manage calling services directly from the Teams Admin Center. Number provisioning, scaling, and monitoring become fast and intuitive, without extra infrastructure.

Comparing Operator Connect with other models

Choosing how to enable external voice in Microsoft Teams is a critical business decision. The right model affects cost, scalability, and how quickly your employees can start calling. Most organizations look at three main options, including Microsoft Operator Connect, Direct Routing, and Microsoft Calling Plans. Here’s how they compare:

Operator Connect

  • Directly connects your Teams environment with approved carriers like BICS

  • Numbers can be provisioned in minutes through the Teams Admin Center

  • No SBCs or complex infrastructure to manage

  • Ideal for organizations that want fast deployment, global reach, and simplified operations

Direct Routing

  • It offers flexibility to connect almost any carrier but requires session border controllers (SBCs)

  • Involves more IT resources for setup, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance

  • Useful for companies with special telephony needs or legacy systems that they must integrate

Easily enable external Microsoft Teams calls for your organization

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Centralized management

Establish the connection, provision users, and assign phone numbers directly from the Teams Admin Center.

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Reduced hardware cost

Save on infrastructure and management costs by reducing the need to purchase, maintain, and manage equipment with BICS’ fully owned infrastructure.

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Business continuity

Keep BICS as your preferred operator. Maintain your existing operator contracts and relationships, while providing users with a modern and streamlined calling experience in Teams.

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“As a service” setup

Outsource complexity with BICS’ fully managed service approach to PSTN connectivity. No need to deal with any third-party portals and there is no coding, voice, or DevOps expertise required.

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BICS, an Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams partner

BICS’ simplified pre-built setup enables a unified collaboration experience for your Teams users, with an expanded geographic reach and greater phone number control.

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Seamless global voice for modern enterprises

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Global reach

Access numbering resources in 120+ countries with BICS, ensuring consistent PSTN connectivity for multinational operations.

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Enterprise-grade security

Support for SIP trunking, E911, and advanced encryption ensures every call meets the highest standards of compliance and protection.

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Fast deployment

Provision numbers in minutes through the Teams Admin Center, helping organizations roll out services quickly without delays.

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Enhanced reliability

Back-to-back technical support and shared SLAs across Microsoft and BICS improve support service. The direct peering powered by Azure creates a one-to-one network connection for even more reliability.

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Features of Microsoft Operator Connect with BICS

Fast number provisioning

Provision new numbers or port existing ones directly within the Teams Admin Center. With BICS Operator Connect, enterprises can activate global PSTN access in minutes, no hardware or manual setup required.
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Seamless BYOC integration

Maintain your existing carrier agreements while leveraging the simplicity of Microsoft Operator Connect. BICS enables this flexibility, allowing organisations to combine their preferred telephony provider with Teams’ native calling experience.
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Global numbering and PSTN reach

BICS provides extensive international numbering resources and regulatory coverage across 120+ countries, ensuring consistent and compliant voice connectivity for global enterprises.
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Carrier-grade reliability and quality

Direct connectivity between BICS and Microsoft Azure guarantees low latency, high availability, and end-to-end call quality backed by enterprise-grade SLAs.
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Our coverage

BICS cloud communications solutions include virtual phone numbers and SIP trunking services for enterprises to consolidate their global telecommunications infrastructure, reducing costs and complexity. BICS can provide fully compliant PSTN replacement services in major European countries.

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Countries covered through BICS’s global network footprint. Operator Connect is available across Microsoft-supported markets

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Uptime guarantee. Carrier-grade reliability backed by redundant global infrastructure

How enterprises use Microsoft Operator Connect

Enterprise telephony modernization

Modernize enterprise calling by replacing outdated PBX systems with cloud-based voice inside Microsoft Teams. Operator Connect streamlines management and scales globally without new hardware.

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    Eliminate legacy PBX costs and maintenance

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    Manage numbers directly in the Teams Admin Center

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    Enable secure, compliant calling across all sites

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    Scale services instantly as business needs grow

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How enterprises use Microsoft Operator Connect

Hybrid work enablement

Keep hybrid and remote employees connected with the same enterprise-grade voice service everywhere. Operator Connect ensures seamless collaboration across devices and locations.

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    Consistent Teams calling experience for office and remote staff

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    Carrier-grade quality backed by Azure connectivity

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    Secure communications across multiple devices

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    Always-on reliability for distributed teams

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How enterprises use Microsoft Operator Connect

Multinational PSTN integration

Unify international offices and teams under one global voice platform. BICS Operator Connect enables enterprises to extend Microsoft Teams calling to all Operator Connect–supported markets, leveraging BICS’s global backbone and numbering resources across 120+ countries for consistent performance and regulatory compliance.

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    PSTN access in Operator Connect–supported markets, backed by BICS’s global infrastructure

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    Local presence with international coverage in over 120 countries

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    Simplified management in one Admin Center

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    Lower IT overhead with centralized control

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How enterprises use Microsoft Operator Connect

Migration from on-prem to cloud

Simplify the move from on-premise telephony to cloud-first operations. Operator Connect reduces IT overhead and enables fast, disruption-free migration.

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    Remove dependency on costly on-prem infrastructure

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    Faster rollouts with automated number provisioning

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    Secure, compliant, carrier-grade connectivity

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    Smooth transition without service disruption

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How enterprises use Microsoft Operator Connect

Industry-specific solutions

Different industries rely on Operator Connect in unique ways, with BICS tailoring solutions to each sector’s needs.

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    Finance: secure, compliant voice for global transactions

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    Healthcare: reliable, always-on communication for staff and patients

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    Technology: agile, cloud-first deployment at scale

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    Retail: seamless customer support and multi-site connectivity

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Why businesses choose Operator Connect

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Simplified management

With Microsoft Operator Connect, IT teams no longer need to configure or maintain complex SBCs. Administrators can assign numbers, manage users, and monitor activity directly from the Teams Admin Center, making telephony management faster and easier.

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Lower costs

When enterprises eliminate the very need for physical infrastructure and lower IT overhead, they can save on both capital expenses and ongoing maintenance. BICS helps companies scale Teams voice at predictable costs, making it a smarter choice than legacy systems.

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Future-ready platform

As organizations expand, they need a voice solution that grows with them. BICS delivers a platform built for the cloud that is secure, compliant, and globally available. It ensures that your Teams setup is ready for today and tomorrow.

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How does it work?

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Why choose BICS for Microsoft Operator Connect

Leverage global infrastructure built for scale

With 143+ Points of Presence worldwide, BICS ensures low-latency connections and consistent call quality across regions.

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Proven reliability backed by carrier networks

BICS provides 99.999% uptime, backed by direct peering with Microsoft Azure for secure, high-quality voice.

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Fast deployment with simple provisioning

You can expect provision numbers in days through the Teams Admin Center and scale services rapidly using automated workflows that we offer.

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Tier 1 support available 24/7

You can get 24/7 access to BICS experts who help enterprises optimize Teams voice services, from setup to troubleshooting.

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Global reach for multinational businesses

It allows enterprises to connect seamlessly across BICS’s global Core Communications (CC) network, covering 120+ countries, while ensuring Operator Connect availability across all supported markets.

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Security & compliance you can rely on

BICS supports E911, SIP trunking, and enterprise-grade security standards, ensuring safe and compliant communications.

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FAQs

  • How does Operator Connect work?

    Operator Connect is an operator-managed service for bringing PSTN calling to your Microsoft Teams environment. It simplifies the process of connecting your operator to Teams. All you need to do is open the “Operators” tab in the Teams Admin Center, select BICS as your preferred operator and connect calling services. That’s how quick and easy it is to set up. You can then acquire phone numbers from BICS and assign them to your users.

  • How do I deploy Operator Connect in my organization?

    Once your organization has an Office 365 and Microsoft Teams phone license, you can configure and enable BICS as your operator in the Teams Admin Center. Next, you can set up phone numbers for your users, assign numbers, and manage emergency addresses. A step-by-step process can be found on the Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams page.

  • What is the minimum order of numbers?

    100

  • What is the minimum contract length I need to sign up to?

    Contracts are for a minimum of one year and they are automatically renewed for an indefinite duration, unless there is a termination notice from either party.

  • What are the pricing plans?

    Our aim is to support your business growth, which is why we offer a pay as you go model, and provide access to international wholesale rates.

  • I am experiencing a technical issue. Where can I get support?

    For any issue, get in touch through our customer care portal.

  • What licensing do I need to use Operator Connect with BICS?

    You’ll need a Microsoft Teams Phone license (such as Phone System). Ensure users are in “TeamsOnly” mode. BICS handles the rest, including provisioning, configuration, and emergency address setup, via the Teams Admin Center.

  • Does BICS support emergency calling compliance?

    Yes. BICS supports emergency (E911) compliance models supported by Microsoft, with flexible handling of emergency addresses at either the carrier or tenant level, depending on setup.

  • How quickly can I port existing numbers or add new ones?

    You can port existing numbers or activate new numbers directly from the Teams Admin Center once BICS is set up. This eliminates manual transfer steps and accelerates rollouts; what used to take weeks is now completed in days.

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Ready to simplify voice with Operator Connect?

Empower your workforce with secure, scalable calling in Microsoft Teams. With BICS, you get global coverage, fast deployment, and carrier-grade reliability from a trusted partner.

Get in touch

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