Key Differences between Class 4 and Class 5 Softswitch

Posted by Sandip Patel on February 8th, 2020

The credit goes to the VoIP industry for revolutionizing business communication and helping them in finding several new growth opportunities. Thanks to the technological advancements that uplifted both VoIP and communication industry. 

According to data, the global market size of VoIP will reach up to $ 55 billion by 2025. The growth of VoIP minimized the issue of connectivity. It lets entrepreneurs and professionals connect from anywhere and anytime. 

While talking about VoIP, it’s impossible to forget about Softswitch, which is considered to be the backbone of the entire network. In the VoIP network, Softswitch functions as a software-based device that is responsible for managing routing calls and voice traffic. 

Class 4 and Class 5 are two important switches that perform different works. The first is concerned about routing calls between various call suppliers and the latter helps suppliers connect with their clients.

Differences Between Class 4 and Class 5 Switch

Since Class 4 and Class 5 switches are responsible for performing different tasks, these are different in terms of features and their working areas. Let’s discuss here the top differences between these two switches.

Features 

While we talk about differences between Class 4 and Class 5 switches, it’s good to start from features.

Class 5 is known to have user-centric features that are mentioned as follows; 

• Call center service
• Social media usability
• Billing interface
• IVR
• Calling features
• QoS
• Call authentication
• Callback
• Support for Codec
• Analog-to-digital conversion

Class 4 Switch, on the other hand, is blessed with mainly VoIP service provider-based features that include; 

• Concurrent calls
• Protocol support & conversion
• Intelligent calls routing
• Secured firewall
• Easy to use and simple interface

Services

As far as services are concerned, the Class 5 Switch serves as a handy retail solution. Besides, it also serves as an exchange in the PSTN, which is responsible for catering to the end-users and located at the local telephone center. 

On the contrary, the Class 4 switch serves as a wholesale solution. It is a central office telephone exchange, which interconnects various local exchange carrier offices, to establish communication for a long distance in PSTN.

Purpose 

Class 5 Switch serves the main purpose of routing domestic calls (local/STD) in the same country, state or city. Class 4, on the other hand, is used for international calls.

Routing Area 

If we talk about Class 4, it tends to route a large number of long-distance VoIP calls across different networks. Whereas Class 5 routes SEIP or IP address or a Direct Inward Dialing (DID) number of target users. 

Capacity 

Class 5 switch transfers only a limited number of calls whereas class 4 transfers a large number of calls.

Customers 

Class 5 Switch caters to serve both end-users and also VoIP service providers. And Class 4 serves carriers, wholesale VoIP solution providers, Telco operators, and others.

Conclusion 

So, above are some differences between Class 4 Switch and Class 5 Switch. These are the most important switches that are highly important for providing a seamless communication between different enterprises across the country.