1. What Metaswitch Actually Does (In Plain English)

Metaswitch builds the core voice technology that telecom providers need to deliver modern phone service.
That includes:

✔ Softswitches

Software that replaces old hardware switches in the network — all calls route through this platform.

✔ IMS Core (IP Multimedia Subsystem)

The heart of an all-IP carrier network. Enables VoIP, video calling, messaging, and mobile voice services.

✔ Session Border Controllers (SBCs)

Secure and control SIP traffic between networks, enterprises, and cloud platforms.

✔ Cloud PBX / Hosted Voice platforms

What service providers use to offer business phone systems to their customers.

✔ SIP Trunking & Interconnect

Allows carriers to route calls over IP and interoperate with other networks.

✔ Carrier applications

Voicemail platforms, call routing systems, analytics, and more.

Think of Metaswitch as the “voice operating system” for carriers.

If BroadSoft is the application layer, Metaswitch is often the infrastructure + control layer — although providers can offer UCaaS through it as well.

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2. Why Microsoft Acquired Metaswitch

Microsoft’s goal wasn’t to enter the telecom market as a carrier — it was to strengthen Microsoft Teams as a business phone system.

Metaswitch gives Microsoft:

✔ Carrier-grade voice engineering expertise

They acquired a company with decades of experience building the backend that telecoms rely on.

✔ Direct integration paths for Teams Calling

Operator Connect and Direct Routing integrations became smoother and deeper.

✔ Technology for mobile operators

5G core, VoLTE (voice over LTE), and next-gen network functions are all areas where Microsoft has invested.

✔ Cloud-native network functions

Metaswitch was built to run in the cloud from day one — perfectly aligned with Azure.

✔ Control over the telecom stack

Microsoft can now own the entire path:
Customer device → SBC → cloud PBX → application layer → Teams.

This is a huge strategic advantage over competitors like Zoom and Cisco.

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3. How Metaswitch Is Used Today by Carriers and MSPs

Carriers deploy Metaswitch to:

• Replace aging TDM switches

• Migrate customers to VoIP and SIP

• Build hosted PBX and UCaaS offerings

• Power residential and business voice services

• Provide emergency services connectivity (E911 routing)

• Deliver SIP trunks to enterprises

MSPs use Metaswitch to create white-labeled, fully hosted PBX services they can resell.

For providers, Metaswitch offers:

✔ Full control over their network and service offerings

Unlike BroadSoft, which is often more “preset,” Metaswitch is deeply customizable.

✔ Cloud-native deployment

Easier scaling, better redundancy, faster updates.

✔ Excellent SIP compatibility

Works with a wide range of endpoints, gateways, and infrastructures.

✔ Strong Microsoft ecosystem alignment

Perfect for providers offering Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect.

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4. BroadSoft vs. Metaswitch — Deep Comparison

Similarities

Both platforms allow carriers to provide:

• Hosted PBX

• VoIP

• SIP trunking

• Call routing

• Business voice services

But they differ significantly under the hood.

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BroadSoft Strengths

• Deep UCaaS feature set

• Large global provider adoption

• Proven reliability

• Tight Cisco integration

• Strong enterprise PBX capabilities

Best for: carriers and providers focused on advanced business telephony and UCaaS.

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Metaswitch Strengths

• Cloud-native from the start

• Extremely flexible architecture

• Deep control over network functions

• Strong SBC and core telecom capabilities

• Tight Microsoft Teams interoperability

• Ideal for both business and residential networks

Best for: providers who want full control of their voice network and cloud-native scalability.

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Where Each Platform Excels

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5. The End Customer Perspective — Why It Matters to Them

While customers usually don’t interact directly with Metaswitch or BroadSoft, it impacts their experience in key ways:

✔ Call Quality & Reliability

Metaswitch-powered networks tend to be extremely stable and consistent because of their telecom-grade backbone.

✔ Integration with Teams

Teams Calling works particularly well when the provider uses Metaswitch.

✔ Flexibility

Providers can tailor features, routing, and interoperability to the customer’s environment.

✔ SIP Trunking Performance

Metaswitch SBCs are known for superb SIP handling.

✔ Cost Structure

Cloud-native design often reduces provider costs — savings that are passed to customers.

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6. Short Summary

Metaswitch is a cloud-native telecom engine now owned by Microsoft. It powers the voice networks of many carriers, delivers extremely reliable VoIP, enables carrier-grade SIP trunking, and integrates deeply with Microsoft Teams. Compared to BroadSoft, it’s more flexible, more cloud-native, and more deeply tied to the Microsoft ecosystem.