Foreign-Hosted PBX Overview

The Foreign-Hosted PBX Service Model Overview

This page discusses the foreign-hosted private branch exchange (FHPBX) service model, including design and networking considerations, feature availability, and service functionality.

A foreign-hosted private branch exchange (FHPBX) provides a business with core telephony system services from a data center located in another country

A foreign-hosted private branch exchange (FHPBX) is a telephony service model where a business within a country, like India, utilizes a call-handling service’s “brain” (i.e., the PBX) that is located in another country, like Singapore or Japan. Essential services provided by this “brain” include call connections, transfers, and conferences, while providing additional features like voicemail, call queues, and auto receptionists.

FHPBX customers must bring their own carrier (BYOC) and utilize an MPLS connection between their site’s SBC(s) and Zoom’s data centers

While FHPBX deployment models may differ among providers, Zoom's FHPBX service model in India requires customers to connect their site's session border controller(s) (SBC) to Zoom's international data centers through a private, multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) connection. Using this connection, calls are routed from the international data center to the respective site’s SBC, which then traverses India’s PSTN infrastructure through the underlying carrier provided by the customer (i.e., bring your own carrier (BYOC)).

Note

Customers should be aware that this network configuration may impact call quality and latency due to the additional travel time and routing logic. However, the impact of this routing configuration is typically negligible and insignificant.

In the FHPBX service model, the customer-provided carrier empowers businesses to utilize India-based phone numbers

Regulatory requirements prevent Zoom from natively supporting, porting in, or providing India-based fixed-line numbers with the FHPBX service model. However, because the FHPBX service model is intended for customers that require India-based phone numbers, customers that bring their (your) own carrier (BYOC) can utilize India-based phone numbers owned and operated by their carrier.

Warning

If your business does not require India-based numbers, the FHPBX service model may not be for you. Customers that do not require India-based numbers are likely best served with Zoom Phone’s standard service, or Zoom Phone India if paying in Indian Rupees (INR).

The FHPBX service model always utilizes data centers outside of India for call routing and media transport

With the FHPBX service model, businesses within India will always connect to international Zoom data centers within Japan or Singapore for call routing and media transport. This design allows Zoom to provide Zoom Phone service to OSP-registered businesses within India, helping enable them to remain compliant with the OSP terms and conditions, in addition to the telephony laws and regulations of India.

The FHPBX model supports traffic aggregation between multiple sites

Customers that utilize the FHPBX service model may utilize their MPLS connection to aggregate data traffic between their sites and do not need separate MPLS connections for each site.

Apart from the unique networking configuration, the FHPBX service model offers the same features and service as Zoom Phone’s standard service

Simply said, the FHPBX model is identical to Zoom Phone’s standard, globally available telephony offering in terms of the service and features provided. The only significant deviation between the FHPBX service model and a traditional Zoom Phone deployment is the complex networking requirements (i.e., an MPLS) and the customer-provided carrier for India-based numbers. Again, if your business does not require India-based phone numbers, the FHPBX service model is likely not the service model for you, and your business needs can likely be met by Zoom Phone’s standard service.

The Foreign-Hosted PBX’s Requirements, Caveats, and Conditions

The following sections briefly describe noteworthy requirements, caveats, and conditions associated with the FHPBX service model.

Businesses within India must be an Other Service Provider (OSP) to utilize the FHPBX service model

To comply with the regulations of the Government of India, customers must be an Other Service Provider (OSP) to utilize the FHPBX service. Businesses that are not an OSP are ineligible to utilize the FHPBX service and are encouraged to explore Zoom Phone India, which is available to both OSP and non-OSP registered businesses, provided all additional requirements are met.

FHPBX customers are responsible for maintaining their own call detail records (CDRs)

Because customers with the FHPBX model must bring their own carrier, customers are responsible for maintaining their own call detail records (CDRs) in accordance with the OSP terms and conditions, and laws and regulations of India. Zoom will not retain an independent record of CDRs for customers under this service model.

Zoom does not accept the Indian Rupee for payment from customers of the FHPBX service model

Zoom does not accept the Indian Rupee (INR) as a currency for the FHPBX service model. Customers that wish to purchase the FHPBX service model must pay with a global currency, like the US Dollar or Euro. Alternatively, customers that wish to pay with the Rupee should consider Zoom Phone India, which available for purchase exclusively in Indian Rupees.