In addition for Calling Plans and Direct Routing, Microsoft is introducing Operator Connect as third option for integrating PSTN calling capabilities in Teams. Microsoft did work closely with key operator partners worldwide for integrating their infrastructure to make it simple to integrate operator services in Teams, with close to none configurations required. Operator Connect enables Teams administrators to select the operator of their choice and then enable them for number provisioning in their tenant, and it is now moving to general availability together with several operators. This is rolling out to Microsoft Teams service. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 87546.
Operator Connect is a new way for customers to simply and quickly enable PSTN calling for Teams, using services from non-Microsoft telephony operators. Administrators can select their desired operator in the Teams Admin Center, and provision phone numbers to their users in just hours, with no required hardware.
When this will happen
Microsoft will begin rolling this out in late September and expect to complete rollout early October.
How this will affect your organization
From the Voice section in Teams Admin Center, a new Operators section will be available to enable Teams administrators to select the operator of their choice from one to multiple countries.
This enables an operator to upload telephone numbers to your tenant. Once you’ve acquired them with the operator of your choice, these numbers will be represented on the Phone numbers page. Teams administrators can assign them to users, or Auto Attendant and Call Queues, which will then be enabled for PSTN calling.
Assignment can also be performed from the users page.
What you need to do to prepare
Teams administrator can prepare their environment for testing Operator Connect with the following steps:
- Assign the Phone System license to the users that you want to assign Operator Connect numbers to
- Set Teams upgrade mode to Teams Only for the users that you want to assign Operator Connect numbers to
- For existing users that you want to assign Operator Connect numbers to, remove any existing voice routing policy
Learn more
Please see applicable guidance to plan for Operator Connect here.
Message ID: MC286563
Effective: September 27, 2021
