What is a tier 1 voice provider, and why should you choose one?

Aussie Broadband is one of an exclusive group of tier 1 voice providers. Our tier 1 voice status follows Over the Wire's carrier interconnect project.

Generally, industry standards categorise business voice network providers into three "tiers". In this article, we’ll discuss the difference between the tiers and what that means for your business phone services. 

What is a tier 1 voice provider?

Tier 1 providers are the largest and most established voice network providers. They are commonly considered the "backbone of the internet". To be classified as a tier 1 provider, the provider must build, own and operate network infrastructure.

A tier 1 provider must also offer the highest Quality of Service (QoS) standards. QoS standards ensure consistent, reliable call quality, even when there's a lot of traffic on the network. 

Aussie Broadband's tier 1 voice network spans multiple data centres across Australia. That means we can offer high-quality telephone products that work seamlessly with our data, voice, cloud and security solutions suite.

What is a tier 2 voice provider?

A tier 2 provider offers a service through a tier 1 provider's network. While they do not own the network, they may own some of their network and infrastructure - such as copper, exchanges, and equipment.

What is a tier 3 voice provider?

A tier 3 network resells a tier 2 network's service.

What are the benefits of using a tier 1 network? 

Tier 1 offers businesses the best connectivity and service from their telecommunications provider.

By partnering with a tier 1 network, businesses get connectivity straight from the source. A tier 1 provider owns its network, so every current or potential problem is under its control. That means they can have any faults or issues fixed quickly. However, contacting tier 2 or tier 3 providers for network issues means you’re often speaking to the “middle-men” which makes getting a solution inherently more convoluted. 

To maintain a point of difference in the market, some tier 1 providers don't offer their network's full capabilities to their tier 2 and tier 3 resellers.

A tier 1 network also delivers a higher quality service. If you rely on constant communication, even the slightest drops in connection quality can harm business operations. 

The extra coverage of a tier 1 provider is invaluable for businesses that communicate with clients and customers in remote locations across the country.

What are the benefits of using a tier 2 or tier 3 network? 

Why not go with the best? There are some reasons why a tier 1 network might not be the most effective choice for every business. 

Without an owned network, tier 2 and tier 3 networks take other avenues to offer businesses better value. These include:

A specialised service: to streamline their offering, some providers focus their energy on specific aspects of telecommunications. Alternatively, they may focus on providing bespoke solutions to a specific industry, becoming experts and meeting the needs of a particular niche. Businesses without extremely complex telecommunications requirements might place a higher value on the service offered by a tier 2 or tier 3 provider.

Competitive pricing: Tier 2 and tier 3 providers don’t have to cover the cost of maintaining their networks. So, they can offer lower prices than their tier 1 counterparts. Businesses looking to save money may consider a no-frills offering from a tier 2 or 3 provider.

Is Aussie Broadband a tier 1 voice provider?

Yes, Aussie Broadband owns and operates a tier 1 voice network. We achieved tier 1 status through our acquisition of Over the Wire in 2022. Over the Wire established its tier 1 network in 2021 after completing its carrier interconnect project. 

The project saw Over the Wire build connectivity between its network and the networks of other tier 1 carriers.

The result was a network that spanned multiple data centres across Australia. And that means we can offer high-quality telephone products that work seamlessly with our data, voice, cloud and security solutions suite.

On completion, the project delivered:

1. Increased control over number porting, call quality and fault resolution across our voice network.

2. A more diverse and scalable product suite to offer existing clients.

3. Capacity to service significant contracts from large companies, government organisations, and international wholesale carriers.

4. Access to the wholesale markets for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS).

5. A significant improvement in customer service.

Get top-tier telecommunications with Aussie Broadband

Experience the difference a tier 1 voice network can make to your business with Aussie Broadband’s voice solutions. 

Want to custom-build the ideal phone system for your business? Do it online through our voice plan builder and get an instant quote. Choose from a cloud-hosted PBX phone system, SIP Trunks or a simple single-line VoIP phone. For more information about the different types of phone systems and which one best suits your business, read our guide to choosing a small business phone system.

On our network, you won't need to deal with middlemen. It's just us - with our award-winning, 100% Australian-based service.

Want to find out more about our services? Call our friendly, Australian-based team on 1300 480 905