What is the process for integrating Microsoft Teams Phone Devices with our existing telecom infrastructure?

Integrating Microsoft Teams Phone Devices with existing telecom infrastructure is a structured process that combines cloud-based calling with your current lines, numbers, and on-site hardware. The first stage is discovery and planning: assessing your current phone system, connectivity, number ranges, call flows, and any critical services such as alarms, door entry systems or fax lines. From there, a design is produced that defines how Teams will connect to the public telephone network, usually via Direct Routing or an approved calling plan, and how Teams-certified devices such as Polycom (now Poly) handsets and conference phones will be deployed. This design also covers network readiness, ensuring your broadband, routers and internal cabling can support voice quality and prioritisation.

Once the design is agreed, configuration and migration follow. This includes preparing Microsoft 365 tenant settings, assigning the correct Teams Phone licences, configuring Session Border Controllers (SBCs), and integrating with your existing SIP trunks or ISDN replacement services. Devices are then provisioned, either centrally or on-site, and registered to Teams so they can operate as desk phones, meeting room units or common area phones. A phased rollout is recommended, starting with a pilot group to validate call quality, features and user experience. Finally, numbers are ported, call routing is refined, and staff receive basic training and support, ensuring a smooth transition from legacy telephony to a unified Teams-based environment without disrupting day-to-day operations.