Microsoft Teams Phone readiness: validate licensing, network, calling, and emergency workflows

Separate Phone System capability from telephone service

Teams Phone provides cloud phone-system capabilities, but external calling also requires a Public Switched Telephone Network connection. Microsoft documents several models: Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect, Teams Phone Mobile, and Direct Routing. Availability, carrier responsibility, number management, emergency calling, support, and technical complexity differ among them.

A Teams Phone license does not automatically supply every user or service number, calling plan, shared-device right, conferencing feature, or resource-account requirement. Confirm the current licensing for users, shared spaces, Teams Rooms, auto attendants, call queues, and any advanced features. Assign resource-account licenses only to resource accounts, not ordinary users.

Inventory the existing voice service

Document every user number, toll-free and service number, auto attendant, call queue, hunt group, voicemail path, fax, paging endpoint, analog line, elevator or alarm dependency, contact-center workflow, recording requirement, and carrier contract. Not every legacy or life-safety device should be assumed compatible with cloud voice. Establish an approved alternative where Teams is not supported or suitable.

Build and test dial plans, caller identification, outbound restrictions, delegation, forwarding, after-hours routing, holidays, overflow, voicemail, and failure behavior. Number-porting dates and letters of authorization require carrier coordination; do not cancel the previous service before the port and fallback plan are confirmed.

Assess the network as a real-time service

Microsoft’s Teams network guidance calls for reachable service endpoints, working external DNS, suitable NAT capacity, efficient routing, and support for UDP and long-lived WebSocket traffic. Evaluate bandwidth, latency, jitter, packet loss, Wi-Fi coverage, firewall inspection, proxies, VPN hairpinning, and internet resilience at every location and for remote users. The Teams Network Planner, Call Quality Dashboard, and per-user call analytics can support planning and operations.

Prefer local, efficient egress to Microsoft rather than backhauling media through a distant data center.

Evaluate split tunneling with the VPN and security teams; implementation depends on the VPN and risk design.

Use QoS on managed network segments when the design calls for it, then verify markings and queuing end to end.

Pilot wired, wireless, remote, branch, and high-call-volume scenarios with representative certified devices.

Engineer emergency calling and continuity

Emergency locations and their assignment are required parts of the design, and responsibility varies by PSTN option and jurisdiction. Dynamic emergency calling can use network topology to determine location and notify designated personnel, but it must be configured and tested according to current Microsoft, carrier, and legal guidance. Do not place unapproved live emergency test calls; use supported test methods and coordinate with the provider.

Define behavior during internet, power, Microsoft service, carrier, Session Border Controller, and local network failures. Document alternate calling methods, support contacts, escalation authority, and how critical users operate during an outage.

Use a controlled migration gate

Pilot internal and external calling, emergency test workflows, transfers, queues, attendants, voicemail, device sign-in, remote use, and call-quality monitoring. Confirm help-desk procedures and user communication. Port production numbers in controlled groups with a staffed validation bridge and explicit rollback or escalation criteria. Continue monitoring quality and call-routing outcomes after migration; voice readiness is an operational commitment, not a completed setup wizard.

Official references

Set up Teams Phone — Microsoft’s deployment roadmap.

PSTN connectivity options — Calling Plan, Operator Connect, Teams Phone Mobile, and Direct Routing responsibilities.

Prepare the network for Teams — endpoints, routing, NAT, VPN, monitoring, and real-time media considerations.

Implement Quality of Service in Teams — traffic marking and managed-network guidance.

Plan and configure dynamic emergency calling — location, routing, notification, and supported test methods.