What is a Service Provider in VoIP?

A service provider is a company that supplies a “dial tone” to a customer’s local network. It provides access to make and receive calls.

The dial tone is an active registration to a PBX or each desk and softphone; the actual tone is digital.

To use an analogy, the service providers build trains and provide comfort, security, and benefits to passengers. Carriers lay railroad tracks. Some service providers can also be carriers.