What is a carrier network​?

The term “carrier network” refers to the linked network of different types of infrastructure used to transmit telecommunications messaging over large distances.

Many kinds of infrastructure can be incorporated into a carrier network, meaning most encompass a mixture of fiber optic cables, data towers, satellite capacity, and other devices and linking systems.

These deliver a broad range of data types, such as VoIP data for digital voice calls to your local device.

In short, carrier network infrastructure is the bedrock upon which all modern telecommunications systems are built. Without it, sending and receiving communications data would be much slower and less efficient for businesses and individuals.

How do carrier networks work?

The individual pieces of network carrier infrastructure are owned and maintained by different private companies. These will generally be highly recognizable names like AT&T and Verizon. This is no surprise because, in the early days, pretty much all carrier networks were telephone companies. Today, the picture is more complex, given the proliferation of modern data services.

Obviously, it wouldn’t be particularly efficient for each company to use only its own proprietary infrastructure. There would be a lot of duplication of resources, and some areas could be underserved. It would also make international communication prohibitively expensive for many.

Instead, it’s common practice for companies to lease out the use of their infrastructure to other carriers. This way, everyone can make the best use of the available networks to transmit data.

The main types of carrier network

Not all carrier network services are the same. While most are dedicated to general data transfer, there are specialized networks for television, phone, and even some healthcare or surveillance devices.

However, most carrier networks can be categorized into two main groups: the cell phone carrier mobile networks and the data carrier networks.

Cellphone carrier mobile network

There are two main subtypes of carrier networks for voice calls: the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and wireless networks.

The PSTN has a long history. It began as a simple copper wire network to support analog voice communication shortly after the telephone was invented in the late nineteenth century.

Since then, it has grown to have global reach and has a predominantly digital core network comprising a mixture of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, and cellular networks. It’s a traditional circuit-switched system that relies on switching centers such as network tandems and international gateways to transfer data.

Wireless networks, on the other hand, depend on radio waves to deliver mobile and fixed wireless services without cables.

Data carrier network

As we move further away from traditional communications technologies, the role of the data carrier network has increased in importance. Many countries are in the process of switching off their local PSTN networks in favor of switching to fully digital ones.

There are two main types of data carrier networks: Internet Protocol (IP) networks and optical fiber networks.

IP networks support VoIP and internet services using the standard IP protocol, whereas optical fiber networks rely on high-capacity data cables that use light to transmit data over long distances.

The benefits of using a carrier network

There are several benefits to implementing carrier network solutions, specifically using a dedicated outbound network to streamline your telecommunications. These include:

Comprehensive reach: The world is a big place. The carrier's role in networking is to serve as a simple solution for achieving global coverage.

Without a carrier network, you’d need to develop your own infrastructure to send data wherever needed. That’s quite simply not practical. Luckily, it’s also unnecessary. A carrier network does the job easily, transferring your data to the furthest reaches of the globe quickly and efficiently.

Efficiency via integration: To understand why this is crucial, consider that the process of data transmission has three elements: source signal, transfer, and reception.

For instance, if you send an SMS message using your phone, the source signal is created when you hit “send.” The nearest cellular tower will pick up that signal, which then transfers it to the tower closest to the intended recipient. The second tower then sends the message to your recipient’s phone, which displays the message.

The smooth integration of all three elements is fundamental to the carrier network system's operation. Without it, sending any kind of telecommunications data would be much less efficient.

All-in-one service: Imagine how complicated it would be to negotiate separately with every carrier network company. After all, not every piece of infrastructure you wanted to take advantage of would be owned by the same network carrier, meaning you’d have no choice but to make a large number of individual agreements.

But with modern carrier network solutions, you only need to negotiate with a single service provider. The networks are already set up and functional, with each carrier company already having deals with the others. All you have to do is choose from the available options. This keeps billing simple and makes using the networks much more affordable.

How to choose a carrier network solution

Selecting the right carrier network solution can be challenging, with a wide range of service providers available. Certainly, the needs of an individual choosing a mobile service provider won’t be exactly the same as those of an enterprise looking for a full-service telecommunications solution.

Here are some aspects of carrier networks that you should always focus on before committing to a decision.

Coverage: A good level of coverage is an essential factor when choosing a carrier network. For businesses, this is a critical consideration because it impacts the number of potential clients you can reach with your messaging.

That means you must be sure you’re going with a carrier network that supports your preferred messaging platforms in the regions relevant to your operations. A well-established network with multiple data transfer options ensures timely messaging delivery and minimizes the risk of congestion leading to delays or lagging issues.

Cost: Cost is always a factor in any business decision, and deciding which network carrier to use is no exception. Some service providers offer various pricing options depending on factors, including how much data you use. However, structural considerations also make the cost decision a little more nuanced.

For example, Tier 1 is an IP network that provides access to every other network on the internet. Tier 1 service providers own the network infrastructure, which means they control how data traffic flows through it. As a result, they can deliver the most efficient throughput over the internet via private peering connections.

In other words, you'll get the best results if you have access to Tier 1 connections. This kind of service may seem more expensive, but can often be more cost-effective in the long run.

Customer support: It’s always worth looking into a service provider’s customer support options before signing up. Inevitably, problems do occasionally occur with any kind of complex technology.

When they do, it’s essential that your service provider act fast to resolve the issue and keep you informed of progress. Your communications service's dependability is essential to your company's success, so make sure to check service stats on reliability and downtime before you commit.

Feature availability: Consider the features your carrier network service should include. In addition to broad coverage and multiple support options, do you need extra add-ons customizable to your business?

For example, if your developers want to build custom solutions tailored to your company’s needs, it would be best to go with a provider with an extensive network API selection ready to go. These can help your team create applications that provide options such as location-based services or dynamic content delivery.

Reputation: Finally, don’t forget to check what existing customers have to say about any service provider you’re considering signing up with.

Third-party review sites can be particularly useful here. While you can’t put too much store in an individual review, you’ll usually get a reasonably fair impression of the customer experience overall. And if there are any systemic problems with unreliability or downtime, you’ll certainly find plenty of customers talking about them.

Final thought on carrier networks

Carrier networks are a miracle of modern digital logistics. They’re a shining example of the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Although the individual components of the infrastructure are owned and managed separately, they all work together to create a truly unified global telecommunications and data transfer system.

But, of course, not all carrier network service providers deliver the same level of access. That’s why it’s crucial to research your options beforehand, particularly if your business has specific operational needs.

Vonage has extensive experience helping companies implement telecommunications solutions precisely tailored to their business goals. Explore Vonage Network APIs now.