Trunk Line Definition, Advantages and Disadvantages

📅Oct 10, 2012

Brief：A trunk line: a telephone line connecting a user's private branch exchange (PBX), key telephone system (including telephone connectors with switching functions), wireless paging stations, mobile telephone exchanges, etc., to a local telephone exchange is called a trunk line. Trunk line hunting means that one number contains multiple lines; the user only needs to publish one representative number externally, but multiple calls can come in simultaneously. Each user can determine the number of trunk lines to apply for based on call volume and the capacity of the key telephone system. Currently, analog direct lines can be converted to trunk lines, ISDN lines can be converted to trunk lines, and trunk line hunting can also be applied for simultaneously when applying for new analog direct lines or ISDN lines.

The advantage is that the trunk line is a value-added communication service provided by telecom operators, with a strong brand, high reputation, and high stability, which is why the price is also high.
The disadvantage is that the trunk line can only be bound to the telecom operator's lines. If the company's telecom line resources are insufficient, there is no way to expand further. Even if direct lines from China Netcom or China Tietong can be installed at this time, they cannot be integrated into a single pilot number, so the bundling has limitations. Therefore, virtual trunk lines are currently a popular product. The initial installation and commissioning of trunk lines are relatively complex, and operators therefore charge high initial installation fees and commissioning fees.

Currently, there are many alternatives to trunk lines on the market. For example, with the popularity of 400 and 800 numbers, more and more enterprises are activating free numbers such as 400 to provide better services to their customers. With the deepening of market competition, even monthly subscription forms of 400 numbers have emerged, and the monthly fee can even be lower than the monthly rental of enterprise trunk lines, such as the "Omni-directional 400 Hotline" appearing on the market.

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