Cisco has partnered with Tata Communications Limited (TCL) to offer cloud PSTN services as a Cloud Connected PSTN Provider (CCPP) for organizations operating in India. Consequently, Webex Calling customers in India now have the option to utilize cloud-based PSTN services in addition to on-premises PSTN through a Local Gateway.

For Webex Calling with premises-based PSTN in India locations, see Enable Webex Calling for India locations.

Benefits

Using a CCPP in India offers the following benefits:

  • It simplifies the process of provisioning and managing PSTN services, which in turn enables you to save on hardware purchases and management.

  • It facilitates quick and seamless deployment of Webex Calling services. Once the partner PSTN is configured in the Control Hub, numbers can be added and assigned to Webex Calling users.

  • A single service provider partner handles calling licenses, cloud PSTN, network and managed services. This simplifies support and compliance with India telecom regulations.

License requirements

  • Webex Calling users in India should be entitled for a calling license, which can be either a standard or a premium license. These calling licenses and the PSTN should be obtained from Tata Communications.

  • Users who require the ability to make and receive calls outside of the organization should be assigned an E.164 number.

Configure Cloud PSTN connection for Webex Calling locations in India

Add a new connection type

Before you begin

To add a new connection type, ensure that a new location is created. To add a new location, see Add a location.

1

Log in to the Control Hub at https://admin.webex.com, go to Management > Location.

2

From the location list, select the newly created location for which the connection type isn't assigned.

3

Click Calling, and then click Set up calling.

4

In the Connection Type screen, choose the Cloud Connected PSTN connection type.

5

Click Next.

6

In the Select a Provider screen, select Tata Communications Limited (IN). Click Next.

7

In the Select a Zone screen, choose a zone from the drop-down list to make sure that the call routing is in compliance with the toll bypass regulations. See Create a zone to manage zones.

8

If you choose None from the drop-down list, it prompts a No Zone Selected warning message. Click Continue to skip adding a zone.

The location which you are adding won't be in compliance with the toll bypass regulations.
9

Click Next to complete adding the PSTN connection for the location.

10

Choose whether you want to activate the numbers now or later.

11

(Optional) Click Add Numbers Now.

If you prefer to add numbers later, skip to the next step.

  1. Choose a location from the Location drop-down list.

  2. Choose a number type from the Number type drop-down list for the connection type.

  3. Click Next.

  4. Enter your numbers separated by a comma specific to the location, with area codes. You can add up to 1000 phone numbers.

  5. If you wish to port numbers later, enable Activate Numbers Later.

    Contact your carrier to activate the added phone numbers.

  6. Click Save. In the success page, click Close and exit.

12

Click Done (add numbers later).

You would navigate to the calling page of that specific location.

Update zone for Cloud Connected PSTN connection type

1

Log in to Control Hub https://admin.webex.com, go to Management > Location.

2

Select the location that you want to assign a zone.

3

Go to Calling Connection > PSTN Connection and click Manage.

4

In the Edit PTSN connection for the location screen, from the PSTN Zone drop-down list, choose a zone.

5

If you choose None from the drop-down list, a No Zone Selected warning message appears. Click Continue to skip adding a zone.

The location that you are adding won't be in compliance with the toll bypass regulations.
6

Click Save.

Update connection type for an Indian location

You can change your PSTN connection type from Cloud Connected PSTN to a premises-based PSTN or vice versa. During this process, you can also update the Zone associated with the connection type.

1

Log in to the Control Hub at https://admin.webex.com, go to Management > Location.

If you see a Caution symbol next to a location, it means that you haven't configured a telephone number for that location yet. You can't make or receive any calls until you configure the number.
2

Select the location for which you want to change the connection type. Click Calling.

3

In Calling Connection > PSTN Connection, click Manage.

Select the Main Number to reach the main contact of the location. Main number is required only if you are assigning extensions to all Webex Calling users.
4

In the Edit PTSN connection for the location screen, for Connection Type, click Edit.

5

Check the check boxes and confirm the PSTN connection change. Click Next.

Before changing the provider, make sure that you have received confirmation from both current and new providers.
6

Select either Cloud Connected PSTN or Premises-based PSTN (local gateway), depending on which one you've already configured.

Premises-based PSTN supports both PSTN Zone and Routing Choice configurations.
7

In the Select a Provider screen, choose the provider. Click Next.

8

(Optional) In the Select a Zone screen, choose a zone from the drop-down list to make sure that call routing is in compliance with the toll bypass regulations. See Create a zone to manage zones.

While changing the connection type, you can also update the zone in the process.
9

If you choose None from the drop-down list, it prompts a No Zone Selected warning. Click Continue and skip adding a zone.

The location that you're adding won't be in compliance with the toll bypass regulations.
10

Click Next.

11

After a successful PSTN connection type update, you can choose to add the numbers from the service provider or choose to add the numbers later and exit.

Compliance to toll bypass regulations with Cloud Connected PSTN

Initial call between a Webex Calling user and PSTN

When a location has cloud connected PSTN with a zone configuration and the user is in the assigned zone, the calls connect between a Webex Calling user and the PSTN. This is decided by verifying that the user's device is within the specified subnet for the zone allocated to the location.

To adhere to toll bypass regulations, locations within the same zone are regarded as a single Telecom circle. PSTN calls connect for the users located within their designated zone. However, if the user is outside their zone, PSTN calls do not complete. Also, if a user roams to a location that differs from their assigned location, PSTN calls do not connect for the user. Remote users can use VPN connect to their office network for PSTN calls.

If the call doesn't complete, users are notified as follows:

  • For incoming calls, the unanswered call is redirected based on the call forward no answer settings.

  • For outgoing calls, user hear the following message: “Call cannot be completed at this time, hang up and try again later”.

Midcall features

Call Transfer and Call Forward

If both the users are in the same Webex Calling zone, transferring or forwarding an India PSTN call to another Webex Calling user is allowed. However, it isn't allowed if the Webex Calling users are in different zones.

Ad hoc conference

The Webex Calling user that escalates a 1:1 call with an India PSTN number to an ad hoc conference can add another Webex Calling user in the same zone. The ad hoc conference can't include another user in a different zone.

Multiline support

A Webex Calling user can share line appearance with another user within the same zone. Virtual line from a location in the same zone can also be configured on the devices of the Webex Calling user. Shared lines and virtual lines can't be established across zones due to regulatory limitations.

Call recording

The native recording feature is the supported recording solution. Choose Webex as the recording provider and India as the storage region. These settings are available at the organization level or the location level. For more information, see Manage call recording for Webex Calling.

Limitations

The following limitations apply to Cloud Connected PSTN in India:

  • Organizations with a first location in India (Sell-In) are supported, multinational corporations that have only branch locations in India can’t use Cloud Connected PSTN for their operations within the country.

  • Partner recording solutions like Dubber aren’t supported (Native recording is supported).

  • Webex Customer Experience Essentials isn't supported.

  • If Webex Calling users in India relocate from one office in a specific zone to another office in a different zone, then making or receiving PSTN calls in a new location isn't supported.

  • Sending and receiving Fax from a device that uses the T.38 protocol isn't supported.