In brief: Telviva Call2Teams integrates South African SIP trunking directly into Microsoft Teams, enabling PSTN calling without a global carrier. SA resellers can offer a local-first Teams voice solution with rand billing.
Microsoft Teams is the dominant business collaboration platform in South Africa — but the majority of local businesses using it aren’t making or receiving calls through it. They’re still running a separate phone system alongside Teams, paying for both, and asking their staff to context-switch between the two. Telviva’s Call2Teams is designed to fix that, and it does so in a way that’s specifically relevant to the South African market.
First: why SA businesses can’t just use Microsoft’s own calling
This is the context that most product announcements leave out — and it matters.
Microsoft offers several ways to add calling to Teams globally: Calling Plans (Microsoft provides the phone numbers and minutes directly), Operator Connect (a marketplace of certified operators), and Direct Routing (connecting your own SIP trunk via a Session Border Controller).
The problem: Microsoft Calling Plans are not available in South Africa. And while Operator Connect has been expanding globally, the number of certified South African operators remains limited. This means the vast majority of South African businesses that want native Teams calling must use Direct Routing — or a product like Call2Teams that sits above it.
Direct Routing works well technically, but it requires a certified Session Border Controller (SBC), ongoing configuration, and technical management — creating friction and cost that many SMEs and mid-market businesses aren’t equipped to absorb.
This is the gap that Call2Teams fills.
What Call2Teams does
Call2Teams is a cloud-based SaaS layer that connects any existing PBX or SIP trunk to Microsoft Teams, enabling users to make and receive external calls directly within the Teams interface — using their existing business number, with no new hardware, no SBC to manage, and no new client software to deploy.
According to Telviva, it’s a fully SaaS-based approach to Teams voice enablement, with deployment typically completed within days rather than the weeks a full Direct Routing implementation requires.
Key capabilities
- Native calling in Teams — users dial out and receive external calls from within Teams, using the dial pad they already have access to
- Existing number retained — business numbers don’t change; calls route through your existing PBX or SIP trunk
- PBX features preserved — call routing, voicemail, call forwarding, switchboard access, and hunt groups all continue to function
- Mixed environments supported — Teams voice users and non-Teams users (on desk phones or softphones) can communicate as if on one system
- No SBC or hardware required — the SaaS architecture handles the gateway function that Direct Routing typically needs hardware for
The cost case compared to Direct Routing
Telviva positions Call2Teams at up to 25% less cost than a comparable Direct Routing implementation, primarily because of the reduced infrastructure requirements. The setup cost is also lower: no SBC hardware or licensing, and no specialist SBC configuration required at installation.
For SMEs already paying for Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Premium (which includes Teams), adding Call2Teams means finally getting value from the Teams Phone features already in their subscription — without the setup complexity of a full Direct Routing deployment.
Why this matters for resellers
If you sell hosted PBX, SIP trunking, or managed voice services, Call2Teams represents an add-on sale, not a cannibalisation risk. It doesn’t replace the PBX or SIP trunk — it extends it into Teams. A customer on your hosted PBX today can be enabled for Teams calling without migrating away from your existing service.
The opportunity is in identifying customers who:
- Are already on Microsoft Teams (or Microsoft 365)
- Haven’t enabled external calling through Teams
- Have expressed frustration about running separate communication tools
That profile describes a very large proportion of South African SME and mid-market businesses. The conversation is straightforward: “You’re already paying for Teams. Here’s how you get calling through it, using the number you already have, without replacing anything.”
How it compares to the alternatives
For South African businesses wanting Teams calling, the realistic options are:
- Direct Routing (self-managed or via an MSP) — full flexibility, best for complex environments, but requires SBC hardware/licensing and ongoing management. Higher setup cost.
- Operator Connect (where available) — simpler than Direct Routing, but the certified SA operator selection remains limited in 2026.
- Call2Teams (Telviva) — SaaS-based, fastest deployment, works with your existing PBX/SIP trunk, lowest setup barrier. Best fit for SME and mid-market.
- Microsoft Calling Plans — not available in South Africa.
About Telviva
Telviva is a South African cloud communications provider offering hosted PBX, UCaaS, contact centre, and voice integration solutions. Its products are built for the local market and sold exclusively through the channel. Learn more at the Telviva vendor profile on Telecoms Channel or at telviva.co.za.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add phone calls to Microsoft Teams in South Africa?
Yes, but not through Microsoft’s own Calling Plans, which are not available in South Africa. The main options for SA businesses are Direct Routing, Operator Connect (limited SA operators), or SaaS-based solutions like Telviva’s Call2Teams that work with your existing PBX or SIP trunk.
What is Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and why do South African businesses need it?
Direct Routing lets businesses connect their own phone number and SIP trunk to Microsoft Teams via a certified Session Border Controller (SBC). It’s needed in South Africa because Microsoft’s simpler Calling Plans option isn’t available locally. Direct Routing provides full flexibility but requires SBC infrastructure and technical configuration.
How does Telviva Call2Teams differ from Direct Routing?
Call2Teams is a SaaS layer that removes the need to deploy and manage an SBC. It sits between your existing PBX or SIP trunk and Microsoft Teams, enabling Teams calling without hardware. Telviva claims it’s up to 25% cheaper than a Direct Routing implementation and deploys in days rather than weeks.
Does Call2Teams work with any PBX or SIP trunk?
Call2Teams is designed to work with any SIP-compatible PBX or SIP trunk. Contact Telviva to confirm compatibility with your specific platform before recommending it to customers.
Will Teams calling replace my customer’s existing phone system?
Not necessarily. Call2Teams is designed to extend an existing PBX or SIP trunk into Teams — not replace it. Customers retain their existing number, call routing, voicemail, and PBX features. Teams becomes the calling interface for users who prefer it, while other users can remain on desk phones or existing softphones.
About the Author
Mechelle Gindra
Mechelle Gindra is the managing editor and lead content strategist at Telecoms-Channel, South Africa's dedicated intelligence platform for telecoms resellers, ICT distributors, and channel partners. She oversees the editorial team's AI-assisted content production pipeline, ensuring vendor news, market analysis, and regulatory updates are accurate, timely, and actionable for the SA telecoms channel community. With deep expertise in the South African telecoms reseller ecosystem, Mechelle directs coverage of vendor partner programmes, ICASA regulatory developments, wholesale market dynamics, and channel business strategy. She is responsible for maintaining Telecoms-Channel's editorial standards, fact-checking processes, and corrections policy.
