Microsoft Teams Calling Plans for UK Businesses

It is the cloud telephony layer of business VoIP: your team dials out, takes inbound calls, and routes them through queues and auto-attendants without a physical PBX. Because calls run through the same Teams client your staff already use for chat and meetings, there is one app to manage and one provider to call when something needs changing.

How does Microsoft Teams Calling work?

Teams Calling adds a public phone number to a user's Teams licence, then connects that number to the public telephone network (PSTN). Calls route through Teams on a laptop, mobile or certified desk phone — no on-premises phone system required. You choose how the PSTN connection is delivered: Microsoft Calling Plans, Direct Routing, or Operator Connect.

• Calling Plans — Microsoft provides the phone numbers and minutes directly as part of the licence.
• Direct Routing — AMVIA connects your own UK carrier and SIP trunk to Teams, giving you control over call rates and number ranges.
• Operator Connect — a UK telecoms provider supplies numbers and minutes through a managed connection inside the Teams admin centre.

Microsoft documents each connectivity model in its Teams Phone guidance on learn.microsoft.com. AMVIA helps you pick the model that matches your call volumes, existing numbers and budget.

What's included when AMVIA sets up Teams Calling?

AMVIA runs the full deployment — from licence activation to trained users making live calls, typically operational within five working days. We handle the Microsoft licensing, the PSTN connectivity, and the call-flow design so your phones work on day one.

• Licence and number setup — we activate calling licences, port or assign your numbers, and configure emergency calling addresses.
• Call-flow design — auto-attendants, call queues and hunt groups are built in Teams to match how your business answers calls.
• User configuration — each Teams client is set up with voicemail, caller ID and call-forwarding rules.
• Training and go-live — staff are trained on making and receiving calls, with ongoing call-quality monitoring and change support.

This sits alongside our wider managed Microsoft 365 service, so licensing, security and telephony are looked after by the same team.

Calling Plans vs Direct Routing vs Operator Connect — which is right?

The right model depends on whether you want Microsoft to supply the lines, keep your existing UK carrier, or use a provider-managed connection. Direct Routing usually wins on call rates and number flexibility; Calling Plans win on simplicity. Here is how they compare.

Why do UK SMEs need Teams Calling now?

The biggest driver is the PSTN switch-off: traditional analogue and ISDN lines are being retired, so every business on legacy phone lines must move to IP telephony. The UK PSTN switch-off is scheduled for completion by 31 January 2027 (Openreach). Teams Calling is a cloud-native replacement that removes any dependence on copper lines.

There is no bandwidth barrier for most firms. The UK average broadband download speed is 69.4 Mbps (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024), which is comfortably enough for clear Teams calls once voice traffic is prioritised. The real work is in the migration — porting numbers, rebuilding call flows, and configuring quality-of-service correctly. See our PSTN switch-off guide for the full timeline and migration steps.

How much does Microsoft Teams Calling cost?

Cost is built from two parts: the Microsoft Teams Phone licence per user, plus a calling plan or PSTN connectivity for the minutes. There is no single sticker price — it scales with how many users need an external phone number and how you connect to the network.

• Microsoft 365 base licences start at £4.60/user/month (Business Basic), £9.60 (Business Standard) and £16.90 (Business Premium), ex VAT on an annual plan (Microsoft 365 UK pricing).
• Teams Phone is a separate add-on layered on top, plus either a Microsoft Calling Plan or your own carrier minutes via Direct Routing.
• Not every user needs an external number — internal-only staff can stay on standard Teams licences, which keeps the total down.

AMVIA scopes the exact licence mix for your headcount so you only pay for external calling where it is actually needed.

Why choose AMVIA for Microsoft Teams Calling?

AMVIA is a security-first Microsoft partner, not a telecoms reseller — so Teams Calling is deployed with the same hardening and oversight as the rest of your Microsoft 365 estate. We manage IT and security for 1,200+ UK businesses across legal, finance, healthcare and professional services.

• Sheffield-based UK engineers who understand UK numbering, compliance and network infrastructure.
• Cyber Essentials Plus certified and a Microsoft Solutions Partner — your telephony is configured to recognised UK security and quality standards.
• One accountable provider for licences, connectivity, call quality and security — no finger-pointing between vendors.
• Certified hardware supplied and configured from Poly, Yealink and Jabra where users want a physical handset.