ISDN PRI
A PRI gives you 23 voice channels and a signalling channel, priced monthly with usage on top. It remains a solid product, and at every renewal it is worth pricing against SIP, which bills concurrency rather than fixed channels.
What actually sets your PRI rate
Putting your PRI out to bid
- 1Post the requirement once. Address, bandwidth, sites, and the date you need it live. That is enough for carriers to price.
- 2Carriers that reach you bid against each other. They know they are in a competitive bid, which is the single biggest reason a first number comes in lower.
- 3Compare the spread, then counter. Line the offers up on rate, term, install, and SLA. The gap between high and low bid is your negotiating room.
Where the room usually is
✓ Levers worth pushing
Per-minute rates, DID blocks folded into the monthly, waived install, and a term short enough to preserve the SIP option. Confirm number portability terms in writing before signing.
● What a padded quote looks like
A full span quoted to a business with well under 23 concurrent calls, DID charges omitted from the comparison, and no SIP alternative presented at renewal.
ISDN PRI pricing, straight answers
What does a PRI cost?
A monthly for the span plus usage, with DID blocks billed separately. Rates vary by carrier and metro, and both the monthly and the usage side are negotiable.
Is SIP cheaper than a PRI?
For most buyers now, yes, because it prices concurrent sessions instead of a fixed 23 channels. Price both at renewal.
Can I keep my numbers if I switch?
Yes, through number portability. Get the process and the timeline written into the agreement rather than agreeing to it verbally.