How does Operator Connect actually connect my phone numbers to Teams?

Operator Connect works through direct network peering between the certified carrier and Microsoft Azure. The carrier's voice infrastructure connects to Microsoft's Operator Connect platform, and calls flow from the PSTN through the carrier's network into Teams without any on-premises equipment sitting in between.

The architecture follows a straightforward path: PSTN to carrier to Microsoft Operator Connect to Microsoft Teams. The carrier manages all SBCs and voice routing on its side. Atlantech Online, for example, uses Azure-powered direct network peering with TLS 1.3 encryption protecting all voice signaling and media inside its network. From the customer's perspective, phone numbers appear in the Teams Admin Center once the carrier completes verification. IT administrators then assign numbers to users through a drop-down menu in the same console. The entire provisioning process, from selecting a carrier to assigning numbers, can happen within the Teams Admin Center without touching any on-premises infrastructure or third-party portals.