Telecommunications routing distributes numbering control across distinct operational tiers. The following breakdown shows how carrier lookup records reflect ownership versus actual message origination:
| Network Tier | Typical Entity Identified | Lookup Visibility Role | Average Wholesale Cost per DID (2024, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale CLEC | Onvoy Spectrum LLC / Inteliquent | Carrier of record (infrastructure owner) | $0.10, $0.35 / month |
| CPaaS Aggregator | Sinch AB, Twilio, Bandwidth | Routing platform and API intermediary | $0.50, $1.50 / month |
| Retail Mobile Network | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile | Direct subscriber assignment (SIM card) | $30.00, $80.00 / month |
| Downstream VoIP Reseller | Private SIP vendors, virtual burner apps | Invisible in top-tier carrier lookups | $1.00, $5.00 / month |
