# OTT
> Over-the-Top – communication services delivered over the internet, bypassing traditional carriers

OTT (Over-the-Top) services deliver voice, video, and messaging over the internet without carrier involvement.

## What is OTT?
Over-the-Top (OTT) refers to communication services — voice calls, video calls, and messaging — delivered directly over the internet, bypassing the traditional carrier network for call routing. Popular examples include WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams.

## OTT vs. carrier-grade VoIP
Unlike consumer OTT apps, carrier-grade [VoIP](/voip-glossary/voip/) solutions built on [SIP](/voip-glossary/sip/) integrate with the PSTN, support [E.164](/voip-glossary/e164/) numbering, and offer service-level guarantees. Service providers using [white-label softphone platforms](/cloud-softphone/) can compete with OTT apps while maintaining telco-grade reliability.

## Related Terms
- [VoIP](/voip-glossary/voip/)
- [Softphone](/voip-glossary/softphone/)