Getting rid of your (telecom) hops

A "hop" in telecommunications refers to the traversal of a device, such as a router or switch, by phone calls or network traffic to reach their destination. Networks require these devices to function but they introduce latency and points of failure. Latency is the time taken for information to travel from one point to another, while points of failure are potential breakdown spots in the network. To reduce hops, telecom carriers can take control of their networks by setting up peering arrangements with other providers, thus avoiding multiple carrier middlemen. This reduces latency and points of failure, improving voice call quality.