CLI routes
CLI Routes: Premium and Standard Quality Tiers
On a CLI route your caller ID reaches the called party as you sent it. People answer numbers they can see and call back. Choose premium CLI for direct paths, standard CLI for broad coverage, and keep non-CLI for traffic where the number does not matter.
Compare tiers
Premium CLI, standard CLI and non-CLI
| Premium CLI | Standard CLI | Non-CLI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caller ID | Passed intact | Passed on most calls | May be replaced or dropped |
| Path | Direct / one hop | Quality-checked multi-hop | Cost-optimised |
| Audio | Most consistent | Good, monitored | Varies by destination |
| Answer behaviour | Highest for known numbers | Good | Lower when callee screens |
| Best for | Call centres, callbacks, retail | General business traffic | Notifications, internal, A–Z fill |
| Price position | Highest | Middle | Lowest |
Why it matters
Caller ID changes who picks up
A call from an unknown international or withheld number is often ignored. A call from a local number the person recognises, or can call back, gets answered. That difference shows up in your ASR and in the length of your calls.
Networks also act on CLI. Many operators block or label calls with invalid caller ID, and in the US and Canada STIR/SHAKEN attestation affects how calls are presented. The full breakdown is in CLI vs non-CLI routes.
Callbacks work
Missed calls come back to a real, reachable number.Fewer blocks
Valid caller ID avoids network-level filtering.
Rules
CLI rules you have to follow
These apply on every tier. Country rules are stricter in some markets.
Valid and dialable
United States and Canada
United Kingdom
Spoofed caller ID is not accepted on any route. Read the acceptable use policy.
Testing
How to test a CLI route properly
- 01
Call a phone you control
Use a local SIM or landline in the destination country, on more than one operator if you can. - 02
Check the display
Confirm the full number shows in the expected format, not a replaced or withheld ID. - 03
Call back
Return the call to confirm the number routes back to you. - 04
Read the CDRs
Compare ASR, ACD and PDD on a sample of real traffic, not five test calls.
FAQ
CLI route questions
Does a CLI route guarantee my number is displayed?
It guarantees we pass your caller ID unchanged to the next network. The handset display can still depend on the terminating operator, the handset and privacy settings. Test calls confirm behaviour for each destination.
Which caller IDs can I send?
Numbers you own or are authorised to use, in valid E.164 format. Unassigned, invalid or spoofed numbers are not allowed and are blocked by many terminating networks anyway.
Why is premium CLI more expensive?
It uses direct or near-direct paths to the terminating operator, which cost more to buy than multi-hop routes. In return, caller ID integrity and audio quality are more consistent.
Can I switch tiers per destination?
Yes. Each tier has its own techprefix, so your switch or dialer can send each destination or campaign to the tier you choose.