Cloud communication platform

Author: Anagha Ravi

Published: July 27, 2018

Updated: August 28, 2025

A cloud communication platform lets developers quickly and easily integrate voice and calling features into applications using a set of communication APIs rather than building their own telephony infrastructure.

Cloud communication platform FAQ

What is a cloud communication platform?

A cloud communication platform, often called CPaaS, is a cloud-based toolkit that lets developers embed real-time communications—voice, messaging, video, and 911—directly into apps and workflows using APIs and SDKs. Instead of building and maintaining telecom infrastructure, teams consume scalable, global services on demand, and with built-in reliability. Core capabilities include number provisioning, call control, messaging orchestration, media handling, authentication (like two-factor), and analytics.

Modern platforms also offer no-code/low-code tools, webhooks, and integrations with CRMs, contact centers, and automation to speed delivery while maintaining security and observability. The result is faster launches, reduced cost and complexity, and flexible customer experiences across channels, all backed by carrier-grade networks and SLAs. Whether you’re sending alerts, powering contact centers, or enabling embedded communications, a cloud platform abstracts the heavy lifting. For direct-to-carrier quality and enterprise support, consider Bandwidth for your communications needs.

How do people typically communicate in the cloud?

People can communicate in the cloud in a wide variety of ways.

Here are a few common enterprise solutions :

PBX

PBX stands for private branch exchange. It replaces a telephone operator and directs incoming and outgoing calls through a particular trunk. With the cloud, PBXs are hosted by VoIP (voice over internet protocol) systems.

Voice

Whereas calls used to be transmitted via soundwaves on actual copper wires, voice calls on the internet get translated from soundwaves into data packets, and transmitted via the internet to their destination, where they’re translated back into audio waves we can hear.

VoIP

Voice over internet protocol, or VoIP, is the technology that’s used for voice calls placed over the internet. This protocol governs how voice signals are turned into standardized data packets. VoIP calling makes it possible to have a conversation with someone with the click of a button on any internet device.

Messaging

Messaging is easy on the cloud, and many providers have built-in instant message platforms for employees to collaborate. Cloud technologies can also power external messages, which businesses can send for operations, customer service, and marketing purposes.

SIP trunking

SIP Trunks are the connection between a user’s phone, and the ITSP (internet telephony service provider) that a business is using for VoIP telephony. They’re a necessary part of cloud-based calling.

Video

Easy breezy video calls are a main selling point of business cloud communications. In an era when more and more people are working from home, having a reliable video conferencing system is even more important.

How will cloud communications change in the future?

Only 9.5% of IT leaders want to keep their customer communications on premise and only 6.7% want to stay on-prem for employee communications. Cloud migration headaches ease: Notably, the buzz surrounding a rampant race to the cloud has quieted. It’s simply not as tough as it once was, with just 28.7% noting it as a top challenge for 2025. Another significant factor is the growing number of enterprises that’ve already completed their migration—although many are still actively planning and executing their move. The new focus? Shifting toward maintaining a modern and agile infrastructure.

What’s Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) or Cloud Communications as a Service (CCaaS)?

UCaaS refers to unified communications, while CCaaS refers to cloud communications. Both have the “aaS” that signifies “as a service” meaning they’re available on a subscription basis, rather than as a one-time physical equipment purchase.

Global expansion, a need for flexibility, and the search for cost-effective operations leads companies to migrate their communications to the cloud. As companies scale, it can be challenging to maintain and furnish their departments with on-premise equipment. Meanwhile, better cloud solutions are coming on the market every year. Some enterprise comms solutions allow many different specialty tools to play well in one unified system.

One of the most popular use cases for cloud migration is contact center operations. Cloud-based contact centers make it simple and easy for calls to be handled with VoIP technology, routed to appropriate endpoints, and resolved by AI bots and virtual agents.

Another use case is taking a company’s internal employee communication systems entirely online. This makes it easy for teams to talk via voice, messaging, email, and video instantly and smoothly, whether they’re working for small businesses or massive global enterprises.

How is Bandwidth involved with cloud communication platforms?

Bandwidth owns and operates one of the largest All-IP Voice networks in the nation. On top of that network, we have built a full suite of APIs to give our customers the power to communicate. With services like voice, messaging, 911 access, and phone numbers, Bandwidth aims to fulfill all of the ways a business might need to communicate with their customers. Bandwidth makes integrating these services into an application easy with our cloud communication platform.

What are the benefits of Bandwidth’s cloud communication platform?

Since Bandwidth owns and operates the network, our customers are given an experience that differs from other cloud communication platform providers. Whether you are a small tech start-up or an enterprise giant, Bandwidth offers a network that is built to scale.

Our services will grow with you as you grow, fitting you with quality services for all of your communication needs, big or small.

Another benefit of partnering with Bandwidth as a cloud communication provider is avoiding the middleman. We own the network, and we’re built to scale, which results in cost savings for you. Bandwidth has mastered cloud communications with products like Maestro and Webex, so you can focus on mastering what matters most to you.

Where we talk about cloud communication platforms

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The information provided in this glossary definition does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice, nor does it necessarily represent Bandwidth's products or business practices. This page is for general informational purposes only.