Voice calling remains a cornerstone of communication in 2025, but the landscape is shifting. Traditional telephony in Germany and countries like France, the UK, and the US offers reliability, while Voice AI calling using platforms like LiveKit and Telnyx SIP trunking brings cost savings and advanced features.
This blog compares these systems across cost, performance, regulations, setup, and scalability, helping businesses and individuals choose the best solution. With the EU AI Act enforcing transparency for AI-driven calls, understanding these options is crucial for 2025.
Why Compare Traditional Calls to Voice AI Solutions?
Traditional phone systems, or PSTN, dominate in Germany with providers like Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 offering robust local and EU-wide calling plans. However, international calls, especially to non-EU countries like the US, can be pricey.
Voice AI calling, powered by LiveKit for real-time audio and Telnyx for SIP trunking, routes calls over the internet, slashing costs and enabling features like speech-to-text (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS). This comparison highlights why businesses handling high call volumes or needing AI features are switching to VoIP solutions.
Cost Breakdown: Traditional vs. Voice AI Calling
Germany and EU Calling Costs
In Germany, traditional plans like Telekom's MagentaMobil (€39/month) include unlimited EU calls, making local and regional communication affordable. International calls to the US, however, cost around €0.09 per minute.
In France and the UK, similar plans keep EU calls free, but US-bound rates range from €0.10 to €0.20 per minute. From the US to Germany, carriers like Verizon charge $0.05 to $0.11 per minute.
Voice AI with LiveKit and Telnyx
Telnyx SIP trunking starts at $8 to $12 per channel monthly, with local EU calls at $0.0035 per minute. Voice AI features add minimal costs: STT at $0.015 per minute and TTS at $0.000003 per character.
For 1,000 minutes of US calls from Germany, traditional systems cost €90, while Telnyx and LiveKit drop this to $5 to $10, including AI capabilities. Volume discounts further reduce rates to below $0.001 per minute, ideal for call centers or global businesses.
Performance and Latency: Reliability Meets Innovation
Traditional Call Performance
PSTN calls in Germany deliver low latency, around 45ms within Europe, thanks to dedicated fiber lines. Transatlantic calls to the US add 100 to 150ms but remain reliable with minimal jitter. This makes traditional systems a go-to for emergency or critical communications.
Voice AI Performance
LiveKit's WebRTC technology and Telnyx's Frankfurt data center keep EU latency below 100ms, with global calls averaging 150ms. While internet congestion can introduce jitter, Germany's 5G and fiber infrastructure ensures near-traditional performance in urban areas. For AI-driven calls, such as real-time translation, VoIP outperforms traditional systems by enabling instant processing.
Regulatory Landscape: Navigating EU and Global Rules
Traditional Call Regulations
In Germany, the Bundesnetzagentur mandates free EU roaming and requires consent for marketing calls under UWG, with fines up to €300,000 for violations. France and the UK follow similar ARCEP and Ofcom rules, while the US has lighter FCC regulations for domestic calls but aligns with GDPR for international privacy.
Voice AI Regulations
The EU AI Act, effective 2025, classifies Voice AI as "limited risk," requiring clear disclosure like "You're speaking to an AI" to avoid €35M fines. GDPR mandates explicit consent for call recording or transcription. Telnyx and LiveKit offer built-in compliance tools, such as consent prompts, making EU data residency straightforward. In the US, state laws like California's require similar consent, but federal AI voice rules are absent.
Setup and Scalability: Traditional Limits vs. VoIP Flexibility
Traditional Setup
Setting up traditional telephony in Germany involves hardware like landlines or PRI lines, costing €400 to €600 monthly for 23 channels. Scaling is expensive and slow, with no native AI or analytics features.
Voice AI Setup
LiveKit and Telnyx enable API-based setup in 15 to 30 minutes. Create a SIP trunk, integrate LiveKit rooms, and deploy AI agents for tasks like automated support or IVR. Scaling is seamless, adding channels for $8 monthly, perfect for global operations. Features like multilingual TTS and real-time analytics give VoIP a clear edge.
Comparison Table: Traditional vs. Voice AI Calling
| Category | Traditional (Germany/EU) | Traditional (UK/France/US to Germany) | Voice AI (LiveKit + Telnyx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Call Toll Cost | €0 (unlimited plans, e.g., Telekom €39/mo) | €0.05–€0.10/min (e.g., O2 UK to DE) | $0.0035/min + $8–12/mo trunk |
| Intl. Call Toll Cost (US) | €0.09/min | $0.05–$0.11/min (Verizon/T-Mobile) | $0.005/min + AI add-ons ($0.015/min STT) |
| Worker Cost | €20–€40/hr per agent (outsourced call centers) | €15–€35/hr (UK/France); $13–$25/hr (US outsourcing) | $0 (AI automation, no human agents required) |
| Latency | 45ms (EU); 100–150ms (US) | 100–150ms (transatlantic) | <100ms (EU); 150ms (global) |
| Regulations | Free EU roaming; UWG consent | Similar EU; US FCC lighter | EU AI Act disclosure; GDPR consent |
| Setup/Scalability | Hardware-heavy; €400+/mo per 23 lines | Same | API-based (15min); infinite, $8/channel |
Total Cost Example (1,000 min US calls + 100 agent hrs/mo)
- Traditional (Germany/EU): €90 (tolls) + €2,000–€4,000 (workers) = €2,090–€4,090
- Traditional (UK/France/US): €50–€110 (tolls) + €1,500–€3,500 (workers) = €1,550–€3,610
- Voice AI (LiveKit + Telnyx): $5 (tolls) + $15 (STT) + $8 (trunk) + $0 (workers) = $28 (~€25)
What’s Best?
Voice AI (LiveKit + Telnyx) is the clear winner for businesses prioritizing affordability and scalability. With total costs of ~€25 for 1,000 US call minutes and no worker expenses, it offers 90%+ savings compared to traditional setups (€1,550–€4,090). Ideal for high-volume, international operations, it also provides AI features like transcription and multilingual support.
Traditional options suit local EU calls with reliable latency, but their high worker costs and limited scalability make them less competitive. For a hybrid approach, pair Voice AI with outsourced agents for complex queries.
Conclusion: Choose Voice AI for Cost and Innovation
Traditional telephony excels for reliable, local EU calls, especially in Germany’s regulated market with providers like Telekom. For international calls or AI-driven features like automated support, LiveKit and Telnyx offer unmatched savings (70–90% cheaper) and scalability.
For professional implementation of these Voice AI solutions tailored to your needs, contact Trixly AI Solutions today via our contact page at to get started on transforming your call operations. Ready to optimize? Explore providers today for 2025 success.