Call Admission Control

Call Admission Control (CAC) prevents oversubscription of VoIP networks. It is used in the call set-up phase and applies to real-time media traffic as opposed to data traffic. CAC mechanisms complement and are distinct from the capabilities of Quality of Service tools to protect voice traffic from the negative effects of other voice traffic and to keep excess voice traffic off the network. Since it averts voice traffic congestion, it is a preventive Congestion Control Procedure. It ensures that there is enough bandwidth for authorized flows.