Remote call forwarding
In telecommunication, a remote call forwarding is a service feature that allows calls coming to a remote call forwarding number to be automatically forwarded to any answering location designated by the call receiver.
Customers may have a remote-forwarding telephone number in a central switching office without having any other local telephone service in that office.
The main purpose for this service is to provide convenience and cost savings to the callers. The call recipient wants its callers to avoid having to dial long distance (and therefore increased costs for the call). It is also a way to keep an existing number which customers call when the facility is shut down or moved permanently or temporarily (e.g. after a fire or flood.)
RCFs typically come with only one call paths, and each additional path must be paid for. Each path can handle one simultaneous call. So two paths allow two people to call the number and be forwarded at the same time. It is possible to buy VoIP call paths as well (which are more virtual.)
References
This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22.