Method and network for routing a communication through an alternate carrier

A network configured to route a communication based on a dedicated identifier through a plurality of interexchange carriers upon input of the dedicated identifier and a request code, the network comprising:

• a node configured to request carrier data in response to entry of the dedicated identifier;
• and
• a controller operably connected to said node, said controller configured to set as a primary carrier, in response to a first condition of the request code, a carrier of a sequence of carriers assigned to said node, and in response to a second condition of the request code, setting an alternate carrier to a highest remaining ranked carrier of the sequence of carriers;
• wherein:
• said node is configured to route the communication to an interexchange carrier corresponding to the primary carrier;
• and
• said node is configured to sequentially direct, in response to a failure of said node to connect with the interexchange carrier corresponding to the primary carrier, the communication to an interexchange carrier corresponding to the alternate carrier until a connection established.

A method for directing a communication from at least one location of a plurality of locations, through at least one carrier of a plurality of carriers, each of the plurality of locations including a ranking of interexchange carriers assigned thereto, the method comprising:

• setting as a primary carrier, in order of preference, one of an interexchange carrier, and a first ranked interexchange carrier for the at least one location;
• sequentially selecting, at least one of an alternate and a secondary carrier from a respective at least one of a highest and a next highest remaining carrier of the ranked carriers for the one location;
• and
• sequentially routing the communication to interexchange carriers corresponding to the primary carrier and the at least one of the alternate and secondary carriers until a connection is established.