1) Optimal routing (OR) is a value-added service that allows calls between roaming subscribers within the same country to be directly routed between serving networks, avoiding international call legs and saving costs. 2) OR requires maintaining a real-time database of inbound roamers including location, serving network, and other data extracted from signaling messages. 3) Typical OR implementations route calls to a special platform housing the roamer database, which analyzes the destination and routes internally or obtains a local number from the destination network.