A comprehensive signalling node is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The comprehensive signalling node includes a signalling interface adapted for transmitting and receiving signalling communications and a storage system configured to store a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) routine, to store a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) routine, to store a Session Border Controller (SBC) routine, to store a Push-To-Talk (PTT) routine, to store a H.323 routine, to store a Wide Area Network (WAN) compression routine, and to store a Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement (CALE) routine. The comprehensive signalling node further includes a processing system that is configured to receive a signalling communication through the signalling interface, process the signalling communication with the MGC routine if appropriate, with the SIP routine if appropriate, with the SBC routine if appropriate, with the PTT routine if appropriate, with the H.323 routine if appropriate, with the WAN compression routine if appropriate, or with the CALE routine if appropriate.