What happens when no matching dial-peer exists?

• A. The call fails, typically showing 'no matching outgoing dial-peer'.
• B. The system automatically forwards to voicemail.
• C. The call is routed via a default gateway.
• D. The call is placed on hold until a dial-peer matches.

Answer: (A)

Dial-peers define how a gateway routes outbound calls by matching the dialed digits to a destination. When a user dials a number, the gateway searches for an outbound dial-peer whose destination pattern matches those digits. If none exists, there is no defined path to route the call, so the call fails and the gateway typically returns an error like “no matching outgoing dial-peer.” There isn’t a built-in fallback to voicemail, a default gateway path, or a hold while a dial-peer appears—the call simply cannot be routed without a matching dial-peer.