A private communications network and method of private communications network operation. One or more communications servers each have connected communications devices. From communications devices users enter called party numbers that may include a carrier access code (CAC) and carrier identification code (CIC). The called party number is checked for a CAC and any identified CAC/CIC is parsed from the called party number. The parsed called party number and the CAC/CIC are passed independently of each other over a private network to a public network gateway server. The public network gateway server directs the parsed called party number to a carrier network identified by the CIC, connecting the user to the called party.