Bypass zones for a network are identified by generating bypass identifiers that identify the bypass zones from network configuration settings. During call setup the bypass identifier assigned to an endpoint for the call is identified and the bypass identifier assigned to a gateway for the call is identified. A determination is then made as to whether the bypass identifier assigned to the gateway is the same as the bypass identifier assigned to the endpoint. If the bypass identifiers are the same, then a mediation server may be bypassed for the call. If the bypass identifiers are not the same, then the mediation server remains in the media path for the call.