Computer Communication

Study Guide Series Books

Sigma Publishing By - Prof.: D. R. LUHAR

Topic - 1200
Introduction to Public Switched
Telephone Networks (PSTNs)
POTS, ISDN, DLC, DSL, and PON Technologies, Systems and Services

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 Table of Contents

OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
LOCAL LOOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SWITCHING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
NUMBERING PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CALL PROCESSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
MARKET GROWTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
VOICE SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
DATA SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
PUBLIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
POTS (dial) Line Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Direct Inward Dialing (DID) Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Foreign Exchange Station (FXS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Type 1 Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Integrated Services Digital Network - Basic Rate Interface
Connections (ISDN-BRI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Integrated Services Digital Network - Primary Rate Interface
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Type 2A Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Type 2B Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Type 2C Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Type 2D Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Type S Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
COMMON CHANNEL SIGNALING (SS7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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 SS7 AND INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) SIGNALING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . 21
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT NETWORKS (AIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE (POTS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
INTEGRATED DIGITAL SERVICES NETWORK (ISDN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE (DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
DIGITAL LOOP CARRIER (DLC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK (PON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
VOICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
CENTREX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
FRAME RELAY SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
LEASED LINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE (DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
PACKETIZED VOICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
HIGH-SPEED MULTIMEDIA SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
FIBER DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SOFTSWITCHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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 Introduction to Public Switched
Telephone Networks (PSTNs)

Public switched telephone networks are communication systems that are

available to the public to allow users to interconnect communication devices.
Public telephone networks within countries and regions are standard inte-
grated systems of transmission and switching facilities, signaling proces-
sors, and associated operations support systems that allow communication
devices to communicate with each other when they operate.

Figure 1.1 shows a basic overview of the Public Switched Telephone

Network (PSTN) as deployed in a typical metropolitan area. PSTN cus-
tomers connect to the end-office (EO) for telecommunications services. The
EO processes the customer service request locally or passes it off to the
appropriate end or tandem office. As Different levels of switches intercon-
nect the parts of the PSTN system, lower-level switches are used to connect
end-users (telephones) directly to other end-users in a specific geographic
area. Higher-level switches are used to interconnect lower level switches.

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 Figure 1.1, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

Switches within the PSTN send control messages to each other, usually
through a separate control-signaling network called signaling system num-
ber 7 (SS7). The SS7 network is composed of signaling transfer points
(STPs) and service control point (SCP) databases. A STP is used to route
packets of control messages through the network. SCP’s are databases that
are used by the network to process or reroute calls through the network
(such as 800 number toll free call routing). SS7 also provides for the newer
features such as incoming call identification and automatic call rerouting
used by some service companies that provide 24/7, worldwide dial-in sup-
port.

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Overview

Public telephone networks include local loops (access lines), switching sys-
tems, transmission systems, databases (such as numbering plans) and call
processing software and hardware (computers). These systems are central-
ly coordinated by network management systems.

Post, telephone, and telegraph (PTT) and local exchange carriers (LEC’s) are
the established telephone network operators or companies that provide local
telecommunications services. For some countries, PTTs are government
operated telephone systems. In the United States, LEC’s are granted fran-
chises to provide telephone services to certain geographical areas as man-
dated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Recently, deregu-
lation and privatization of telecommunication systems worldwide have
allowed the creation of new competing local exchange carriers (CLECs).
CLEC’s provide similar services as LEC’s and PTTs. In some cases, CLECs
provide services by leasing existing lines from incumbent local exchange
carriers (ILECs) and reselling services on these lines. In other cases, CLECs
install new communication lines or provide connection by wireless service.

Local Loop

The local loop is the connection (wireless or wired) between a customer’s

telephone or data equipment and a LEC or other telephone service provider.
Traditionally, the local loop (also called “outside plant” or the “last mile”)
has been composed of copper wires that extend from the EO switch. The EO
is the last switching office in the telephone network that connects customers
to the telephone network.

The EO switch cables meet the copper (or other types of lines) at the main
distribution frame (MDF). The MDF is a wiring rack that allows technicians
to splice the local loop lines with the lines from the switching system. Local
loop lines leave the MDF in bundles (possibly thousands of wires in each
bundle) and arrive in other junction points such as local distribution frames
(LDF). The LDF allows the connection of the final connection (the “drop”) to

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 the business or residence. At the entry to the customer’s location, there is
often a network termination (NT) device that isolates the telephone network
from the wiring inside the customers building.

Figure 1.2 depicts a traditional local loop distribution system. This diagram
shows a central office (CO) building that contains an EO switch. The EO
switch is connected to the MDF splice box. The MDF connects the switch to
bundles of cables in the “outside plant” distribution network. These bundles
of cables periodically are connected to local distribution frames (LDFs). The
LDFs allow connection of the final cable (called the “drop”) that connects to
the house or building. A NT block isolates the inside wiring from the tele-
phone system. Twisted pair wiring is usually looped through the home or
building to provide several telephone connection points, or jacks, so tele-
phones can connect to the telephone system.

Figure 1.2, Local Loop

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Switching Systems

Switching systems are assemblies of equipment that setup, maintain, and

disconnect connections between multiple communication lines. Switching
systems are often classified by the type of network they are part of (e.g.,
packet or circuit switched) and by the methods that are used to control the
switches. The term “switch” is sometimes used as a short name for switch-
ing system. Public telephone switching systems have many switches within
their network. A typical switch can handle up to 10,000 communication lines
each.

Early switches used mechanical levers (crossbars) to interconnect lines.

Modern switches use computer systems to dynamically setup, maintain, and
disconnect communication paths through one or more switches. True com-
puter-based switching came about through the introduction of the electron-
ic switching systems (ESS’s). ESS EOs did not require a physical connection
between incoming and outgoing circuits. Paths between the circuits consist-
ed of temporary memory locations that allowed for the temporary storage of
traffic. For an ESS system, a computer controls the assignment, storage,
and retrieval of memory locations so that a portion of an incoming line (time
slot) could be stored in temporary memory and retrieved for insertion to an
outgoing line. This is called a time slot interchange (TSI) memory matrix.
The switch control system maps specific time slots on an incoming commu-
nication line (e.g., DS3) to specific time slots on an outgoing communication
line.

The public telephone network switching system architecture typically uses

a distributed switching system that has a hierarchy structure of switching
levels. The use of distributed switching systems allows calls in the same geo-
graphic area to be connected to each other by the nearest switching system.
Centralized switching systems require that all calls be connected through a
single switch, even if the switch was located a long distance away from the
callers. The use of distributed network architecture PSTN systems also
allows for reduced call processing requirements at each switch. Using a mul-
tilevel hierarchy structure for switching systems (such as local switched
interconnected by long distance switches) allows switching to occur at lower

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 levels of switching unless the telephone call must pass between multiple
switches. At that point, the call is passed up to a higher-level switch for
transfer to more distant locations.

In conjunction with distributed network architecture, The U.S. telephone

system is arranged in the hierarchy of serving offices. The offices are build-
ings where the switching equipment is located and they are so coordinated
to effectively transition traffic through the network. In the competitive ser-
vice arrangement in the U. S., multiple companies are connected through
local companies and; a hierarchy of as many as four layers is used by serv-
ing telephone companies for the architecture of their network. The equip-
ment office closest to the subscriber is called the “end central office”. This
central office is unique to a given NNX or exchange number for a given com-
munity so that the only way to terminate a phone call to a specific customer
is through his serving end central office. Multiple end central offices are
then connected to local tandems that facilitate connections between all other
local and central offices in that community.

For calls outside the local tandem serving area, area tandems are employed
and basically are best represented by area codes or NPAs for the dialing
plans served by that telephone company. Then, if the concentration of traf-
fic is large enough, a company may employ regional tandems as well.
Regional tandems would be the interface point between other serving tele-
phone companies for the purposes of connection and cross-connection to the
other telephone companies.

Tandems can be duplicated to insure fault-tolerant routing of telephone

calls but there is a glaring single point of failure that exists in the U.S.
telecommunications network and that is the end central office. A telephone
number and a specific telephone are served by only one end central office.
Should there be equipment fault at that end central office serving that tele-
phone customer he will lose all of his services until the matter is corrected.
This telephone hierarchy should be integrated with a third complete para-
graph starting with public telephone switching systems used and office tele-
phone switches.

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Transmission Systems

Transmission systems interconnect communication devices to each other by

guiding signal energy in a particular direction or directions through a trans-
mission medium such as copper, air, or glass. A transmission system will
have at least one transmitting device, a transmission medium, and a receiv-
ing device. The transmitting communication devices is capable of converting
information into form electrical, electromagnetic wave (radio), or optical sig-
nals that allows the information to be transferred through the medium. The
receiving communication device converts the transmitted signal into anoth-
er form that can be used by the device or other devices that are connected to
it. Transmission systems can be unidirectional (one direction) or they can be
bi-directional (two directions). Transmission systems can provide for a sin-
gle channel on a single line (possibly an analog telephone line) or the trans-
mission system may combine many communication channels onto a single
communication line (such as a high-speed digital line).

Numbering Plan

A numbering plan is a system that identifies communication points within

a communications network through the structured use of numbers. The
structure of the numbers is divided to indicate specific regions or groups of
users. It is important that all users connected to a telephone network agree
on a specific numbering plan to be able to identify and route calls from one
point to another.

Telephone numbering plans throughout the world and systems vary dra-
matically. In some countries, it is possible to dial using 5 digits and others
require 10 digits. To uniquely identify every device that is connected to pub-
lic telephone networks, the Comite Consultatif Internationale de
Telegraphique et Telephonique (CCITT) devised a world numbering plan
that provides codes for telephone access to each country. These are called
country codes. Coupled with the national telephone number assigned to
each subscriber in a country, the country code telephone makes that sub-

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 scribers number unique worldwide. The International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) administers the World Numbering Plan standard E.164 pub-
lishes any new standards or modifications to existing standards on the
Internet.

Each country defines its public telephone network numbering plans. The
United States and Canada adopted the North American Numbering Plan
(NANP) that allows the two countries to appear as one when dialing inter-
nally. Each country has a country code prescribed by the World Numbering
Plan so they are accessed internationally as separate entities. The NANP is
based on 10 digit numbering (NXX-NXX-XXXX). The number consists of a 3-
digit area code, a 3-digit central office code, and a 4-digit line number. The
first three digits (NXX) are the Numbering Plan Area (NPA) or area code. It
is this 3-digit code that designates one of the numbering plan areas in the
North American Numbering Plan for direct distance dialing. Originally, the
format was N0/1X, where N is any digit 2 through 9 and X is any digit. From
1995 on, the acceptable format is NXX.

Figure 1.3 shows the world (telephone) numbering plan recommendation,

“E.164” developed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
This diagram shows the numbering plan divides a telephone number into a
country code (CC), national destination code (NDC), and subscriber number
(SN) for telephone numbering. The CC consists of one, two or three digits
and the first digit identifies the world zone. This diagram shows that the
local number can be divided into an exchange code (end office switch identi-
fier) and a port (or extension) code.

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 Figure 1.3, E.164 Telephone Numbering System

With the massive requirement for telephone numbers by cellular telephone

and fax services, new area codes are being placed in service at an all time
high rate. This is causing the telecommunications industry and standards
bodies in North America to consider the implementation of “number porta-
bility”. When this occurs each subscriber will be assigned telephone num-
bers permanently (e.g., all subscribers in North America will dial ten digits
to make a local call and take their number with them when they move.)

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 Call Processing

Call processing is the steps that occur during the length of a call. These
steps are typically associated with the routing and control of the call. When
used as part of a telephone system, call processing involves gathering and
processing information from various sources such as capturing the dialed
digits entered by a user of a telephone or storing the connection information
from a switching system that will be used for billing records. There may be
many parts of the PSTN (software and hardware) that perform call process-
ing functions including the switch that connects a telephone to a telephone
number database (SCP) that can translate a toll free/freephone telephone
number into a number of the destination telephone.

Market Growth

Between 1995 and 2002, the number of wired telephone lines in the world
increased from 689 million to 1.1 billion [1]. While the number of new wired
telephone lines continues to increase in developing nations, the growth of
wired telephone lines in some countries are decreasing due to the increase
in the number of wireless (mobile) telephone lines. Existing (incumbent)
local telephone companies are also experiencing new competition. In the
United States, of the 192 million telephone lines in use in 2002, 173 million
were provided by LECs (~79%), 19.7 million were provided by CLECs
(~20%), and 2.1 million were provided by cable-television/telephony (~1%)
[2]. In mid 2000, telephone voice traffic (measured in minutes) on wired tele-
phone systems began to decline for the first time [3].

Voice Service

Voice telephone service is any service or feature accessible through the

LEC/CLEC or IXC that can be accessed via a standard analog or digital
telephone lines. The key reasons for growth in the number of telephone lines
include dial-up Internet access, fax telephone lines, and mobile telecommu-
nications.

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Figure 1.4 shows the growth of new telephone lines worldwide. This chart
shows that telephone service subscribers continues to grow over 7% each
year. The 1980s and early 1990s, the growth of telephone lines had been
fairly level at about 50 million additional telephone lines per year. However,
in the late 1990s, the number of new telephone lines added began to
increase due to the need for advanced services such as fax machines and
Internet access.

Figure 1.4, Worldwide Telephone Market Growth

Source: International Telecommunications Union

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 Data Service

Data service is the act of moving data through a network from one data
source to another. Generally these sources are computers and they interface
with the network via modems or channel service units (CSU’s). Data trans-
fers can occur over dialed voice connections or via dedicated lines such as
DSL services and dedicated T1 services and over cable TV infrastructure.

In 2002, the number of customers that use the Internet was increasing at a
rate of nearly 40% a year while data traffic on the Internet (amount of data
per user) is expanding at a rate of over 100% per year. The amount of data
that was transferred over the Internet in the United States in 2000 aver-
aged 27,500 terabytes (1,000 billion bytes) per month [3]. The data trans-
mission on private networks grew 500% between 1997 and 2000 with an
average of 3,000 terabytes per month transferred in the United States [4].

Figure 1.5 shows the number of Internet users worldwide through 2004.
This graph shows that the number of Internet users increased by almost
2500% (25 times) between 1995 and 2004 with an annual growth rate of
between 25% and 80% each year.

Figure 1.5, Internet Users Market Growth through 2004

Source: International Telecommunications Union and Computer Industry
Almanac

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Technologies

Some of the key technologies behind the operation of the public telephone
network include interconnection lines, network common control signaling,
and intelligent call processing. Several types of interconnection systems are
used to provide access to different services and systems available through
the PSTN. To coordinate the overall operation of the PSTN, a standard com-
mon control signaling (CCS) system is typically used. The use of intelligent
call processing can combines the use of efficient high-speed interconnection
lines with common control signaling to provide for advanced services such
as call forwarding, telephone number portability, and prepaid services.

Public Telephone System Interconnection

There are many types of interconnection options available to connect public

telephone systems to other public telephone networks or private telephone
networks. The type of connection selected depends on the type of private sys-
tem, telecommunications regulations, and the needs of the company that
uses the private telephone system (e.g., advanced calling features). In addi-
tion to standard telephone system connection types, there are also private-
line connections that may be used to link private branch exchange PBX sys-
tems together.

There are two types of connections that are used between switching sys-
tems: line side and trunk side. Line side connections are an interconnection
line between the customer’s equipment and the last switch EO in the tele-
phone network. The line side connection isolates the customer’s equipment
from network signaling requirements. Line side connections are usually low
capacity (one channel) lines. Trunk side connections are used to intercon-
nect telephone network switching systems to each other. Trunk side con-
nections are usually high capacity lines. Primary rate interfaces use out-of-
band signaling in a dedicated signaling channel.

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 POTS (dial) Line Connections

POTS dial lines are 2-wire, basic line-side connections from an EO with lim-
ited signaling capability. Because dial lines are line-side connections, call
setup time may be longer than those connections that employ trunk-side
supervision.

Direct Inward Dialing (DID) Connections

Direct inward dialing (DID) connections are trunk-side (network side) EO

connections. The network signaling on these 2-wire circuits is primarily lim-
ited to one-way, incoming service. DID connections employ different super-
vision and address pulsing signals than dial lines. Typically, DID connec-
tions use a form of loop supervision called reverse battery, which is common
for one-way, trunk-side connections. Until recently, most DID trunks were
equipped with either dial pulse (DP) or dual tone multifrequency (DTMF)
address pulsing. While many wireless carriers would have preferred to use
multifrequency (MF) address pulsing, a number of LEC’s prohibited the use
of MF on DID trunks.

Foreign Exchange Office (FXO)

Foreign exchange office (FXO) is an interface or channel unit that allows an

analog connection (foreign exchange circuit) to be directed at the PSTN’s
central office or to a station interface on a PBX. The FXO sits on the switch
end of the connection. It plugs directly into the line side of the switch so the
switch thinks the FXO interface is a telephone. (See also: foreign exchange
station.)

Foreign Exchange Station (FXS)

Foreign exchange station is a type of channel unit used at the subscriber

station end of a foreign exchange circuit. A foreign exchange station (FXS)
interface connects directly to a standard telephone, fax machine, or similar
device and supplies ring, voltage, and dial tone. (See also: foreign exchange
office.)

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Type 1 Connections

Type 1 connections are trunk-side connections to an EO. The EO uses a

trunk-side signaling protocol in conjunction with a feature known as Trunk
With Line Treatment (TWLT). This connection was originally described in
technical advisory 76 published by AT&T in 1981. This interconnection was
developed because dial line and DID connections did not provide enough sig-
naling information to allow the connection of public telephone networks to
other types of networks (such as wireless and PBX networks). The switch
must be equipped to provide TWLT, or its equivalent to offer Type 1 service.
As a result, type 1 is not universally available. The TWLT feature allows the
EO to combine some line-side and trunk-side features. For example, while
trunk-side signaling protocols are used, the calls are recorded for billing
purposes as if they were made by a line-side connection.

Type 1 connections are usually used as 2-way trunks. Two-way trunks are
4-wire circuits, meaning they have separate transmit and receive paths, and
almost always use MF address pulsing and supervision. The address puls-
ing normally uses wink-start control. One-way Type 1 connections can be
provided on a 2-wire basis using E&M supervision or reverse battery like
the DID connection. T1 connections in a digital context are also provided
and these are labeled as T1 services. These T1 services include in-band sig-
naling as well as out-of-band signaling in the later described services of pri-
mary interface.

Integrated Services Digital Network - Basic Rate Interface

Connections (ISDN-BRI)

ISDN-BRI connection provides two bearer channels, each using a 64 kbps

digital channel, as well as a 16 kbps data link for signaling messages. This
144 kbps combination is referred to as 2B+D, which signifies two bearer
channels and one data channel. The bearer channels provide the voice por-
tion while the data channel is used to transfer SS7 signaling messages. EO
switches must have an ISDN-BRI interface and software installed to supply
this connection.

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 Integrated Services Digital Network - Primary Rate Interface
Connections

Another variation of Type 1 is the Integrated Services Digital Network -

Primary Rate Interface (ISDN-PRI). It has capabilities similar to the ISDN-
BRI but employs 23 bearer channels and one signaling channel, or a 23B+D
configuration. The ISDN-PRI interconnection is provided using a standard
DS1-level interface that would normally provide the equivalent of 24 voice
channels. It offers the same calling capabilities as noted for the Type 1 and
ISDN-BRI connections. Primary rate interfaces use out-of-band signaling in
a dedicated signaling channel.

Type 2A Connections

Type 2A connections are true trunk-side connections that employ trunk-side

signaling protocols. Typically, they are two-way connections that are 4-wire
circuits using E&M supervision with multifrequency (MF) address pulsing.
The address pulsing is almost always under wink-start control. Type 2A
connections allow the other public or private telephone network switching
systems to connect to the PSTN and operate like any other EO.

Type 2A connections may restrict calls to specific NXX (exchange) codes and
access to operator services (phone number directories, emergency calls,
freephone/toll free) may not be permitted. For some interconnections, addi-
tional connections (such as a type 1) may be used to supplement the type 2A
connection to allow access to other operator or network services.

Type 2B Connections

Type 2B connections are high usage trunk groups that are used between
EOs within the same system. The type 2B connection can be used in con-
junction with the Type 2A. When a type 2B is used, the first choice of rout-
ing is through a Type 2B with overflow through the type 2A. Because the
type 2B connection is used for high usage connections, it can access only
valid NXX codes of the EO providing that it is connected to. Type 2B con-
nections are almost always 4-wire, two-way connections that use E&M
supervision and multifrequency (MF) address pulsing.

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Type 2C Connections

Type 2C connections were developed to allow direct connection to public

safety centers (E911) via a tandem or local tandem switch. This intercon-
nection type must provide additional information such as the return phone
number (complicated on mobile telephone systems) and the location of the
caller. This information is passed on to a public safety answering point
(PSAP). In recent times primary rate interface has been a more popular con-
nection for the purposes of enhanced 911 services and the appropriate pub-
lic safety answering points. Because of the outer band signaling and the ded-
icated channel for signaling and the PRI connection has become more flexi-
ble and versatile to meet the needs of an enhanced 911 service offering.

Type 2D Connections

Type 2D interconnection lines allow direct connection from an operator ser-

vices system (OSS) switch. The OSS switch is a special tandem that contains
additional call processing capabilities that enables operator services special
directory assistance services. The type 2D connection also forwards the
automatic number identification information to allow proper billing records
to be created. Type 2D connection will normally use trunks employing E&M
signaling with wink start, and multifrequency (MF) address pulsing.

Type S Connections

Type S connections transfer signaling messages that are associated with

other interconnection types (out-of-band signaling). The type S is a data link
(e.g., 56 kbps) that is used to connect the signaling interfaces between
switches. Type S connections permit additional features to be supported by
the network such as finding and using call forwarding telephone numbers.
Because type S connections cost money, some smaller public telephone net-
works do not offer or use type S connections.

-17-
 Figure 1.6 illustrates some of the different types of private to public tele-
phone system interconnection. This diagram shows some groups of phone
lines (e.g., dial line, Type 1) that provide limited signaling information (line-
side) that primarily interconnect the PSTN with private telephone systems.
Another group of lines (Type 2 series) are used to interconnect switching
systems or to connect to advanced services (such as operator services or pub-
lic safety services). The interconnection lines (trunk-side) provide more sig-
naling information. Also shown is the type S connection that is used exclu-
sively for sending control signaling messages between switching system and
the signaling system 7 (SS7) telephone control network.

Figure 1.6, Private to Public Telephone System Interconnection

-18-
Common Channel Signaling (SS7)

The signaling system #7 (SS7) is an international standard network signal-

ing protocol that allows common channel (independent) signaling between
telephone network elements. SS7 system protocols are optimized for tele-
phone system control connections and they are only directly accessible to
telephone network operators.

Common channel signaling (CCS) is a separate signaling system that sepa-

rates content of telephone calls from the information used to set up the call
(signaling information). When call-processing information is separated from
the communication channel, it is called “out-of-band” signaling. This signal-
ing method uses one of the channels on a multi-channel network for the con-
trol, accounting, and management of traffic on all of the channels of the net-
work.

An SS7 network is composed of service switching points (SSPs), signaling

transfer points (STPs), and service control points (SCPs). The SSP gathers
the analog signaling information from the local line in the network and con-
verts the information into a digital SS7 signaling message. These messages
are transferred into the SS7 network to STPs that transfer the packet clos-
er to its destination. When special processing of the message is required
such as routing a call to a call forwarding number, the STP routes a query
to a SEP. The SCP is a database that can use the incoming message to deter-
mine other numbers and features that are associated with this particular
call.

In the SS7 protocol, an address, such as customer-dialed digits, does not con-
tain explicit information to enable routing in a signaling network. It then
will require the signaling connection control part (SCCP) translation func-
tion. This is a process in the SS7 system that uses a routing tables to con-
vert an address (usually a telephone number) into the actual destination
address (forwarding telephone number) or into the address of a service con-
trol point (database) that contains the customer data needed to process a
call.

-19-
 Intelligence in the network can be distributed to databases and information
processing points throughout the network because the network uses com-
mon channel signaling A set of service development tools has been devel-
oped to allow companies to offer advanced intelligent network (AIN) ser-
vices.

Figure 1.7 shows the basic structure of the SS7 control signaling system.
This diagram shows that a customer’s telephone is connected to a local
switch. The local switch converts the dialed digits to a SS7 signaling mes-
sage. The SS7 network routes the control packet to its destination using its
own STP data packet switches and separate interconnection lines. In some
cases, when additional services are provided, SCPs are used to process
requests for advanced telephone services. This diagram also shows that the
connections used for signaling are different than the voice connections.
There are multiple redundant links between switches, switching points, and
network databases.

Figure 1.7, Signaling System 7 (SS7) Network

-20-
SS7 and Internet Protocol (IP) Signaling Systems

SS7 messages can be directly transported over IP networks or the function-

al equivalent of SS7 control message can be sent as control messages (e.g.
text based messages) directly between elements connected to a data network
(e.g. the Internet).

Figure 1.8 shows that SS7 signaling systems can be interconnected with
voice over data networks and that SS7 messages can be transported over the
Internet protocol. This diagram shows that analog and digital telephones
are connected to the PSTN. To interconnect these telephones to voice over
data network telephones, the media portion of each communication session
is routed through a media gateway where it is converted from the PSTN cir-
cuit switched form to a IP packet data media format (packetized voice.) This
diagram shows that the packet media can be routed through a data network

Figure 1.8, Hybrid SS7 and Internet Protocol Network

-21-
 (e.g. Internet) to an endpoint communication terminal such as a multimedia
computer or an IP telephone. This diagram also shows that the SS7 network
can control the PSTN through SS7 signaling messages and it can communi-
cate to the media gateway through IP signaling messages.

Advanced Intelligent Networks (AIN)

Advanced intelligent networks (AIN’s) are telecommunications networks

that are capable of providing advanced services through the use of distrib-
uted databases that provide additional information to call processing and
routing requests.

In the mid 1980’s, Bellcore (now Telcordia) developed a set of software devel-
opment tools to allow companies to develop advanced services for the tele-
phone network [5]. The advanced intelligent network (AIN) is a combination
of the SS7 signaling network, interactive database nodes, and development
tools that allow for the processing of signaling messages to provided for
advanced telecommunications services.

The AIN system uses a service creation environment (SCE) to create

advanced applications. The SCE is a development tool kit that allows the
creation of services for an AIN that is used as part of the SS7 network.
Using AIN, SS7 control messages can interact with signaling end point
(SEP) databases that are connected to SSPs.

A service management system (SMS) is the interface between applications

and the SS7 telephone network. The SMS is a computer system that admin-
isters service between service developers and signal control point databases
in the SS7 network. The SMS system supports the development of intelli-
gent database services. The system contains routing instructions and other
call processing information.

To enable SCPs to become more interactive, intelligent peripherals (IPs)

may be connected to them. IPs is a type of hardware device that can be pro-
grammed to perform an intelligent network processing for the SCP data-

-22-
base. IPs perform processing services such as interactive voice response
(IVR), selected digit capture, feature selection, and account management for
prepaid services.

To help reduce the processing requirements of SCP databases in the SS7

network, adjunct processors (APs) may be used. APs provide some of the
database processing services to local switching systems (SSPs).

Figure 1.9 shows the basic structure of the AIN. Companies that want to
enable information services use the SMS to interface to SCP databases with-
in the SS7 network. This diagram shows how a prepaid calling card compa-
ny manages information in a signaling end point (SEP) database. The SEP
database communicates to the SS7 network through a SSP. SCE tool kit.

Figure 1.9, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)

-23-
 The SEP is connected to an interactive voice response (IVR) unit that
prompts callers to enter the personal identification number (PIN). The IP
then reviews the account and determines available credit remains and
informs the SS7 network of the destination number for call routing.

Systems

Some of the key systems used in public telephone networks are POTS,
ISDN, DLC, APON, and DSL. POTS systems provide basic telephone service
(dialtone). ISDN provides for multi-channel digital telephone service. DLC
is a concentration system that is used to extend the switching function of the
EO to be closer to the end customers. APON is an efficient high-speed data
communication system that provides data transfer through the use of fiber
lines. DSL service provides high-speed data transmission through the use of
standard copper wire pairs.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

Basic telephone service without any enhanced features. It is the common

term for residential telephone service. The POTS system uses in-band sig-
naling tones and currents to determine call status (e.g., call request).
Because POTs allows for transfers of audio signals below 8 kilohertz, the
digital switching equipment does not allow digitalization of a voice call
above 8 kilohertz and therefore restricts the bandwidth that is available on
dialed up calls. For this reason POTs systems can accommodate data speeds
up to 56 kilobits of data transmission and is the limitation for dial-up
modem calls on the network.

-24-
Integrated Digital Services Network (ISDN)

A structured all digital telephone network system that was developed to

replace (upgrade) existing analog telephone networks. The ISDN network
supports for advanced telecommunications services and defined universal
standard interfaces that are used in wireless and wired communications
systems.

ISDN provides several communication channels to customers via local loop

lines through a standardized digital transmission line. ISDN is provided in
two interface formats: a basic rate (primarily for consumers) and high-speed
rate (primarily for businesses). The basic rate interface (BRI) is 144 kbps
and is divided into three digital channels called 2B + D. The primary rate
interface (PRI) is 1.54 Mbps and is divided into 23B + D. The digital chan-
nels for the BRI are carried over a single, unshielded, twisted pair, copper
wire and the PRI is normally carried on (2) twisted pairs of copper wire. The
primary rate also allows for the situation where there are multiple PRIs ter-
minated at a particular customer for a facility that is known as non-facility
associate signaling so that in the case of a customer who has 10 PRIs it
would be normal to expect that 10 DS0s would be dedicated for signaling
other than the 10 PRIs. With non-facility associated signaling, signaling
channels of 1PR can accommodate the signaling requirements for the other
associated PRI trunk route that’s serving that customer so the minimum
number of signaling channels that are required for those 10 PRIs would be
2. The reason there would be 2 at a minimum is to accommodate redundan-
cy in the event that one signaling channel faltered for that trunk group.

The “B” channels operate at 64kb per second digital synchronous rate and
the “D” channel is a control channel. The D channel is used to coordinate
(signal) the communication with the telephone network. When used on the
BRI line, the D channel is 16kbps and when provided on the PRI channel,
the D channel is 64 kbps. Because the amount of telephone system control
signaling is relatively small, the D channel can also be used for low speed
packet data messaging. The 64 kbps “B” channels can be used for voice and
data. On the BRI system, the two B channels can be combined for 128 kbps
data connection.

-25-
 ISDN telephone lines exclusively use digital transmission. This requires a
customer to replace their analog telephones with ISDN digital telephone
equipment if they upgrade to ISDN service. ISDN service is typically pro-
vided using modular plugs. These plugs include a RJ45 interface (8 pin) for
data equipment (called a BRI-S/T) and the other physical connection type is
a two-wire, RJ11 type standard (called the BRI-U).

The maximum distance for a BRI-S/T line is approximately 3,000 feet and
the maximum distance for the BRI-U is 18,000 feet. Beyond these distances,
the service provider may install repeaters to provide service. However,
repeaters are expensive to install and setup.

The ISDN BRI allows the user to change the use of the B channels whenev-
er desired. For example, an ISDN user may be sending data using the two
B channels at 128 Kbps. If a voice call comes in or is initiated, the data
transmission is not interrupted; but is automatically reduced to one B chan-
nel at 64 Kbps. When the voice call ends, the data transmission returns to
128 Kbps on the two B channels.

Figure 1.10 provides the different interfaces that are available in the inte-
grated services digital network (ISDN). The two interfaces shown are BRI
and PRI. These are all digital interfaces from the PSTN to the end cus-
tomers network termination. 1 (NT1) equipment devices that are ISDN com-
patible can directly connect to the NT1 connection. Devices that require
other standards (such as POTS or data modems) require a terminal adapter
(TA).

-26-
 Figure 1.10, Integrated Digital Services Network (ISDN)

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Digital subscriber line is the transmission of digital information, usually on

a copper wire pair. Although the transmitted information is in digital form,
the transmission medium is usually an analog carrier signal (or the combi-
nation of many analog carrier signals) that is modulated by the digital infor-
mation signal.

A DSL network is composed of several key parts; this includes a local access
line provider, DSL access provider, backbone network aggregator, ISP
provider, and other media providers. DSL services can be provided by a sin-
gle service provider or may result from the combination of processes from
different service providers. The communication network can be divided into
several parts; local access lines (copper), voice communications network
(PSTN), high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL), aggregator (interconnec-

-27-
 tion), Internet service provider (ISP) and content provider (media source).
These network parts and the service providers who operate them, must
interact to provide most DSL services.

The physical parts of a DSL network include a subscriber access device, net-
work access lines and digital subscriber line access module (DSLAM). There
are many configuration options for a DSL network. They vary from a simple
end-user’s modem bridge that connects a single end-user’s computer to the
DSL network to complex multi-channel, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
systems that connect routers and set-top boxes.

Figure 1.11 shows that end user equipment of a DSL network adapts, or
converts analog and digital signals to a high-speed DSL transmission signal
via a DSL modem (an ATU-R for an ADSL system). The copper wire carries
this complex DSL signal to a DSL modem at that connects to the central

Figure 1.11, DSL Network Diagram

-28-
office (an ATU-C for an ADSL system) where it is converted back to its ana-
log and digital components. The analog telephone portion of the signal (if
any) is routed to the central office switching system. The high-speed digital
portion is routed to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).
The DSLAM combines (concentrates) the signals from several ATU-Cs and
converts and routes the signals to the appropriate service provider network.

Digital Loop Carrier (DLC)

Digital loop carrier (DLC) is a high efficiency digital transmission system

that uses existing distribution cabling systems to transfer digital informa-
tion between the telephone system (central office) and a telephone or other
communication device. There are two types of DLC: universal digital loop
carrier (UDLC) and integrated digital loop carrier (IDLC).

The UDLC is a system that consists of RDTs and central office terminals
(COTs). Optical systems such as synchronous optical network (SONET) can
transfer signals transparently through the COT to the RDT. The RDT pro-
vides an interface between the digital transmission line (e.g., DS1) and the
customer’s access line. The RDT can dynamically assign time slots from the
communication line to customer access lines.

Integrated digital loop carrier (IDLC) is a digital line interface that has been
re-engineered to integrate within a switch (usually as card) and shares the
internal bus structure of the switch. This function (or card) is called an inte-
grated digital terminal (IDT). Using the IDT, the switch can directly com-
municate with a remote digital terminal (RDT) that is closer to the end cus-
tomer using an efficient multi-channel communication line. The RDT pro-
vides an interface between the high-speed digital transmission line (e.g.,
DS1) and the customer’s access line. The RDT can dynamically assign time
slots from the communication line to customer access lines. Because cus-
tomer access lines are not used at the same time, an RDT that interfaces to
a DS1 line (24 channels) usually provides service to 96 customer access
lines.

-29-
 The key advantages to DLC carrier systems are the cost effective transmis-
sion and the ability to rapidly add, delete, or change customer services with-
out having to dispatch an installation technician. The DLC system offers
improved efficiency through the use of existing distribution cabling systems.
DLC systems also offer the ability to extend the range of access lines from
the central office to the end customer as the RDT effectively operates as a
repeater.

An RDT is divided into three major parts: digital transmission facility inter-
face, common system interface, and line interface. The digital transmission
interface terminates the high-speed line and coordinates the signaling. The
common system interface performs the multiplexing/de-multiplexing, sig-
naling, insertion, and extraction. The line interface contains digital to ana-
log conversions (if the access line is analog) or digital formatting (if the line
is digital).

DLC initially allowed 40 analog telephone connections to be extended to the

remote neighborhoods using a device called an SLC-40. Later an SLC-96
(known as a “slick 96”) was put into service that allowed 96 voice grade ana-
log circuits to be extended from the CO on just ten (10) pairs thus reclaim-
ing 86 pairs per installation. Still in use the SLC-96 has allowed the LEC’s
to conserve much of their installed outside copper infrastructure.

Unfortunately, DLC systems are not transparent to other systems such as

DSL systems. Although it is possible to install digital subscriber line net-
work equipment (co-locate) along with RDT equipment, the RDT equipment
housings and power supplies were not originally designed to hold addition-
al equipment.

-30-
Figure 1.12 shows how an integrated digital loop carrier (IDLC) system can
be installed in a local telephone distribution network to allow a 24-channel
T1 line to provide service to up to 96 telephone lines. Even though the con-
necting DS1 has a maximum 24 channels, it is possible to serve up to 96
telephone lines because of the fact of traffic grading. As in any service offer-
ing not all customers are on the line simultaneously and with typical con-
centrations of traffic based on the number of people that are on the phone,
96 telephone lines is a typical level of service provided in a graded environ-
ment with a DS1 in between the integrated digital terminal and the trunk
interface at the remote digital terminal location. This diagram shows that a
switching system has been upgraded to include an IDT and a remote digital
terminal (RDT) has been located close to a residential neighborhood. The
IDT dynamically connects access lines (actually digital time slots) in the
switching system to time slots on the communications line between the IDT
and RDT. The RDT is a local switch that can connect to up to 96 residential
telephone lines. When a call is to be originated, the RDT connects (locally
switches) the residential line to one of the available channels on the DS1
interconnection line. The IDT communicates with the RDT using the GR-
303 standard.

Figure 1.12, Integrated Digital Loop Carrier (IDLC)

-31-
 Passive Optical Network (PON)

A passive optical network (PON) combines, routes, and separates optical

signals through the use of passive optical filters that separate and combine
channels of different optical wavelengths (different colors). The PON dis-
tributes and routes signals without the need to convert them to electrical
signals for routing through switches.

PON networks are constructed of optical line termination (OLT), optical

splitters and optical network units (ONUs). OLTs interface the telephone
network to allow multiple channels to be combined to different optical wave-
lengths for distribution through the PON. Optical splitters are passive
devices that redirect optical signals to different locations. ONU’s terminate
or sample optical signals so they can be converted to electrical signals in a
format suitable for distribution to a customer’s equipment. When used for
residential use, a single ONU can server 128 to 500 dwellings. In 2001, most
PON’s used ATM cell architecture for their transport between the provider
EO or point of presence (POP) and the ONU (in some case even to the user
workstation). When ATM protocol is combined with PON system, it is called
ATM passive optical network (APON).

Figure 1.13 shows an ATM passive optical network (APON) system that
locates optical network units (ONUs) near residential and business loca-
tions. This passive optical network routes different optical signals (different
wavelengths) to different areas in the network by using optical splitters
instead of switching devices. In this example, the optical distribution system
uses ATM protocol to coordinate the PON. ONU interfaces are connected via
fiber to an OLT located at the provider’s EO or POP. Each ONU multiplex-
es user channels (between 12 and 40) into an optical frequency spectrum
allocated to that ONU. Up 32 ONU’s can share access to a single PON using
the features of dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM). Some newer
PON’s use high-density wave division multiplexing (HDWDM). Use of
HDWDM increases the number of ONU’s per PON from 32 to 64. This dia-
grams shows that a PON that uses HDWDM can support approximately
2500 residential customers.

-32-
 Figure 1.13, Passive Optical Network (PON)

Services

The key services provided in public switched telephone networks include

voice (audio bandpass), Centrex, switched data communications service,
leased line, and digital subscriber line.

Voice

Voice service is the providing of audio communication circuits that can pass
analog frequencies below 3.3 kHz. Voice service is commonly called plain old
telephone service (POTS).

-33-
 The newer EO switches have enhanced voice services to allow residential
customers to have practically all the features normally associated with
PBX’s that serve businesses such as: call waiting, distinctive ringing, voice
mail (with signaling or stutter dial tone), feature telephones, and incoming
WATS. Some of the newer features are packaged (bundled) together so their
actual cost is not readily known.

Figure 1.14 shows the cost of local telephone service in the United States
and that the costs are based on a recurring charge with unlimited usage.
The customer may also pay additional recurring fees for advanced services.
This chart shows that for the past decade, the cost of a residential telephone
line in the United States has remained fairly constant at approximately $20
per month.

Figure 1.14, Cost of Residential Local Telephone Service in the United States

Source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

-34-
Outside the United States, the cost structure for local telephone service is
often based on actual usage with charges for each minute used ranging from
2 to 6 cents per minute.

Centrex

Centrex is a service offered by a local telephone service provider (primarily

to businesses) that allows the customer to have features that are typically
associated with a PBX. These features include 3 or 4 digit dialing, intercom
features, distinctive line ringing for inside and outside lines, voice mail, call
waiting indication, and others.

Centrex services have had many names over the years, but, whatever the
name, the purpose of this offering was always the same: an alternative to
customer premises PBX’s. Centrex services flourished and still have a place
for many large, dispersed entities such as large universities and major med-
ical centers.

One of the major selling points for Centrex is the lack of capital expenditure
up front. That coupled with the reliability associated with Centrex due to its
location in the telephone company CO have kept Centrex as the primary
telephone system in many of the businesses referenced above. PBX’s, how-
ever, have cut into what was once a quite lucrative market for the telephone
companies and are now the rule rather than the exception for business tele-
phone service. This has come about because of inventive ways of funding the
initial capital outlay and the significantly lower operating cost of a PBX ver-
sus a comparable Centrex offering.

Frame Relay Service

Frame relay is a packet-switching technology that provides dynamic band-

width assignments. Frame relay systems are a simple bearer (transport
only) technology and do not offer advanced error protection or retransmis-
sion. Frame relay were developed in the 1980s as a result of improved digi-

-35-
 tal network transmission quality that reduced the need for error protection.
Frame relay systems offer dynamic data transmission rates through the use
of varying frame sizes.

Figure 1.15 shows an example of the cost structure of frame relay data
transmission services. This diagram shows that the user pays an installa-
tion fee, a port fee for each access port to the data transmission network,
and a monthly usage fee based on the data transmission rate used by the
customer.

Figure 1.15, Cost of Frame Relay Data Transmission Service

Source: MCI

-36-
Leased Lines

Leased lines are telecommunications circuits (either two-wire or four-wire)

rented/leased from a telephone company to connect two or more locations on
a permanent basis. Leased lines are normally associated with data services
or voice PBX tie line services. Leased lines are ordered as either analog or
digital circuits. Analog circuits provide a single full duplex (two-way) path
between locations. They terminate in either telephone switches/instruments
or in modems. Digital leased lines, on the other hand, terminate in customer
service units (CSU’s) rather than modems. The cost of leased lines depends
on the region of service, specific carrier pricing plan, and on distance (line
length). As a result, leased lines often connect the end user to another car-
rier that interconnects another leased line to allow connection to its desti-
nation. As a result, leased line prices are often quoted from the customer’s
location to an EO or POP of a carrier.

Figure 1.16 shows the typical costs involved in pricing of point-to-point

leased lines in the United States. This table shows that average leased line
costs for a 56 kbps lines is approximately $240 per month. For a T1 line, the
average cost is approximately $900 per month and the monthly cost for a
DS3 (45 Mbps) connection is approximately $4800 [6].

Figure 1.16, Typical Cost of Leased Line Service in United States

-37-
 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Digital subscriber line (DSL) service is a data service that offers varying
data transmission rates to customer. DSL service usually connects users
directly to an Internet service provider (ISP). DSL service is generally lower
in cost than leased line cost. The difference between DSL service and leased
line service is that DSL service does not usually guarantee a data trans-
mission rate.

Figure 1.17 shows an estimated of cost of DSL service for an ADSL line. This
table shows that a customer pays an initial DSL connection fee, purchases
or leases a data interface (e.g., router), and pays a monthly subscription of
approximately $40 per month.

Figure 1.17, Cost of Digital Subscriber Line Service

-38-
Future Enhancements

The future enhancements to public switched telephone networks include the

conversion from circuit switched systems to packet networks, expanded
fiber networks, multimedia services, and soft switching systems.

Packetized Voice

Packetized voice is the process of converting audio signals into digital pack-
et format, transferring these packets through a packet network, reassem-
bling these packets into their original data form, and then recreating the
audio signals. This form of communication is commonly called IP Telephony.

By the end of 2001, over 5% of international calls from the United States
were over the Internet and more than 9.5% of all inter-exchange telecom-
munications calls were on managed packet switching networks [7].
Packetized voice transmission allows for key features such as dynamic
bandwidth allocation and advanced services. To convert to packetized voice,
the EO exchange is either replaced or supplemented by a packet switch.

Various protocols such as session initiation protocol (SIP), H.323, and media
gateway control protocol (MGCP) have been developed to permit telephony
services to operate on data networks. Several services have come into exis-
tence in the United States provided that a customer has his own broadband
connection. A SIP protocol service offering allows for a digital to packet or
analog to packet converter at the customer’s location that a typical standard
telephone is attached to. This telephone service completely bypasses the
incoming local exchange services in the community.

-39-
 High-Speed Multimedia Services

A high-speed multimedia services is the term used to describe the delivery

of different types of information such as voice, data or video. Communication
systems may separately or simultaneously transfer multimedia informa-
tion. High-speed multimedia usually refers to image based media such as
pictures, animation, or video clips. High-speed multimedia usually requires
peak data transfer rates of 1 Mbps or more.

The providing (provisioning) of multimedia services requires communication

lines that can have multiple channels and each of these channels may have
different quality of service (QoS) levels. As a result, many emerging multi-
media services are likely to use ATM.

Fiber Distribution Networks

Fiber distribution networks use optical fiber to distribute communication

channels from the PSTN to end customers. There are three key distribution
networks: fiber to the neighborhood (FTTN), fiber to the curb (FTTC), and
fiber to the home (FTTH).

Figure 1.18 show that public telephone networks have growth options.
Initially, they are likely to install (FTTN) and use existing copper lines to
reach the home. As demand grows for high-speed data communication ser-
vices, additional fiber may be installed from the node to the curb (FTTC) to
replace copper lines. Eventually, to achieve extremely high data rates to the
home or business, FTTH or fiber to the basement (FTTB) may be installed.

-40-
 Figure 1.18, Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) System

Softswitches

Softswitches are call control processing devices that can receive call
requests for users and assign connections directly between communication
devices. Soft switches only setup the connections, they do not actually trans-
fer the call data.

Softswitches were developed to replace existing end office (EO) switches

that have limited interconnection capabilities and to transfer the communi-
cation path connections from dedicated high-capacity lines to other more
efficient packet networks (such as packet data on the Internet). This allows
a single softswitch to operate anywhere without the need to be connected to
high-capacity trunk connections. Internet Protocol Telephony services are

-41-
 provided to customers with a converting device that attaches to a broadband
connection and plugs into a standard analog telephone at the user’s location.
Gateway devices which interface the Internet Protocol system to the public
switch telephone network are located in strategic markets around the
nation such that originating calls from a given community can be done on
the IPT system as well as termination of calls anywhere to non-internet pro-
tocol telephones is supported. One particular advantage of the service offer-
ing is that no matter where you are located on the public internet network
your telephone service would operate so it is quite portable and in the event
that you want to take your analog to packet conversion box to different loca-
tions on the public internet, the service will work without the originating
caller understanding that the telephone number that he is dialing is actual-
ly not located in the general service area of a particular telephone number.
Based on the quality of the broadband service that the customer subscribes
to, quality for these types of calls can be very good and at par with public
switch telephone network quality and provide additional calling capabilities
and functions greater than are available in public switch telephone network
services.

References

1 “Main Telephone Lines,” International Telecommunications Union,

www.itu.int, 24 April, 2003
2 “Local Telephone Competition: Status as of December 31, 2001,” Federal
Communications Commission, July 2002.
3 Federal Communications Commission “Trends in Telephone Service”, December,
2000
4 Odlyzko, Andrew, “Growth Rate of the Internet” 2001.
5. Communications Systems & Networks, Ray Horak, 2000, M&T Press.

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 Index
Access Provider, 27 Digit Capture, 23
Addressing Directory Assistance, 17
H.323, 39 Distributed Switching, 5
SS7, 2, 15, 18-24 E&M Signaling, 17
Telephone Number, 6-8, 10, 13, 19, E.164, 8-9
42 Frame Relay, 35-36
Allocating Gateway, 21-22, 39, 42
Area codes, 6, 9 H.323, 39
Bandwidth, 24, 35, 39 Interconnect, 1, 5, 7, 13, 18, 21
Area Codes, 6, 9 ISDN-BRI, 15-16
Assignment, 5 ISDN-PRI, 16
Associated Signaling, 25 Last mile, 3
B Channel, 26 Leased Line, 33, 37-38
Backbone, 27 Local Loop, 3-4, 25
Bandwidth NNX, 6
Frame Relay, 35-36 NPA, 8
Bearer, 15-16, 35 Number Portability, 9, 13
Bidirectional, 7 Numbering Plan, 7-8
Billing, 10, 15, 17 Outside Plant, 3-4
Broadband, 39, 42 Packet Switching, 39
Call POTS, 14, 24, 26, 33
Routing, 2, 6, 10, 16, 19, 22, 24, 32 Prepaid, 13, 23
Waiting, 34-35 Protocol
Call Forwarding, 13, 17, 19 H.323, 39
Call Processing, 3, 5, 10, 13, 17, 22 IP, 21-22, 24, 39
Call Routing, 2, 24 SIP, 39
Centralized Switching, 5 Provisioning, 40
Centrex, 33, 35 RJ11, 26
Crossbars, 5 RJ45, 26
D Channel, 25 Softswitch, 41
Data Rate, 36, 38 Switching, 1, 3, 5-6, 10, 13, 16, 18-
Dialtone, 24 20, 23-24, 29, 31-32, 39
Dialup Connection” Dialup | Dial- T-1” T1 | T-1, 12, 15, 31, 37
up, 10, 24 Tandem, 1, 6, 17
Toll free/Freephone, 10, 16

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 Computer Communication
Sigma Publishing
Study Guide Series Books

Sr No. Title

1001 Introduction to Data Networks

1002 Introduction to Transmission Systems
1003 Introduction to Wireless Systems
1004 Introduction to Wireless Technology Basics

1101 Introduction to Private Telephone Systems

1102 Introduction to Paging Systems

1201 Introduction to ATM

1202 Introduction to 802.11 Wireless LAN (WLAN)
1203 Introduction to Signaling System 7 (SS7)

1301 Introduction to Mobile Data

1302 Introduction to Mobile Telephone Systems
1303 Introduction to GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)
1304 Introduction to GPRS and EDGE
1305 Introduction to Private Land Mobile Radio
1306 Introduction to EVDO

1401 Introduction to Bluetooth

1402 Introduction to CDMA
1403 Introduction to WCDMA
1404 Introduction to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

1501 Introduction to IP Telephony Basics

1502 Introduction to IP Telephony Technology
1503 Introduction to SS7 and IP
1504 Introduction to SIP IP Telephony Systems
1505 Introduction to IP Television

1601 Introduction to Optical Communication

1602 Introduction to Satellite Systems