An acronym for the public switched telephone network. The worldwide network of switched telephone interconnections, enabling hundreds of millions of telephones worldwide to establish direct connections. Originating in 1876 with Alexander Graham Bell’s patent, It began with a number of local, manually switched analog networks, which were gradually interconnected as standards emerged. By the 1950s and 1960s, most local switching networks had made the transition from manual switching, which requires a human operator, to electronic switching, which enables direct dialing. In the industrialized nations today, much of the switching network employs digital technology, with the exception of the local loop, which is still primarily analog due to the antiquated wiring found in older homes.
Technipages Explains PSTN
The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is a network of all telephone networks after the networks are gathered, they are then formed into a singular local network of networks. The assembled network can be either local, national or international carriers. PSTN relies heavily on switches; a switch is a device that connects devices found in the local area network of a computer.
PSTN now being an international telephone system is made up of individual telephone lines connected to a singular local exchange. Networks formed from PSTN are also known as Plain Old Telephone Systems. The underlying technology for PSTN is the use of copper wires. The copper wires carry analog voice data from one end to the other, hence a telephone call. The copper wire connects different landline telephones to a local exchanger.
PSTN ever since its invention by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, has developed over the years as currently there is now the inclusion of fiber optic cables, cellular networks, and communication satellite. This has made PSTN move from just being for voice communications to being used for internet connections. VOIP is the (Voice over IP) is the technology now rivaling PSTN, as PSTN has witnessed a decline in usage over the years.
Common Uses of PSTN
- Public switched telephone network relies heavily on the usage of copper as the wire material for carrying analog voice charges.
- The public switched telephone network is also known as Plain Old telephone systems, they are not different concepts, and they explain the same thing.
- The use of public switched telephone network has been on the decline as it is now being replaced Voice over internet proxy
Common Misuses of PSTN
- Voice over internet proxy means voices are transmitted over the internet, is an inferior technology to public switched telephone networks.
- Public switched telephone networks do not support the use of copper as the wire material from which voice data would be sent from one end to the other