PSTN, ISDN and VoIP are common terms in telephony. But what do they stand for and what are the differences between the terms? In this article, we answer these questions and explain the basics of telephony.
What is PSTN?
PSTN – The basics of telephony PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network and refers to the general telephone network . Originally via copper cables, but now also via fiber optic cables, satellites and submarine cables, the PSTN connects the callers and sets up a call line with the help of exchanges. What is spoken is converted into electrical signals by your telephone and sent to your caller via the PSTN. There, your caller’s telephone converts the electrical signals received back into acoustic signals.
When using fiber optic cables, the acoustic signals are converted into optical signals and transported in this way.
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What are the differences between PSTN, VoIP and ISDN?
ISDN, short for Integrated Services Digital Network , is a further developed, digitalized version of the PSTN. Since a PSTN line does not use the broadband optimally. ISDN offers improved voice quality and a faster Internet connection with 128 kbits/s. Another key difference is that the. ISDN line transmits voice and data simultaneously. Whereas PSTN is mainly used for voice exchange. In addition, only one connection is possible via PSTN. Whereas ISDN allows several connections at the same time. Such as telephone and fax.
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While PSTN and ISDN are based on the same technology. Voice over IP (VoIP) calls are made over an Internet data line . During a belgium phone number list phone call, what is spoken is converted into digital data packets. Sent over the Internet and reassembled into voice information by the other party. The transmission of data and the establishment of. The connection are regulated by the so-called Session Initiation Protocol (SIP network protocol), which is essential for VoIP telephony.
PSTN – The basics of telephony VoIP telephony also allows two parallel connections at the same time, so the user can, for example, make phone calls and surf the Internet at the same time.
Above all, the connection speed is significantly higher with VoIP than with ISDN and enables trouble-free telephone calls. Owning a traditional office telephone is no longer necessary, as you can also use your computer or mobile phone as a telephone using a softphone installation .
How secure is the PSTN?
Despite new forms of telephony such as VoIP, the PSTN is one of the most secure methods of voice transmission and offers good voice quality. The public telephone network has fewer security gaps than VoIP, for example, but is significantly more expensive.
It is difficult to say how long the PSTN will continue to exist in the future. The use of VoIP and cloud-based telephone systems is shaping the development of the modern telephone network. Since higher bandwidth is available today and the Internet is a core element of our communication, it is only a matter of time before VoIP telephony becomes the standard.
Outlook: PSTN in the future
PSTN – The basics of telephony explaine The PSTN is already being used as part of new communications networks , such as the Next Generation Network (NGN). The NGN is a telecommunications network based on Internet Protocol technology (IP) and uses the PSTN as a subnetwork due to its high level of compatibility. The existing PSTN network is being ported to the common IP architecture. Telephone networks, cable television networks, mobile networks and others are being replaced by the NGN as a uniform network infrastructure . The integrated PSTN network then provides PSTN-like services at IP interfaces. This gives you the option of using your old end devices or scalability and flexibility description a pure IP phone. Whether and how the NGN will prevail can only be seen in the next few years. It can be said, however, that the PSTN will certainly play an increasingly smaller role in telecommunications in the future.
Conclusion
PSTN – The basics of telephony explaine The Public Switched Telephone Network marked the beginning of telephony and has evolved to the point where fiber optic cables are now used to transmit signals. The development of VoIP offers companies new ways to use their telephone system and is therefore more suitable than ISDN. Both technologies can be connected using a PSTN gateway and there is no need to change the existing infrastructure.
FAQ
What is a PSTN gateway?
The PSTN gateway (also called VoIP gateway) is an electronic device that creates the connection between analog and IP telephony. Analog signals are mobile list converted into digital data packets and sent over the Internet.
What is the difference between PSTN and PBX?
The PSTN, short for Public Switched Telephone Network , is the name given to the telephone network. This initially connected callers via copper cables, but now via fiber optics. PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange and is the English term for telephone system.
How does PSTN work?
PSTN – The basics of telephony explaine PSTN technology converts what is spoken on the telephone into analogue signals and sends them over the telephone line to the person you are calling. There, the person you are calling converts the analogue signals back into acoustic signals.
