Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN)
Topics in PSTN
Trunk Network
Node 1 Node 2
Introduction
review of early
Access Access
exchanges Node 3
PSTN Standards Terminals Terminals
User services & terminals
Modern exchange technology
interface standards
access and trunk networks
signaling
network management
internetworking (telecommunications between networks)
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HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
PSTN switching is based on circuit switching by duplex*
connections
Temporary bidirectional connections
Originally for speech (voice) only at 300-3400 Hz
Earlier two subscribers connected by purely physical
connection (physical switch contacts)
Nowadays by time slots ~ ISDN (Integrated services
digital networks)is integrated to PSDN
PCM (Pulse code modulation) is the TDMA (Time division
multiple access) standard for the digital transmission
PCM time slots consist of 8 bit samples
For voice digital exchange sets up 64 kbit/s connections
Data connections by (1) modems, (2) ISDN interface
(3) leased lines via X.25 / Frame relay, or (4) ADSL
*What are semi-duplex and simplex? 3
PCM: pulse coded modulation
An early exchange, call setup
One of the 100 subscribers lifts his handset -> Call finder is
activated to search the line.
After the line is located other relays connect the dial-tone
generator.
The subscriber selects two digits.
The first digit selects the subscriber group by using the
group selector.
The second digit selects the line selector.
Selection is done by sending pulses that move the selectors
stepwise.
When connection is established a ringing tone is sent.
Note that only 10 subscribers of 100 can call at the same
time to different numbers! (why?) (concentration is 1:10)
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HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Categorizing switching
SPC: Stored program control
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Crossbar switch
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Crossbar switch - mechanics1
[Link]: Telecommunication Switching and Networks
1
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Access network Access
network
local network, local loop or subscriber network
Copper pairs are ideally suited to
supplying power to the telephones
baseband transmission of voice
no modulation is required as in the case of fibre and
radio applications
existing copper pair can also be used to access services
of greater bandwidth in other networks
attenuation of voice signals represented a problem for
network planners - solution loading coils
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HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Present-day PSTN ‘terminals1’ in
access network
Fixed-line phones (analog, ISDN)
Cordless phones (PBX-RF interface: DECT2)
Fax
Pay phones
Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
Gateways to Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN):
GSM (Global system for mobile)
wireless local area networks (WLAN)
Local loop data extensions
modems
ADSL (Asymmetric digital subscriber line) technology
(leased lines)
1
also interfaces to other networks & equipment
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2DECT: Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications
HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Analog local loop interface
Loop current used for signaling & message
Digital-lines to
ISDN central office
per trunk signaling
in local loop:
- long setup time
- hacking easy
- voice grade circuits
- interference &
Analog-line cross-talk sensitive
- expensive 10
HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Basic telephone terminal
A basic phone can be
made by using just
four units
The bell
The hook switch
The keypad
The speech circuit
Modern keypads use dual-tone dialing
The speech circuit adapts
voice levels and isolates
mic and speaker
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Trunk network Local loop
1960s employed both frequency division multiplexing (FDM)
and "baseband" over paired cable
FDM was anyhow the backbone of the trunk networks of the
1960s
ITU-T FDM recommendations specify
capacity and frequencies for FDM systems with 12, 60,
300, 900, 960, 2,700 and 10,800 channels
Carrier frequencies are between 60 kHz and just under
60 MHz
In general, FDM can be used in symmetrical paired cable,
coaxial cable, radio link and satellite
Modern trunk networks apply optical links that may
use Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
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Some features of PSTN of ´60 (cont.)
Network intelligence and value-added services
not supported as such
operators were anyhow intelligent :)
value added services by tracking what happens in
the area!
Inter-exchange signaling
call setup took about 15 seconds
channel-associated signaling (CAS: No.5, R1,R2*)
about 10% of trunk line capacity was taken by signaling
Operation and maintenance (O&M)
using local info-databases and local workforce
network maintenance was based on on-field check-ups
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*nowadays in ISDN & PLMN: common channel signaling (CCS): SS7
HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Connecting V.34 (33.6 kb/s) modem
A-law: in Europe, -law:in the US
See also: “A brief introduction to modem technology” at 14
[Link]
HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Value
Present-day PSTN services Added
Basic
Supplementary
Basic service
bearer service (local loop access): analog (/ISDN)
Value-added services (telephonist-originated) services as
directory inquiry (118)
weather, stock exchange, ticket reservation ...
Supplementary services (Intelligent Terminal (IN)
implementation)
distributed supplementary as ‘call forwarding
unconditional’ (Q.82.2), ‘call waiting’, ‘queuing’ ...
centralized supplementary services (IN) use specialized
routing & charging as VPN, credit card calls, free phone
(receiver pays), universal access number (connected
automatically to the nearest office), ...
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HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
PSTN today summarized
ISDN very popular in switches (in Finland all-digital
exchanges)
ISDN getting popular also for local loop access
Versatile access part (analog/digital terminals possible)
Conventional local loop technology develops fast
Remote controlled O&M
IN services fully-developed - Intelligence moves to
terminals
Fiber-optical DWDM links connect exchanges
Common channel signaling (SS7)
SDH-based (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) trunk-networking
Gets still more subscribers!
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HUT Comms Lab., Timo O. Korhonen
Switching:
Transfer modes & connections
Transfer modes Connection types
ATM
PSTN Circuit switching Connection oriented
- developed for voice - hand-shaking Frame-relay
- nowadays also for data - strict error requirements
- well-specified delays - for fast data transfer
- echo problems
X.25
Packet switching Connectionless
- developed for data - broadcasting
- nowadays also for voice - modest error rates
- Statistical multiplexing often accepted
- variable delays - fast data in good channels
Ethernet UDP*
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*User Datagram Protocol
