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Building Telecommunication Systems: What You Need to Know

 

Voicevoice

PBX (Private Branch Exchange) – A telephone system (also called a switch, derived from “switchboard”) located on the customer’s premises. Smaller versions are often called key systems. PBXs need “access lines” to communicate with the rest of the world.

Centrex – Telephone service provided to a customer location directly from ILECs central office. The switching equipment is located in the central office and not the customer’s premises.

IP PBX – Makes the telephone system look more like an element on a LAN and uses internet protocols (packet switching) rather than traditional telephone protocols (circuit switching). Access is provided over IP lines called “VoIP” which could be over the internet or a private intranet.
 

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Data/Internetdata internet

Local Area Network (LAN) – A geographically limited data communications system for specific user groups consisting of a group of interconnected computers sharing applications, data and peripheral devices, such as printers and modems. Connections to outside world are usually for internet access.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – A data communications network that covers an area larger than a campus and smaller than a wide-area-network. It usually interconnects two or more LANs and usually covers an entire metropolitan are, such as a large city and its suburbs. The intent is to make separate geographically dispersed LANs act as one or at least talk to each other.

Wide Area Network (WAN) – A data communications network where LANs and devices are connected over extended distance using telecommunications links, such as telephone lines, satellites and microwave connections.
 

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Multimediamultimedia

Multimedia combines multiple forms of media into an integrated communication transport. The combined media includes audio, video and video-conferencing, text, graphics, fax, security, data and telephony. Multimedia has the potential to be the largest user of bandwidth among all applications.
   
 

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Building Telecommunication – Equipment Vendors and Service Providers

Service Providers are entities that provide the on premise equipment and/or managed services (voice, data, security, video, etc.) and generally ongoing support. Often are responsible for setting up the premises side interface to the access providers. Examples are RGTS, Avaya, Cisco, etc.
 

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Building Telecommunication – BLEC

Building Local Exchange Carrier (BLEC) – Entities that provide a distribution backbone in a building; may also provide various levels or equipment and managed services. CLECs or ILECs may also provide this function. RGTS is an example of a BLEC.
 

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Building Telecommunication – ILEC

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) – This is the dominant telephone carrier within a geographic area, also referred to as RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company). They usually access buildings with both copper and fiber optic cable. Examples of ILECs are Verizon and AT&T Communications.
 

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Building Telecommunication – Long Haul Carriers

Long Haul Carriers provide long distance networks, both domestically and internationally connecting the ILECs and CLECs. Traditional Long Haul Carriers use a combination of copper and optical fiber. Examples are AT&T, MCI and Sprint.

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