PSTN
Wired telephone network
PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network—the traditional landline telephone system that connects calls through a network of physical copper wires and switching centers.
Before mobile phones and internet calling, the PSTN was simply "the phone system." It remains operational but is gradually being replaced by digital alternatives.
Voice communication device
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- switchboardTelephone routing panel
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- networkInterconnected system
backbone · switching · transmission · multiplexing · signaling · subscriber · carrier · trunk
Contact by phone
- dialingEntering a phone number
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- busyActively occupied with tasks
- hangupPersistent psychological preoccupation
pickup · operator · directory · long-distance · toll-free · caller-ID · voicemail · three-way
Comparable equivalent
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- frequencyRate of recurrence
bandwidth · hertz · pulse · duplex · hybrid · impedance · attenuation · filter
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
- dialGraduated circular indicator
- ringerImpostor in competition
switchhook · earpiece · mouthpiece · corded · cradle · telephone · payphone · extension
Calls over broadband
- ISDNDigital telephone network standard
- digitalOf discrete data
- fiber-opticLight-carrying cable technology
- broadbandFast internet access
legacy · sunset · migration · SIP · convergence · obsolescence · decommission
telephone
Voice communication device
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- switchboardTelephone routing panel
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
network · backbone · switching · transmission · multiplexing · signaling · subscriber · carrier · trunk · loop
call
Contact by phone
hangup · pickup · operator · directory · long-distance · toll-free · caller-ID · voicemail · three-way · on-hook
analog
Comparable equivalent
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
frequency · bandwidth · hertz · pulse · duplex · hybrid · impedance · attenuation · filter · noise
handset
Held telephone component
ringer · switchhook · earpiece · mouthpiece · corded · cradle · telephone · payphone · extension · jack
VoIP
Calls over broadband
- ISDNDigital telephone network standard
- digitalOf discrete data
- fiber-opticLight-carrying cable technology
broadband · legacy · sunset · migration · SIP · convergence · obsolescence · decommission
- telephonytelephone, telephone network, call, dial tone, phone lines
- Telecom Terms3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, GSM
- phone systemsPBX, extension, phone line, handset, main menu
- phone companytelephone exchange, telco, switchboard, operator, phone lines
- telecomwireless, cellular, telecommunications, carriers, telephone
PSTNcellular network
Wireless communication via towers
mobile network · VoIP · wireless network · 4G · 5G