Technical Problems in Nationwide Networking and Interconnection

The computer-communications revolution is now at the point where local interactive subscribers will be presented with the opportunities for nationwide interconnection. New digital links, value added networks, specialized common carriers, and satellite links must be considered in the optimizations of these nationwide networks. The local distribution networks for the nationwide networks are in an experimental stage, with ring networks and CATV systems under consideration. A range of technical problems is described that must be faced in the implementation of the national and local networks, and some proposed techniques and solutions are evaluated.