Telecommunications - The interaction of advanced technology and system design

For the purpose of this paper Telecommunications will be restricted to include only public telephone networks and associated private networks. The term 'telephone' is, of course, somewhat outdated in that these networks now carry a substantial portion of data traffic. In spite of trends towards so-called integrated networks, it remains convenient to split networks into : (1) Terminal equipment (subscribers' apparatus); (2) Local distribution (subscribers' distribution cabling); (3) Call routing equipment (local and trunk exchanges); and (4) Main distribution (inter-exchange transmission). The influence of semiconductor technology in these four areas has been remarkably different. At one extreme the impact on the realisation of long distance transmission systems has been progressive and evolutionary. ln exchange design the impact has been relatively recent and almost revolutionary, whilst to date the influence on local distribution has been almost nonexistent. Since the impact on transmission is also widely appreciated and well documented, it will be mentioned only briefly. The paper will conclude with some comments on the influence of semiconductor technology on Telecommunication Networks as a whole.