What is ISDN? Easily explained
In the past, ISDN was still widespread, but today you rarely encounter the former standard. In this article we explain exactly what ISDN is and why it is hardly used anymore.
ISDN - what is it?
ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It is an international standard for a digital telecommunications network.
- You can transmit and transfer a wide variety of data via this network. This is how the first telephony or long-distance messages worked.
- In contrast to the older telephone modem, with which you could also transfer data, ISDN is much faster.
- With ISDN it is also possible to connect two calls at the same time.
ISDN: difference to DSL and landline connection
There are many advantages to ISDN, especially when compared to an analog landline connection. One reason for this is that ISDN is a digital form of transmission. However, ISDN is rarely encountered anymore because DSL is now standard.
- In contrast to the analog landline connection, several channels can therefore be transmitted simultaneously.
- With the ISDN basic access, there are two channels available that you can use for telephony and the Internet, for example. You can use it to surf the Internet while on the phone.
- With an ISDN point-to-multipoint connection, up to ten phone numbers can be assigned, which can then be distributed as desired to the ISDN terminal devices. This is particularly useful in small companies with multiple offices.
- ISDN has other advantages compared to analog transmission: The digital transmission form is almost lossless and noise-free and thus produces better voice quality.
- Another type of connection is now more modern: DSL. DSL is about 250 times faster than ISDN and has an average speed of 16 Mbit / s.
- DSL also offers protection against so-called dealers. These illegal dial-up programs can drive up your internet costs.
- However, DSL is not yet available everywhere. Especially in rural areas, there are still places that do not have DSL or only provide a slow connection. ISDN is still a good alternative here. However, Deutsche Telekom is currently expanding the DSL line throughout Germany - the end of ISDN seems to be sealed.
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