Interconnection
Encyclopedia
In telecommunication
s, interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier
's network
with equipment or facilities not belonging to that network. The term may refer to a connection between a carrier's facilities and the equipment belonging to its customer, or to a connection between two (or more) carriers.
In United States
regulatory law
, interconnection is specifically defined (47 C.F.R.
51.5) as "the linking of two networks for the mutual exchange of traffic."
One of the primary tools used by regulators to introduce competition in telecommunications markets has been to impose interconnection requirements on dominant carriers.
monopoly (post Communications Act of 1934
), the Bell System owned the phones and did not allow interconnection, either of separate phones (or other terminal equipment
) or of other networks; a popular saying was "Ma Bell has you by the calls".
This began to change in the landmark case Hush-A-Phone v. United States [1956], which allowed some non-Bell owned equipment to be connected to the network, and was followed by a number of other cases, regulatory decisions, and legislation that led to the transformation of the American long distance telephone
industry from a monopoly
to a competitive business.
This further changed in FCC
's Carterfone
decision in 1968, which required the Bell System companies to permit interconnection by radio-telephone operators.
Today the standard electrical connector for interconnection in the US, and much of the world, is the registered jack
family of standards, especially RJ11. This was introduced by the Bell System in the 1970s, following a 1976 FCC order. Since then, it has gained popularity worldwide, and is a de facto international standard.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
s, interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
's network
Telecommunications network
A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections...
with equipment or facilities not belonging to that network. The term may refer to a connection between a carrier's facilities and the equipment belonging to its customer, or to a connection between two (or more) carriers.
In United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
regulatory law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, interconnection is specifically defined (47 C.F.R.
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
51.5) as "the linking of two networks for the mutual exchange of traffic."
One of the primary tools used by regulators to introduce competition in telecommunications markets has been to impose interconnection requirements on dominant carriers.
US
Under the Bell SystemBell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
monopoly (post Communications Act of 1934
Communications Act of 1934
The Communications Act of 1934 is a United States federal law, enacted as Public Law Number 416, Act of June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, by the 73rd Congress, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, codified as Chapter 5 of Title 47 of the United States Code, et seq. The Act replaced the...
), the Bell System owned the phones and did not allow interconnection, either of separate phones (or other terminal equipment
Terminal equipment
In telecommunication, the term terminal equipment has the following meanings:* Communications equipment at either end of a communications link, used to permit the stations involved to accomplish the mission for which the link was established....
) or of other networks; a popular saying was "Ma Bell has you by the calls".
This began to change in the landmark case Hush-A-Phone v. United States [1956], which allowed some non-Bell owned equipment to be connected to the network, and was followed by a number of other cases, regulatory decisions, and legislation that led to the transformation of the American long distance telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
industry from a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
to a competitive business.
This further changed in FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
's Carterfone
Carterfone
The Carterfone is a device invented by Thomas Carter. It manually connects a two-way mobile radio system to the public switched telephone network , making it a direct predecessor to today's autopatch....
decision in 1968, which required the Bell System companies to permit interconnection by radio-telephone operators.
Today the standard electrical connector for interconnection in the US, and much of the world, is the registered jack
Registered jack
A registered jack is a standardized physical network interface — both jack construction and wiring pattern — for connecting telecommunications or data equipment to a service provided by a local exchange carrier or long distance carrier. The standard designs for these connectors and their wiring...
family of standards, especially RJ11. This was introduced by the Bell System in the 1970s, following a 1976 FCC order. Since then, it has gained popularity worldwide, and is a de facto international standard.
Europe
Outside of the US, Interconnection or "Interconnect regimes" also take into account the associated commercial arrangements. As an example of the use of commercial arrangements, the focus by the EU has been on "encouraging" incumbents to offer bundles of network features that will enable competitors to provide services that compete directly with the incumbent. Further the interconnect regime decided upon by the regulator has a major impact on the development/rate of growth of market segments. According to Source8 (an EU based consultancy) two examples from the UK of this are:- The decision about revenue sharing on local rate numbers was a contributory factor in the explosive growth in dial internet.
- The asynchronous reciprocity that exists between fixed and mobile termination rates.
See also
- Customer-premises equipmentCustomer-premises equipmentCustomer-premises equipment or customer-provided equipment is any terminal and associated equipment located at a subscriber's premises and connected with a carrier's telecommunication channel at the demarcation point...
- Demarc extensionDemarc extensionIn telecommunications, a demarc extension is the transmission path originating from the interface of the access provider's side of a telecommunications circuit demarcation point within a premise and ending at the termination point prior to the interface of the edge Customer Premises Equipment...
- Demarcation pointDemarcation pointIn telephony, the demarcation point is the point at which the public switched telephone network ends and connects with the customer's on-premises wiring. It is the dividing line which determines who is responsible for installation and maintenance of wiring and equipment -- customer/subscriber, or...
- Forced-access regulationForced-access regulationForced-access regulation refers to any regulation put into place by the state forcing private communication carriers to allow its competitors to use their networks for their own business purposes....
- Registered jackRegistered jackA registered jack is a standardized physical network interface — both jack construction and wiring pattern — for connecting telecommunications or data equipment to a service provided by a local exchange carrier or long distance carrier. The standard designs for these connectors and their wiring...
- Terminal equipmentTerminal equipmentIn telecommunication, the term terminal equipment has the following meanings:* Communications equipment at either end of a communications link, used to permit the stations involved to accomplish the mission for which the link was established....
- Termination ratesTermination ratesTermination rates are the charges which one telecommunications operator charges to another for terminating calls on its network. Traditionally three models of charging these fees are known: calling party pays , bill and keep , receiving party pays .- Explanation :For example, a customer of T-Mobile...
US regulation
:Category:United States federal communications legislation- Communications Act of 1934Communications Act of 1934The Communications Act of 1934 is a United States federal law, enacted as Public Law Number 416, Act of June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, by the 73rd Congress, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, codified as Chapter 5 of Title 47 of the United States Code, et seq. The Act replaced the...
- Hush-A-Phone v. United States (1956)
- CarterfoneCarterfoneThe Carterfone is a device invented by Thomas Carter. It manually connects a two-way mobile radio system to the public switched telephone network , making it a direct predecessor to today's autopatch....
(1968) - Telecommunications Act of 1996Telecommunications Act of 1996The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major overhaul of United States telecommunications law in nearly 62 years, amending the Communications Act of 1934. This Act, signed by President Bill Clinton, was a major stepping stone towards the future of telecommunications, since this was the...