Telefonivõrgud

Telefonivõrgud, or telephone networks, are complex systems that enable voice communication over long distances. Historically, these networks relied on copper wires to transmit electrical signals representing sound. The early telephone systems were circuit-switched, meaning a dedicated physical connection was established between two callers for the duration of their conversation. This ensured a consistent quality of service but was inefficient as the line remained occupied even when no sound was being transmitted.

The advent of digital technology revolutionized telephone networks. Digital signals replaced analog ones, allowing for more data to be transmitted more efficiently. This led to the development of packet-switched networks, where voice data is broken into packets and sent independently across the network, reassembling at the destination. This is the foundation of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which leverages existing internet infrastructure for telephone calls.

Modern telephone networks are a hybrid of these technologies. Public switched telephone networks (PSTN) still exist, often interconnected with newer digital and IP-based systems. Mobile phone networks, such as GSM and LTE, are entirely digital and wireless, using radio waves to connect devices to base stations, which then route calls through the wider network. The ongoing evolution of telephone networks focuses on increasing capacity, improving call quality, and integrating voice services with data and video communication, paving the way for technologies like 5G and beyond.