Title: The development of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in Europe

Authors: Karl Heinz Rosenbrock

Addresses: Project Manager and Head of Section, Coordination of the Digitalized Telephone Network and ISDN, Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract: The basic characteristics of Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs) were set out in a CCITT Recommendation as early as 1980. The most important precondition for ISDN is the digitalization of the telephone network. The paper examines the question: |What is ISDN?| in detail, with reference to ISDN accesses, the telecommunications services and supplementary services possible in ISDN, and ISDN terminal equipment. This is completed by a brief description of the advantages of ISDN from the users| and customers| points of view. As an example of the approach of telecommunications administrations in Europe, the paper examines how the Deutsche Bundespost has been planning and is implementing the introduction of ISDN. The activities and measures taken by the European Community (EC) and the telecommunication administrations and operating agencies in the EC (PTTs) to introduce ISDN are then examined, including an account of the quadrilateral ISDN cooperation between France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany. The paper concludes with a look towards non-European countries.

Keywords: telecommunications; integrated services digital network; ISDN; telecommunication administrations; PTTs; European Community; telecommunication services; Germany.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1987.026171

International Journal of Technology Management, 1987 Vol.2 No.5/6, pp.605 - 623

Published online: 27 May 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article