As I understand it for large numbers of channels the TelCo usually provides a DS-3 or higher to the customer. The customer either connects that directly to their equipment (if their equipment supports it) or breaks the DS-3 out into multiple T-1 channels.
As for the actual signaling it's either MF/DTMF (inband), PRI (out of band), or SS7 (out of band, usually only for TelCo-TelCo connections). Obviously your equipment has to support the signaling used. Most everything supports MF/DTMF and PRI, but not much supports SS7. TelCos don't like to provide SS7 services. As I understand it, there isn't a whole lot of damage control facilities for SS7. So, if you have a piece of SS7 equipment that freaks out it can affect a large number of things all over the PSTN. A company with an SS7 connection to the another TelCo can do all sorts if interesting things like make calls that are billed to any number on the PSTN. IIRC, TelCos do require some kind of certification for SS7 equipment. I could be wrong about some of this, but I'm sure lots of people will correct me if I am. --Eric On Fri, 2003-11-07 at 22:30, Darren Martz wrote: > Thanks Brian, and thanks again for the included definitions <grin> - that > helped too. Your comments are really helping clear many questions. > > I suppose our intensions are to become an IXC. > > So if my local carrier is sporting old technology, they'll provide TDM > services. So if I understood you correctly, the "in-band signaling" is > typically SS7, and the alternative is typically PRI? Sounds like one carrier > more of the call management tasks and the other is a more finished product - > and you pay more for each PRI channel right? -- Sample configs, scripts, more : http://www.fnords.org/~eric/asterisk/ BTEL Consulting 504-899-1387 or 850-484-4545 or 877-677-9643 _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users