Landline

Everyone is familiar with the everyday analogue telephone line. It is sometimes referred to as a PSTN Line (Public Switched Telephone Network) and is the most common type of installations from consumers to business. A typical installation would see it installed in your premises, using the ordinary copper network and terminated at a white telephone socket sometimes called the NTE, or a Master Socket.

Premium Landline

The premium landline includes a higher, level 2 care package.

ISDN2e

Integrated Services for Digital Network (ISDN) is installed into your premises using the standard copper pairs that a normal telephone uses. The key difference is that it is capable of carrying more than one service. Rarely now, but historically it was often used for higher speed internet access back in the days of the old modems. Now it is generally just used for phone calls.

The key attraction with ISDN is that it can carry more than a single call, ISDN2e will carry up to two, it also allows for the addition of extra numbers often known as DDI’s or Direct Dialling Inwards. To utilise an ISDN an internal PBX is required. Often up to 4 ISDN2e will be installed giving up to eight simultaneous calls. However, with a PBX there may be many more internal extensions and desk phones, as rarely is everyone on the phone at the same time.

iSDN30

Offering similar services to ISDN2e, the major difference is that an ISDN30 is provided using Fibre Optic cable to the premises and as the name would suggest, is capable of supporting 30 channels. The channels can carry both calls and data, the latter being less common.

Availability of ISDN30 can be a major factor in rural and suburban areas. The infrastructure is rarely already there so must be installed for the customer. This often entails “blowing” or installing a new Fibre in the street back to the exchange and is charged per meter. These “excess construction charges” can often run into the thousands, which is in addition to the normal installation charges. Although termed “30”, this is the maximum channel capacity and there is no need to have all 30 activated. There is a minimum however of 8 which aligns with the general cut of point of 4 x ISDN2e = 8 and is the next logical step