Local loop: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:17, 2 January 2012

Revision as of 15:36, 11 January 2012

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{{unreferenced|date=February 2008}}

In [[telephony]], the '''local loop''' (also referred to as a '''subscriber line''') is the physical link or circuit that connects from the [[demarcation point]] of the [[Customer-premises equipment|customer premises]] to the edge of the [[Common carrier|carrier]] or [[telecommunications service provider]]'s network. At the edge of the carrier [[access network]] in a traditional PSTN ([[public switched telephone network]]) scenario, the local loop terminates in a circuit switch housed in an [[incumbent local exchange carrier]] [[telephone exchange]].

At the edge of the carrier [[access network]] in a traditional PSTN ([[public switched telephone network]]) scenario, the local loop terminates in a circuit switch housed in an [[incumbent local exchange carrier]] [[telephone exchange]].

== Infrastructure ==
Traditionally, the local loop was [[Wireline (networking)|wireline]] in nature from customer to central office, specifically in the form of an [[electrical circuit]] (i.e. [[wiktionary:loop|loop]]) provisioned as a single [[twisted pair]] in support of voice communications. Where the number of local loops was restricted, different customers could share the same loop, known as a [[party line (telephony)|party line]].

Modern implementations may include a [[digital loop carrier]] system segment or [[fiber optic]] transmission system known as [[fiber-in-the-loop]]. The local loop may terminate at a circuit switch owned by a [[competitive local exchange carrier]] and housed in a [[point of presence]] (POP), which typically is either an incumbent local exchange carrier telephone exchange or a "[[carrier hotel]]". A local loop may be provisioned to support data communications applications, or combined voice and data:

* analog voice and signaling used in traditional [[Plain old telephone service|POTS]]

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*[[Serving area interface]]

*[[Telephone line]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Telecommunications infrastructure]]