TOPIC 5

INTEGRATED SERVICES
DIGITAL NETWORK (ISDN)

DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING

EP601 DATA
COMMUNICATION

TOPIC 5 :
At the end of this learning session, student must be able to;
Define ISDN.
Explain the importance of ISDN in data communication.
Describe ISDN services.
Illustrate ISDN channel.
a. Bearer (B) channel
b. Delta (D) channel
c. Hybrid (H) channel

Explain ISDN access mode:

a. Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

b. Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
Describe ISDN devices :NT1, NT2, TE1, TE2, TA.
Illustrate types of interfaces used and devices in ISDN network topology.
Identify the ISDN layers.
Compare between conventional analogue network (PSTN) and ISDN.
Explain Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN).

ISDN
What is ISDN ?
Known as the Integrated Services Digital Network.
Integrated refers to the simultaneous carrying of

digitized voice and a variety of data traffic on the

same digital
transmission links and by the same
digital exchanges.
Provides digital communication and supports wide
services; such as delivering of data, voice, image,
facsimile and others at high speed and quality.
It is a switched digital telecommunication line that can

be delivered over regular copper wires.

ISDN Network

(Digital)
ISDN Network

Figure 5.1: Configuration of ISDN network

The importance of ISDN in data communication

Provides efficient
services - data,
voice, audio, image
application, etc.
Connection quality is
satisfied and
economical - use
digital technology
which can reduce
network structure and
cost of transmission
equipment

ISDN
Importance

Deliver information
fast and accurately speed is 4 to 8 times
faster than 28.8 kbps
modem (speed
scaled from 64-230
kbps)

Accommodate variety of services - computer

hardware, facsimile, telephone and other
devices compatible with ISDN equipments,
enables all users to share information

ISDN Services
ISDN Service

Description

Telephone

Voice communication that supports services in simultaneous, which

allows users to communicate and reach data at the same time.

Facsimile

ISDN provides service, delivery and reception for graphic, image and
others at data transmission rate of 64 kbps.

LAN
communication

Computer that use ISDN can log in to LAN network. By this way, all
users
can obtain the same function such as file exchange, data base
access and electronic mail.

Internet access

ISDN provides interconnection services to Internet with high speed and

a quick search information through web page.

Video
conferencing

Combinational of voice, data and video that enables 2 parties to

communicate in live from different location.

SOHO

ISDN can be link to SOHO whereby communication speed is

standardized. Users in huge corporate can communicate at a standard
speed and low cost.
ISDN enables high file transferring (high capacity) whereby the speed is
4 times greater than analog modem. With modern features of ISDN
that can compress, data can be send more than 500 kbps per channel.

File Transferring

ISDN CHANNELS
Digital pipe between central office and ISDN subscriber

carry a number of communication channels, varies from

user to user.
According to the ISDN standard, there are 3 types of

channels with different transmission rate which are:

Bearer (B) channel
Delta (D) channel
Hybrid (H) channel

ISDN CHANNELS

cont

Bearer (B) Channel

Bearer (B) Channel is a user channel

at a rate of 64

kbps.
Carries data and digital voice.
This is a basic channel which can carries any kind of
digital information in duplex if the transmission rate is
not more than 64 kbps.
Carries information, for example voice or data in a
circuit switched or packet switched format.

ISDN CHANNELS cont

Delta/ data (D) Channel
Delta Channel is the channel that carries control and

signaling information.
Data (D) Channel is defines at 16 kbps or 64 kbps rate,
depends on users necessity.
It carries signaling information for B channels using
common-channel signaling (CCS).
It carries the information needed to connect or
disconnect calls and to negotiate special calling
parameters (i.e., automatic number ID, call waiting).

10

ISDN CHANNELS

cont

Hybrid (H) Channel

Provides user information transmission at higher data

rates
Hybrid (H) Channel is defines at 384 kbps (H0), 1536
kbps (H1) or 1920 kbps (H12) rate, where it is implied
for high rate application such as video, teleconferencing,
facsimile, high data bit and many others.
This channel provides a high bit transmission (hi-speed
fax, video, hi-speed data and hi-quality audio). It is
designed for broadband services.

Subscriber Access to the ISDN

Subscriber loops organized into

Channel

Data Rates
(Kbps)

Bearer (B)

64

Data (D)

16, 64

Hybrid (H)

384 (H0),
1536(H11),
1920(H12)

multiple channels of different sizes

B channel
basic user channel

Can carry any type of digital info in

Full-duplex mode
Carries transmissions end-to-end
D channel
Primary function is to carry control

signaling for the B channel

Acts like an operator between the
user and the network at the
network layer

H Channels
- For high data rate applications
such as video, teleconferencing and
so on

ISDN Access Mode

There are 3 types of ISDN access mode:

Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
Hybrid Interface (HI)

ISDN access mode

cont

Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

Two 64 Kbps B channels and one 16 Kbps D channel

(2B +

D) and 48 Kbps for framing and synchronization.

Available data bandwidth: 128 Kbps (2 x 64 Kbps)
User bandwidth: 144 Kbps (128 Kbps + 16 Kbps D channel)
Total line capacity: 192 Kbps (144 Kbps + 48 Kbps framing)
Each B channel can be used for separate applications.

Such as Internet and Voice.

Used for home or SOHO connection.

ISDN access mode

cont

Basic Rate Interface

WCB/McGraw-Hill

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998

ISDN access mode

cont

Primary Rate Interface (PRI)

A PRI connection can assign various 64 Kbps channels

to both ISDN and analog modem connections for 31 B +

D.
North America and Japan PRI service has 23 of 64

Kbps B channels, one 64 Kbps D channel, and 8 Kbps of

synchronization and framing for a total bit rate of up to
1.544 Mbps (same as T1)
Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world PRI
service has 30 of 64 Kbps B channels, one 64 Kbps D
channel, and 64 Kbps of framing and synchronization for
a total bit rate of up to 2.048 Mbps (same as E1)
Used in large businesses.

ISDN access mode

cont

Primary Rate Interface

WCB/McGraw-Hill

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998

ISDN access mode cont

Hybrid Interface (HI)
also known as Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN)

B-ISDN channel rates :

H21 : 32.768 Mbps

H22 : 43 Mbps to 45 Mbps
H4 : 132 Mbps to 1348.24 Mbps

ISDN Devices
Terminal Adapter (TA)

Converter device that converts standard electrical signals

into the form used by ISDN - allows non-ISDN devices to
operate on an ISDN network.TA is needed for connection with
TE2 devices.
Terminal Equipment Type 1 (TE1)

Equipment that compatible with the ISDN network. Example:

Digital Telephones, personal computers, fax machine or video
conferencing machine.
Terminal Equipment Type 2 (TE2)

Not compatible with the ISDN network, the existing non-ISDN

equipment. Example: Analog phone or modem, requires a TA
(TE2 connects to TA).

ISDN Devices

cont

Network termination type 1 (NT1)

It is defines as connection point between the local loop and

ISDN network. When we connect a TE1 device to the ISDN
network, we use NT1 that will connect any two wires of TE1
device to ISDN network. E.g. a residential interface might include
a telephone, PC, and alarm system, all attached to a single NT1
interface via a multidrop line.
Network termination type 2 (NT2)

It is defines as device that connects with NT1. Devices using 4

wires cable must use an NT2 to convert the 4 wire connector to
a 2 wires connector that can physically connected to ISDN
network through NT1.

ISDN DEVICES

cont

Figure 5.5: ISDN devices (NT1, NT2, TE1, TE2 and TA)

ISDN Network Topology

ISDN Network Topology

cont

In ISDN network topology; there are three levels as shown in Figure

5.6. The levels are:

Users Level:
This level allows terminal equipment connection to network
using local switching system.

Local Switching level:

This level enables communication between sender and
receiver (activate connection between users).

Network switching level:

This level involves delivering and switching between different
network, next activate connection between isolated local switch

ISDN Network Topology

cont

Reference Points
Label used to identify individual interfaces between two
elements of an ISDN installation.
Defines the functions of the connections.

ISDN Network Topology

ISDN Reference Points

cont

ISDN Reference Points cont

Reference point R (connect TE2-TA)
Provides a non-ISDN interface between user equipment

that is non-ISDN compatible and adaptor equipment

Point between non-ISDN equipment (TE2) and the TA
Reference point S (connect TE1-NT2, TA-NT2)
The interface of individual ISDN terminals

Separate user terminal from network communications

functions.
Four-wire cable from TE1 or TA to the NT1 or NT2.

ISDN Reference Points cont

Reference point T (connect NT2-NT1)
Separate networks provider equipment from the users

equipment
Point between NT1 and NT2
Reference point U (connect NT1-provider)
Describes full-duplex data signal on the subscriber line

Two wire cable that connects the customers equipment

to the telecommunications provider.

ISDN Layers
ISDN only supports the three lower layers of OSI model,

which is Network, Data Link, and Physical layer.

ISDN service provision(peruntukan) is divided into two:
Bearer service (layer 1 to 3) and Teleservice (all seven
layers).
Layer 1 usually supports either PRI (31B+D, I.431) or BRI
(2B+D, I.430)
Layer 2 is standardised in Q.921
Layer 3 is standardised in Q.931

Q.921 & Q.931

Q.921 - referred to as LAPD (Link Access Protocol - D

Channel), is the Data Link protocol used over ISDN's D

channel. Provide a reliable transport for Layer 3 signaling
messages, provide identification of frames and flow
control mechanisms for data transmission and reception.
The unit of LAPD transmission is FRAME.
Q.931 - is ISDN's connection control protocol, performs

signaling in ISDN environment that is used to establish,

maintain and terminate network connection. It has
numerous timers and counters used to ensure that signaling
information is transmitted correctly and arrives error-free.

ISDN
Layer

Function

Physical Provides physical connection of ISDN devices. This layer also

(Layer 1) describes interface attributes of electrical, functional, mechanical
and procedural.
Data Link Provides data link layer for devices communicating over D
(Layer 2) channel. The layers protocol is called Link Access Protocol D
(LAPD), which is derived from HDLC (High Level Data Link
Control). LAPD is responsible for safe delivery of traffic across the
link, special codes to distinguish start and end of traffic, flow control,
and also support TEI and SAPI to permit multiple terminals to share a
BRI link
Network Provides signaling base on Digital Signaling System #1 (DSS1),
(Layer 3) which is specified in ITU-T recommendation Q.931. This layer also
responsible for establishing, maintaining and releasing
connections in an ISDN network. The user data is mapped onto B
channels, whereas Q.931 signaling is mapped onto the D channel.

ISDN Layers

Simplified Layers of ISDN

Mechanical and
electrical specs of
interfaces R, S, T, U
Encoding

Multiplexing
Power supply

Importance of ISDN Compares to PSTN

Reduces physical routes ISDN use one line to carry

signal, voice and graphic data.

Delivering quality is high ISDN can transmit data
faster and detects only small errors.
Provides many services delivering of data, fax and
video signal, electronic mail and others.
Terminal facilities from many suppliers the cost is
cheaper because standard is put in global (improvement
of technology and increasing of competition).

Conventional Analog Network (PSTN) and ISDN

1) Cost:

Size of digital circuit is smaller, thus space requirement is maximized.

Thus, development and handling cost is much cheaper compares to

analog circuit.
2) Data purity:

By using the digital repeater device and not using the analog
amplifiers, the noise effect and signal attenuators are not increasing or
becomes too high. By this way, data can be send in longer distance and
travels through low quality routes in digitally and the data purity can
be determine.
3) Capasity of usage:
It is economical to build routes and transmission with higher bandwitdh,
including the satellite and fiber optic channels. A high quality of
multiplexing is necessary for the capasity of usage; whereby it is much
cheaper and easy to obtain by digital (time division) and not using
analog technique (frequency division).

Conventional Analog Network (PSTN) and ISDN

cont
4)

5)

Safetiness and encryption:

The encryption technique can be used on digital data whereby analog
data is converted to digital data.
Integration
By receiving analog signal and digital data, in digitally all signals have
the same pattern and can be accepted equally. Thus, it is economical to
integrate the voice, video and digital data.

Comparison between PSTN and ISDN

PSTN

ISDN

PSTN lines are analogue.

ISDN lines are digital.

PSTN lines are used for ISDN are used for bigger companies.
small companies.
PSTN are mostly used as With ISDN , one can run as many as 2, 10, 20 or
single lines for firms or 30 channels that could be run with a single
companies that need ADSL. line. ISDN is also called a circuit-switched
telephone network system, which has been
designed for the digital transmission of data and
voice over ordinary phones.
PSTN, provides
voice quality.

lower ISDN provides better voice quality. ISDN

provides 128 kbit/s, which is really good for the
Internet.

Comparison between PSTN and ISDN

PSTN

cont

ISDN

In PSTN, both speech and data ISDN integrates both speech and data in
in the same line is not available the same line. which is not available with
with ordinary telephone wires.
ordinary telephone wires.
When using PSTN, one cannot When using ISDN, one can make faster
make faster calls.
calls.
PSTN does not allow two ISDN
allowed two simultaneous
simultaneous connections.
connection. This means that two
simultaneous
connections,
such
as
telephone, fax, data transmissions, fax, or
video can be used.

B-ISDN
Definition

A service requiring transmission channels capable of

supporting rates greater than the primary rate. Any
service inquiry with a speed greater than 1.544 Mbps is
defined as broadband, and any communications based on
this speed are called broadband communications.

Broadband ISDN (BISDN)

BISDN is an extension of ISDN in terms of capabilities, i.e. it not

only has the narrowband capability of ISDN but also the

broadband capability.
The goal of BISDN is to achieve complete integration of services,
ranging from low-bit-rate signals to high-bit-rate continuous
real-time signals.
The designated technology for B-ISDN was Asynchronous
Transfer Mode (ATM), which was intended to carry both
synchronous voice and asynchronous data services on the
same transport.
Broadband ISDN) is designed to handle high-bandwidth
applications. BISDN currently uses ATM technology over
SONET-based transmission circuits to provide data rates from 155
to 622Mbps and beyond, contrast with the traditional narrowband
ISDN (or N-ISDN), which is only 64 Kbps basically and up to 2
Mbps.

Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN)

Figure : BISDN architecture (functional)

B-ISDN Services
Broadband ISDN based on a change from metal cable to fiber
optic cable at all levels of telecommunications.

Interactive services those that require two-way exchanges between

either 2 subscribers or between a subscriber & a service provider
- conversational real time exchanges such as telephone calls
- messaging store & forward exchanges such as voice mail
- retrieval retrieve info from a central office

B-ISDN Services

cont

Distributive services unidirectional services sent from a provider to

subscribers, broadcast to the user
- without user control user choice is limited to whether or not
to receive the service at all

- with user control allow the user a choice of times during

which to receive them

B-ISDN Accesses

155.520 Mbps fill the needs of most residential and many

business subscribers.

155.520/622.080 Mbps fill the needs of businesses that require

the simultaneous receipt of multiple services and video
conferencing.