CHAPTER 2

Telecom OSP
and Subscriber
Line Installation
(Copper Cable/
POTS and DSL

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the chapter, the students shall be able to:

1. Define OSP, Copper Cable/POTS and DSL, internet and the world wide web.
2. Differentiate types of personal computers
3. Identify the tools and materials used and steps in installing copper cable/POTS
and DSL.

LESSON 1
Introduction

What is Outside Plant Cabling or OSP Installation?

Telecommunications Outside Plant or commonly referred to as OSP cabling began as

far back as linking wires between stations for the first telegraph system. The modern global
telecommunications infrastructure has expanded out of this simple beginning.
Essentially any wiring for telecom networks outside the building housing the inside
wiring is called outside plant cabling. An OSP cabling system is a telecommunications facility
on the premises that connects to the information and/or data-com system. This is necessary
for many large facilities, like industrial plants, universities, hospitals and research centers.
Outside plant wiring systems can support a wide variety of communication services.
These include optical fiber cabling, telephone and data transfer, live video, security, building
automation and any other low voltage circuitry.
Outside plant construction pathways are either aerial, underground conduit, and direct
buried; and can be used in any combination depending on the job requirements.
• Aerial cabling systems can be deployed rather fast and are readily accessible for future
maintenance, but the aesthetic appearance, risks from nature, accidents, falling tree limbs,
or accidental vehicle damage to utility poles can be a drawback to aerial installation.
• Underground conduit system has some advantages over aerial cable; you can’t see it;
manageable future cable placement and removal; protected from most natural disasters;
except flooding; secure from vandalism. Underground conduit has a high upfront cost
compared to other methods, but is economical over its lifespan.
• Direct burial system is similar to a buried conduit system and has many of the same
advantages. But, a major drawback is direct burial capacity cannot be increased, and the
telecom conductors do not offer an equal level of mechanical protection as a buried conduit
system does.

What is POTS?

The phrase “phone line” is often used, even in an era when more and more businesses
are starting to rely on modern telephone systems like VoIP.
Truth bomb: In essence, a phone line is the
quintessential definition of the traditional landline phone
system which relies on a physical wire. Hence the term line.
The name given for this traditional telephone service is
POTS (for plain old telephone service).
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) refers to a
phone line or traditional phone service which works through
physical wires. This type of phone service enables analog
voice transmission over copper pair wires. A POTS line is
able to transmit voice messages
across different countries and
continents. Because of these abilities,
POTS has been the standard phone
service for individuals and businesses
since its inception in the 1880s. But the
POTS most of us are familiar with is an
upgrade over the rudimentary phone
system invented by Alexander Graham
Bell.

History of POTS

The first phone lines were suspended across poles, traversing the entire country. But
advancements in technology has seen many of those lines buried underground. So why were
they hung in the first place
Initially, POTS was known as the Post Office Telephone Service. This is because, in
the early days, callers relied on post office operators to connect them to their intended
destinations.
The service was later taken from the hands of national post offices, and the term Plain
Old Telephone Service was adopted.
You may sometimes find POTS service being referred to as the public switched
telephone network, or PSTN for short. This is basically the same thing, although the latter is
mostly used in geeky telecom circles.
How POTS Phone Line Works

The POTS setup has remained virtually the same for decades. There have been many
upgrades to usher components of the POTS telephone system into the digital era, but the
copper wire connection has weathered the storm.
As far as the mechanics of a POTS lines go, this phone service works by establishing
a dedicated circuit between Point A and Point B for the duration of a transmission.
Originally, communication between two parties depended on an operator to manually
connect them for the call. But the aspect of switching has been automated, and today the
system is almost entirely digital.

Technology Behind POTS

Let’s take a closer view into how a POTS network actually works.

Back in the days of early telephony,

establishing a connection between two parties that
needed to connect required stretching wires between
them. Yes, much like a tin can telephone, albeit over
longer distances.
Obviously, this meant the longer the distance,
the steeper the costs.
With the emergence of POTS lines, this cost
was knocked down some. One-way PSTN managed to
achieve this was by placing switches at centralized
points in the network. These switches acted as
communication nodes between any two points in the
network.
 To connect one phone to another, a
telephone call is routed through one or more
switches operating on a local, regional, national, or
international level. But voice as we speak it cannot
transmit through the POTS line. The sound waves
from a caller’s voice need to be converted into
electrical signals in order to flow through the
network. This is falls on the telephone handset on
both the caller’s and receiver’s ends.
The copper line is susceptible to
interference, and the signal is also prone to get
weak where long distances are involved. For this
reason, amplification may be called for along the
way.

The early copper network only transmitted analog signals, which require a dedicated
circuit since they travel in a continuous stream. This can be both a blessing and a curse. On
the upside, a dedicated circuit is as reliable as circuit technologies come. But it is handicapped
by the fact that the line has to be reserved for one call and one call only. This type of switching
is what is known as circuit switching.

Some common terminology associated with POTS phone system technology are:

1. Circuit Switching
Back in the old days, circuit switching was the
reason you needed an operator’s assistance when
making calls. In those days, operators would sit by
one giant wooden switchboard, plugging copper
wires into a common patch panel. In the case of
connections that required two exchanges, two
operators would go about simultaneously plugging
the caller’s and receiver’s wires into the same
inter-exchange wire. This wire was known as a
“trunk”.
Long-distance calls were unbearably costly
because calling long distance was akin to renting
the use of a very long piece of copper wire each
time you wanted to make a call. As technology advanced, so too did circuit switching.
The first stab at automated switching came in 1891 following the invention of the
Strowger switch. It was also known as a step-by-step (SWS) switch due to its operational
features. Later, it pressed into service after the invention of the rotary dial.
It changed once, and then twice, finding favor among the masses. Eventually, it was
phased out by the crossbar switch. Despite their reliability, crossbars were faulted for being
complicated, bulky, and costly. You can only imagine how challenging it must have been
to provide excellent customer service under those conditions back then.
Thankfully, a disruption came in the form of one of the best things to happen to the
world since man bashed two stones together to ignite a fire: the invention of the transistor.

2. Transistors
The transistor heralded the electronic exchange era, which slowly paved the way
for the digital network. Current phone lines have been upgraded to carry digital signals in
the form of “packets.” Packet-based technology does not dominate the transmission
channel by demanding a continuously open and dedicated circuit, unlike its analog
counterpart. Rather, it uses the underlying network to transmit voice (and data) messages
 independently through the switches. A copper line is a bi-directional 64Kbps service
capable of carrying human voice both ways at the same time (i.e. full duplex). However, it
has a limited frequency band of 300 to 3400 Hz, meaning it cannot transmit digital signals
which are in the form of “0s” and “1s”. For this to happen, a critical hardware component
needs to be added to the PSTN.

3. Modems
This is a device that was designed to exploit the digital nature of the public switched
telephone network without overhauling your entire phone system.
This should come as good news for small business owners who are not planning
to upgrade their analog communications systems any time soon, especially considering
the wealth of options available on the market.

Types of Modems include:

1. DSL. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology makes it possible to transmit data over
your copper-wire telephone system. A transceiver connected to your personal
computer uses the local telephone network to connect to an ISP’s network. The
network in turn routes data to the World Wide Web. This type of service is most popular
among small business setups. Why? Because it provides just enough bandwidth for a
sizeable number of users to access the Internet.
2. ISDN. Short for Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN is another technology that
allows digital transmission over a regular telephone line. ISDN makes it possible to
transmit both voice and data over a single copper line. To establish a network
connection, users have to dial in. The fees are determined by the duration of the
transmission. ISDN promises faster call setup and higher quality calls compared to the
classic telephone system. Businesses also prefer it because it comes with the option
of integrating with other phone systems (PABX). This allows them to take advantage
of a host of other features. For example, using a 100-number range, queues, groups,
on-hold music, etc. It is ideal for larger businesses or those looking to expand in the
near future.

Is There an Alternative to POTS?

Advancements in technology over the years meant it was only a matter of time before
POTS was replaced as the go-to phone system of choice for individuals and businesses alike.
As we speak, the telephony market is not short of options – some outdated, some semi-retired,
others currently making the airwaves. One particular phone system that seems to be the talk
of town everywhere you go is VoIP.
What is VoIP?

VoIP, short for voice over Internet protocol, is the newish kid on the block. It’s not new
per se, considering the technology traces as far back as 1995 (that’s two years after the World
Wide Web was made free for the masses to use). VoIP at the time was like POTS during
Graham Bell’s time. Connections were beleaguered by network jitter and frequent hiccups in
communication; the voice quality was awful; the technicalities were daunting; calls used to
drop for no apparent reason.
Over time, though, the cost of broadband connections fell significantly – thanks, in
large part, to cheaper and more powerful processing chips. This made internet phone
service is not only more user-friendly but also widely available to the average business.
VoIP is an interesting concept that leverages the Internet to offer phone
communication. Instead of transmitting voice (and data) through your local phone company’s
copper lines, phone services based on VoIP make use of your business’s existing Internet
connection to transmit voice in the form of data.
If you have used Skype to make a call, you have used VoIP. Skype, released in 2003,
was one of the first in a new breed of VoIP telephone services to be introduced. Its original
release made it possible to talk to another user for zero dollars.
Skype and other similar services like it, however, are typically used by individuals.
Businesses seeking to leverage the same technology on a larger scale should make use of
an enterprise-level service like Nextiva.

VoIP vs POTS

With the proliferation of online communication channels and social media, voice calling
is not as popular as it used to be. Businesses continue to depend on phones for their day-to-
day workflows. For example, departments like sales, marketing, tech support and customer
service cannot afford to function without phones. The biggest draw for businesses when it
comes to VoIP service is the cost savings this service brings.
 More than that, VoIP offers a lot of benefits that don’t come with PSTN. Here is a
feature-by-feature comparison.

Feature VoIP POTS

Internet connectivity using Circuit switching on a

Connectivity Type
Bandwidth
Scalability
Remote Extensions
Disaster Recovery
Call Waiting/ Call
Forwarding/ Call Transfer
Emergency Calling
Pricing
packet switching.
Requires approx. 10Kbps
in each direction, taking
up and releasing
bandwidth as needed.
System upgrades usually
require bandwidth and
software updates only.
This feature is usually
standard.
Service becomes
unavailable when there is
no power or Internet
connectivity. This is why
it’s prudent for businesses
to have a VoIP disaster
recovery plan in place.
Business VoIP solutions
provide these services in
standard packages at no
added cost.
Not a guaranteed
provision or is limited. 911
calls are also non-
traceable.
Free VoIP-to-VoIP calling
(local and international).
Cost is not based on
distance and time.
dedicated telephone line.
Typically requires
64Kbps in each
direction; bandwidth is
reserved in advance.
Upgrades involve
purchasing more
hardware and dedicated
lines, which can be a
costly and complex
affair.
Requires adding a
dedicated line for each
extension; can be pricey.
Phone jacks don’t need
electricity to function so
service remains
available during a power
outage. The same
cannot be said of
cordless phones.
Available for payment
separately.
Enabled and services
are traceable to location.
No free calling and
international calls are
steep. Cost is based on
distance and time.

.
Softphones

Speaking of advantages, desktop softphones are another way businesses can unlock
the wonderful world of VoIP. This piece of software acts as a phone interface, complete with
a virtual dial pad. This perhaps explains why they are sometimes referred to as “soft clients”
in the industry. A softphone allows you to dial phone numbers and accomplish other phone-
related functions via a computer or other Internet-enabled screen using your keypad, mouse
or keyboard. Calls made using a softphone are connected via the Internet – not through a
chunky desk phone and series of wires. Indeed, this is one of the perks of using softphones
over regular phones with VoIP.

Softphones use specially designed software to operate directly through your server
without any dangling wires or bulky equipment lurking around every corner. Desktop
softphones also provide great flexibility in terms of location. Employees can stay connected
without the need to be in the office, making and taking calls from any computer connected to
the Internet. If you are worried about whether this comes at an added cost, you might be
surprised to hear it actually saves you money.

This benefit is two-pronged:

1. softphone technology doesn’t require the use of handsets or terminals. This means
you stand to save money just by losing the hardware. As well, your calls are cheaper
since VoIP communication is billed by the bandwidth, as opposed to distance and time.
2. Another area in which softphones shine is through real-time visibility. This feature
relays the availability status of team members. This allows you to make contact with
only those people who are able to answer the phone. For instance, assuming a sales
executive wants to get in touch with her or his product manager, they can take a quick
look at the product manager’s virtual office desktop to see his/her status. If it’s set to
“Do Not Disturb”, the sales executive can opt to leave a message without calling and
being transferred over.

Softphones also have SMS capabilities that allow employees to incorporate text
messaging into sales and support operations. This makes for a great avenue to nurture leads,
reach out to customers and prospects, provide technical support, and engage in just about
any type of communication that involves one-on-one interaction.

You could also say softphones come in handy when it comes to scalability. If and when
you decide you need to move to bigger premises, you will take your softphones with you
without being compelled to change your telephone number, upgrade your software or make
any new installations.

FAQs – POTS

• Can a POTS phone work on VoIP?

Yes. VoIP technology allows you to use different types of phones. You can use
traditional phones (POTS phone), IP phones, softphones and others.
• How do I know how much bandwidth I have?
When it comes to VoIP, it helps to know how much bandwidth you really have.
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will probably only confirm the advertised “up to”
value (aka what you signed up for). For example, “up to 25Mbps” or “up to 50Mbps”.
The best way to determine your bandwidth is to run a throughput test designed
especially with VoIP in mind.
Terminologies

• Drop wire. Wire suitable for extending an open wire or cable pair from a pole or cable
terminal to a building.
• Ground Rod. Ground rods can be made from steel with a copper clad surface. These
are driven vertically into the ground and bonded together with bare copper wire.
• First class condition. Explanation of the first class condition is a simple logical
connection between protasis and apodosis, simplified as good and nothing to worry
about.
• Line wire. Two copper wires (tip and ring) for each telephone line run from a home or
other small building to a local telephone exchange.
• Non-metallic construction. Minimizes potential wire abrasion and reduces the
possibility of magnetic interference with communication sign.
• OSP (Outside Plant). Refers to all of the physical cabling and supporting infrastructure
(such as conduit, cabinets, tower or poles), and any associated hardware (such as
repeaters) located between a demarcation point in a switching facility and a
demarcation point in another switching center or customer premise.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Refers to protective clothing, helmets,
goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from
injury, by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals and infection, for job-
related occupational safety and health purposes.
• Precautions. A measure taken in advance to avert possible evil to secure good
results.
 DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE (DSL)

What is DSL?
DSL uses a much
broader range of
frequencies than the
voice channel.

History of Digital Subscriber Line

When DSL was first developed in 1989, it was designed

primarily for video. Video on Demand (VOD) was viewed as the next
generation service supporting the next generation network from
telephone companies around the
world.

Video on Demand was expected to be the telephone

company’s way of competing with cable television providers
and ADSL was the technology to make it possible.
Due to the increasing demand of PC users which
captured the attention of both cable TV providers and
telephone companies, DSL Technology was born.