It's called VOIP

VOIP is digital only

Voice over internet protocol.

Bazz,

My comment on breaking national infrastructure into smaller parcels reflects the notion that some believe it would be better for such a network to be built piecemeal by several independent private operators, as some sort of magical formula for getting more for less.

Also, Telstra's PSTN network is made up of AXE (Ericsson) and System 12 (Alcatel) and both are digital networks but with obvious Analogue-Digital conversion done at each end, but not in between.

Transmission is mainly ADSL (digital) but there is still a lot of PDH (analogue) equipment still in the network.

Likewise there is a considerable amount of (very old) DCS20 and RIM hardware in the rural network and a lot of line conditioning is required just to make the phones work.

The core Mobile Network was previously Ericsson AXE but is now TCP-IP, made up of components by Cisco, Juniper and so on.

This network modernisation was well under way during the time Sol Trujillo was their CEO but only in Capital City areas.

The loss-making rural areas had little hope of improvement without a further massive injection of taxpayer funds and, until the NBN came along what they have now is likely to be as good as they will ever get.There is no "business case" for investing in such areas in the short term.

That's the whole point, fibre to the node would not improve anything it has to be to the home.
Copper was being stripped from the ground yesterday and it was inside lead pipe.
Pvc coatings and pvc pipe have served it's time, and Telstra's cost cutting measures have ensured the system is in a gigantic mess.
I can't get over Telstra now only selling ADSL 2, and not all telstra infrastructure can't handle ADSL 2.
It's good to see who you are talking to, when making overseas calls, at a cost of 1.9 cents / minute.

Bazz and 579

Wow! Got more than I bargained for with my original question!

You 2 guys have left me feeling like a stranded fish out of water and gasping for breath in the same way.

I don't even pretend to begin to understand most of what you two have put forward. But -

Regarding EMF radiation, some of my aquaintances are top medical specialists who will not allow their children to use cell phones.

Maybe you can explain my own personal experience too, after you stop laughing, which I quite understand will probably happen.

This really is a serious question.
I always get a buzzing in my head when I am close to high output electrical wires. I kid you not!
Even with my eyes closed I can tell when we're near them.
How can that be?

EMF has cancer causing qualities. We are surrounded by it, electrical wires in your house, microwaves, A television can emmit EMF up to 12 hours after it is turned off. Phone towers, high voltage wires, driving your car, it's everywhere.
Women with underwire bra, can be an added danger because of the areal effect.
I would not know if i had added head noise, because i have tinnitus 24/7