A PSTS (Public Switched Telephone Service) is a type of telephone service that allots a single line to each subscriber, which his/her phone company controls. It is the most common type of home telephone service and differs from other types of phone services such as VoIP, T1, T3, and PBX, which large companies and some small businesses use in order to handle multiple calls at one time.
How a PSTS Works
A PSTS consists of a telephone line that runs parallel to the power lines above every street. This telephone line runs directly from the local telephone company to each utility pole and from the utility pole to the subscriber’s house. From there, the line splits off into three or four separate areas of the subscriber’s home in order to provide the subscriber with telephone access from several different telephone outlets. However, no matter which telephone outlet the subscriber uses, he/she will be connected via the same line and will only be able to make or receive one call at a time.
Applications
A PSTS is the most common form of telephone service for residences, excluding cell phones. While other forms of telephone service such as VOIP, T1, T3, and PBX allow companies to handle multiple calls at a time, most residential subscribers do not need to and often take advantage of other features such as call waiting and voicemail. Companies mostly use private lines with multiple extensions for customer support purposes, while residential subscribers use PSTSs to communicate with friends, family, and co-workers.
Advantages
PSTSs are advantageous because they are much cheaper than private lines and are usually already installed at the subscriber’s residence when he/she moves in, requiring only that the user activates his/her service. Contrastingly, companies pay expensive rates for managing private lines and must usually pay an installation fee for each line they have.
