[fa.telecom] TELECOM Digest V4 #165

telecom@ucbvax.ARPA (03/04/85)

From: Jon Solomon (the Moderator) <Telecom-Request@BBNCCA>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 3 Mar 85 16:58:20 EST    Volume 4 : Issue 165

Today's Topics:
                      1200baud over 3002circuit
                       VAX - SUN FILE TRANSFER
                  AT&T sells 5ESS to British Telecom
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To: telecom@mit-mc.arpa
Subject: 1200baud over 3002circuit
Date: 27 Feb 85 21:45:56 EST (Wed)
From: mrose@udel-dewey

I just "took delivery" of a 3002-data circuit from Telco between my
apartment and place of work.  My problem is that the 9.6kbs modems I
ordered won't be delivered until the 20th of March.  Ugh.  I happen to
have a couple of direct-connect 1200baud modems sitting around.  This may
be a *silly* question, but can I use these modems until my real ones
show up?  The interface provided by TelCo is a 4-wire box, while the modems
use the standard TelCo modular jack.

Thanks,

/mtr

ps: replies to me only please...


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Date: 28 Feb 1985 0000 GMT
From: WIECLAWEK, JOE <JAW@JPL-MILVAX.ARPA>
Subject: VAX - SUN FILE TRANSFER
To: TELECOM@BBNCCA

     We are interested in doing "high speed" file transfer between
a VAX-750(VMS) snd a SUN Workstation. (using TCP/IP ?)
     Can anyone offer any experiences, suggestions, or advice ?

     * The hosts are about 3 miles apart.

     * We are currently installing an Ungermann/Bass broadband LAN.
       (Accessible at both sites)

     * One consideration is to use pount-to-point modems across the
       broadband cable.
       (What are possible host to modem hardware interfaces?)

Joe Wieclawek
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA     91103
M.S. IPC
(818)354-2419
ARPAnet - JAW@JPL-MILVAX

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Date: Wednesday, 27 Feb 1985 09:13:50-PST
From: barker%janus.DEC@decwrl.ARPA  (Jeremy Barker - REO2-1/J2)
To: telecom@bbncca.ARPA
Subject: AT&T sells 5ESS to British Telecom


		AT&T SELLS 5ESS TO BRITISH TELECOM


AT&T and Philips Telecommunications - a UK-based joint company set up to
market a version of AT&T's 5ESS switch - named 5ESS-PRX - has secured an
order worth $21M for 9 exchanges from British Telecom.  These switches will
be used to build a UK-wide overlay network said to offer services
comparable to 800 and other WATS services in the US.  This service will be
marketed by British Telecom using the name Link Line and the network will
be known as the Derived Services Network.  The Link Line service will be
first operated using reconditioned Strowger equipment salvaged from BT's
general network because the awarding of the contract to AT&T/Philips was
delayed. 

This order places AT&T/Philips in the front runner position to provide the 
alternate switch design for British Telecom's general network.  Current 
plans by British Telecom to install a British designed switch - System X, 
on which work started around 1970 - are severely behind schedule with only 
6 exchanges in service.  Plans published in early 1982, shortly after the 
first exchange was commissioned, called for over 50 installations by 1986. 
The introduction of pilot ISDN digital services is being hit by software
problems on System X.  System X is manufactured in the UK by Plessey and 
General Electric Company (GEC - no relation of GE in the US) and was
jointly designed by Plessey, GEC and STC, an ITT subsidiary at the time.

The alternate switch system - named System Y - is the first major purchase 
by British Telecom of a non-UK designed switching system.  Previously BT 
only large import was of an AXE switch made in Sweden by LM Ericsson for
use in an international switching center.  The contract to supply System Y
will be awarded to one of Thorn-Ericsson (a joint between Thorn-EMI and 
LM Ericsson of Sweden), Northern Telecom and AT&T/Philips.  System Y will
initially be installed in about 20% of new and upgraded exchanges alongside
System X but after 1990 orders will be split based on reliability of
installed equipment. 

If AT&T/Philips are selected as the supplier a large manufacturing facility
- including semiconductor production - will be set up in the UK by Western
Electric to manufacture equipment for the European market.  It is widely 
believed that a condition of the System Y supply contract is UK-based
manufacture of the equipment. 

BT's rival network operator - Mercury Telecommunications - has shortlisted 
Thorn-Ericsson, STC, Northern Telecom and Italtel, an Italian consortium of 
manufacturers, to supply switches for its network.  STC would supply a 
switch designed by ITT.  Mercury has already purchased a switch from
Nothern Telecom for its international service to the US. 

There is also currently speculation that British Telecom may buy about 
20-30% of Northern Telecom's stock, but this will most likely be vetoed by
UK regulatory authorities if Northern Telecom is selected as the System Y
supplier. 

****************
This information was obtained from various published sources.

Jeremy Barker - Digital Equipment Corp., Reading, England.
...!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-janus!barker (uucp)
barker%janus.DEC@decwrl.ARPA (Internet)

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End of TELECOM Digest
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