Internet Connections

Problems to Be Solved

Utilisation of the Internet network as a transport network for telephone connections (local, long distance and international) is a tempting perspective. But it still has many obstacles that have to be overcome.

In the first stage it is namely insufficient dimension of the Internet network that until now is not able to provide bi-directional real-time telephone traffic in such a quality as the public telephone network. Also the questions related with tariffication, connection quality control etc. have not yet been solved. The Internet network is not fitted with the equipment for external control that is necessary when being used for telephone calls. There also is a number of questions of legislative character that still remain unsolved.

Despite these problems, the alternative of telephone calls over the Internet network is being considered. It is only a question of time when it will be used in practice. Some prognoses are very optimistic. It is said that after the year 2005 the telephone traffic in the Internet network could reach some 30% of the total number of telephone calls. This interesting application of connecting the standard telephone and Internet networks will certainly evoke many discussions and attempts at realisation. This problem cannot be judged according to the present experience and opinions about the telecommunication network. It is necessary to take into account the continuously growing availability of new applications and services that are bringing technology development and users´ requirements. While taking into account all these considerations, there is a basic goal: to create a unified network in the future that would integrate not only all types of transmissions (voice, data, video, narrow-band and wide-band), but newly also the creating and expanding group of services that in future are expected to result in a grandiose project, such as the information highway…