For many businesses, basic telephone service is the single most important component of the communications process. And when it’s that important, you need a communications provider known for reliable communications performance.

Basic Local Service

Telecommunications was originally defined as the engineering science associated with converting sounds to electrical signals and transmitting them over a network. That definition has expanded in recent years. Now telecommunications includes digital data communications that are not sounds, transmission media such as microwave and optical fiber, and sophisticated switching and signaling networks. Regardless of the signal transmitted or the medium used, telecommunications refers to transmitting a signal, possibly through a switch, using the technology typically associated with voice communications. Other networking technologies, such as those associated with local area networks, are considered outside the scope of traditional telecommunications.

Basic local service is provided through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), most commonly referred to as "the network," or "the public network." The PSTN is the dialup access provided by a telephone company, usually a Bell Operating Company (BOC), like BellSouth or an independent, such as GTE. The telephone company is generally referred to as the telco.

Telcos are local or long-distance. Local telcos are designated Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). Long-distance providers are termed Interexchange Carriers (IXCs).

Local service provides basic dial tone and enables customers to:

• Make and receive calls
• Access local and long distance service

Billing plans include:

• Flat rate business lines (1FBs) are billed at a flat rate
• Measured rate business lines (1MBs) are billed at a flat rate plus usage

Centrex Service

Centrex is a local voice service that uses the central office to provide internal and external communication service to businesses – services that are comparable to service normally provided through key systems or a PBX.

In addition, since Centrex service is based in the central office, reliability and redundancy are inherently available

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For more information on how Lightwave Consulting Group can help your business please contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-866-544-4898.