Why 56k Modems Relied On Digital Phone Lines You Didn’t Know We Had
1 min read
Summary
For years, speeds ticked up as modem manufacturers ratified new, faster modulation schemes.
Speeds eventually reached 33.6 kbps which was believed to be near the theoretical maximum speed possible over standard telephone lines.
56k modems worked differently; they took advantage of a fundamental change that had quietly transformed the telephone network without the public ever noticing.
Telephone companies had replaced most of their long-distance trunks and switching equipment with digital technology.
Once a home user’s phone line hit a central office, it was usually immediately turned into a digital signal for easier handling and long-distance transmission.
Usually, a customer’s analog signal had to undergo several conversions between analog and digital formats before it could make its way to its destination and then back again.
By eliminating most of these conversions, they could achieve speeds of up to 56 kbps.
Even though it was an industry standard, the average consumer may never have appreciated the nifty trick that made the 56k modem work.
