Editing ISDN (section)

== International deployment ==

A study<ref>{{Citation | title = Studie | publisher = BMBF | contribution = ISDN-Verbreitung | place = [[Germany|DE]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002180402/http://www.bmbf.de/pub/sdi-19-07.pdf | archive-date = 2008-10-02 | url = http://www.bmbf.de/pub/sdi-19-07.pdf}}.</ref> of the Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research shows the following share of ISDN-channels per 1,000 inhabitants in 2005:
* [[Norway]] 401
* [[Denmark]] 339
* [[Germany]] 333
* [[Switzerland]] 331
* [[Japan]] 240
* [[United Kingdom]] 160
* [[Finland]] 160
* [[Sweden]] 135
* [[Italy]] 105
* [[France]] 85
* [[Spain]] 58
* [[United States]] 47

=== Australia ===

[[Telstra]] provides the business customer with the ISDN services. There are five types of ISDN services which are ISDN2, ISDN2 Enhanced, ISDN10, ISDN20 and ISDN30. Telstra changed the minimum monthly charge for voice and data calls. In general, there are two group of ISDN service types; The Basic Rate services – ISDN 2 or ISDN 2 Enhanced. Another group of types are the Primary Rate services, ISDN 10/20/30.<ref name="Telstra-2018">{{cite web|title=ISDN ON BUSINESSLINE® COMPLETE|url=https://www.telstra.com.au/help/download/document/business-critical-information-summary-businessline-complete-isdn.pdf|work=Telstra|access-date=3 August 2018|date=March 15, 2015|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803111006/https://www.telstra.com.au/help/download/document/business-critical-information-summary-businessline-complete-isdn.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Telstra announced that the new sales of ISDN product would be unavailable as of 31 January 2018.<ref name="Telstra-2022">{{cite web|title=ISDN Product Cease Sale and longer-term exit|url=https://enterprise-support.telstra.com.au/t5/Knowledge-Articles/ISDN-Product-Cease-Sale-and-longer-term-exit/ta-p/3628|work=Telstra|access-date=3 August 2018|date=21 September 2016|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803074241/https://enterprise-support.telstra.com.au/t5/Knowledge-Articles/ISDN-Product-Cease-Sale-and-longer-term-exit/ta-p/3628|url-status=live}}</ref> The final exit date of ISDN service and migration to the new service was on 31 May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2022 |title=Warning: Final countdown to Telstra ISDN network shutdown |url=https://www.mobilecorp.com.au/learning-hub/final-countdown-to-telstra-isdn-network-shutdown-2022 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MobileCorp |language=en-au}}</ref>

=== France ===

[[Orange S.A.|Orange]] offers ISDN services under their product name Numeris (2 B+D), of which a professional Duo and home Itoo version is available. ISDN is generally known as RNIS in France and has widespread availability. The introduction of ADSL is reducing ISDN use{{when|date=April 2013}} for data transfer and Internet access, although it is still common in more rural and outlying areas, and for applications such as [[Private branch exchange|business voice]] and [[Point of sale|point-of-sale terminals]]. In 2023, Numeris services will enter a phase-out process. They will be replaced by VoIP services.

=== Germany ===
[[File:DBP 1988 1368 ISDN.jpg|thumb|German stamp]]

In [[Germany]], ISDN was very popular with an installed base of 25 million channels (29% of all subscriber lines in Germany as of 2003 and 20% of all ISDN channels worldwide). Due to the success of ISDN, the number of installed analog lines was decreasing. [[Deutsche Telekom]] (DTAG) offered both BRI and PRI. Competing phone companies often offered ISDN only and no analog lines. However, these operators generally offered free hardware that also allows the use of POTS equipment, such as NTBAs ("[[:de:Network Termination for ISDN Basic rate Access|Network Termination for ISDN Basic rate Access]]": small devices that bridge the two-wire UK0 line to the four-wire S0 bus) with integrated [[terminal adapter]]s. Because of the widespread availability of ADSL services, ISDN was primarily used for voice and fax traffic.

Until 2007 ISDN (BRI) and [[ADSL]]/[[VDSL]] were often bundled on the same line, mainly because the combination of DSL with an analog line had no cost advantage over a combined ISDN-DSL line. This practice turned into an issue for the operators when vendors of ISDN technology stopped manufacturing it and spare parts became hard to come by. Since then phone companies started introducing cheaper xDSL-only products using [[VoIP]] for telephony,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Neuhetzki|first1=Thorsten|title=Arcor will ab Sommer Fernsehen per Internet anbieten|url=http://www.teltarif.de/arch/2007/kw04/s24629.html|website=teltarif.de|access-date=7 May 2016|date=24 Jan 2007|quote=Arcor setzt im Endkundenbereich auf NGN|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602023102/http://www.teltarif.de/arch/2007/kw04/s24629.html|url-status=live}}</ref> also in an effort to reduce their costs by operating separate data & voice networks.

Since approximately 2010, most German operators have offered more and more VoIP on top of DSL lines and ceased offering ISDN lines. New ISDN lines have been no longer available in Germany since 2018, existing ISDN lines were phased out from 2016 onwards and existing customers were encouraged to move to DSL-based VoIP products.
Deutsche Telekom intended to phase-out by 2018<ref>{{cite web|last1=Niek Jan van Damme|title=Deutsche Telekom - 100% IP by 2018|website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JNSTrNFgCM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/3JNSTrNFgCM| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=7 May 2016|date=16 March 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but announced the complete transition in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=AG |first=Deutsche Telekom |date=2020-03-02 |title=Five facts about the IP migration |url=https://www.telekom.com/en/company/details/five-facts-about-the-ip-migration-596110 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.telekom.com |language=en}}</ref> other providers like Vodafone estimate to have their phase-out completed by 2022.

=== Greece ===

[[OTE]], the incumbent telecommunications operator, offers ISDN BRI (BRA) services in [[Greece]]. Following the launch of ADSL in 2003, the importance of ISDN for data transfer began to decrease and is today limited to niche business applications with point-to-point requirements.

=== India ===

[[Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited]], [[Reliance Communications]] and [[Bharti Airtel]] are the largest communication service providers, and offer both ISDN BRI and PRI services across the country. Reliance Communications and Bharti Airtel uses the DLC technology for providing these services. With the introduction of broadband technology, the load on bandwidth is being absorbed by ADSL. ISDN continues to be an important backup network for point-to-point leased line customers such as banks, e-Seva Centers,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=T |first1=Radhakrishna |title=e-Seva: Enabling Bill Payment Without Queues |journal=Real CIO World |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=74 |url=https://www.cio.in/open_save_file?fname=sites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FE-seva.pdf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150404212847/http://www.cio.in/open_save_file?fname=sites/default/files/E-seva.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |access-date=4 April 2015 }}</ref> [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]], and [[State Bank of India|SBI]] ATMs.

=== Japan ===

On April 19, 1988, Japanese telecommunications company [[Nippon Telegraph and Telephone|NTT]] began offering nationwide ISDN services trademarked INS Net 64, and INS Net 1500, a fruition of NTT's independent research and trial from the 1970s of what it referred to the INS (Information Network System).<ref>{{cite web |language=ja |website=Denwakyoku |title=Kitahama |url=http://denwakyoku.jp/kitahama.html |script-title=ja:NTT東日本 - 北浜ビル |access-date=2012-06-13 |archive-date=2012-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017004533/http://denwakyoku.jp/kitahama.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Previously, in April 1985, Japanese digital telephone exchange hardware made by Fujitsu was used to experimentally deploy the world's first I interface ISDN. The I interface, unlike the older and incompatible Y interface, is what modern ISDN services use today.

Since 2000, NTT's ISDN offering have been known as [[:ja:フレッツ|FLET's]] ISDN, incorporating the "FLET's" brand that NTT uses for all of its ISP offerings.

In Japan, the number of ISDN subscribers dwindled as alternative technologies such as [[ADSL]], [[cable Internet access]], and [[fiber to the home]] gained greater popularity. On November 2, 2010, NTT announced plans to migrate their backend from [[PSTN]] to the [[IP network]] from around 2020 to around 2025. For this migration, ISDN services will be retired, and fiber optic services are recommended as an alternative.<ref>{{cite web | location = JP | url = http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/release/1011/pdf/101102a_1.pdf | language = ja |script-title=ja:PTSNのマイグレーションについて～概括的展望～ | date = November 2, 2010 |website=NTT East | access-date = June 20, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421021236/https://www.ntt-east.co.jp/release/1011/pdf/101102a_1.pdf | archive-date = April 21, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

=== Norway ===

On April 19, 1988, Norwegian telecommunications company [[Telenor]] began offering nationwide ISDN services trademarked INS Net 64, and INS Net 1500, a fruition of NTT's independent research and trial from the 1970s of what it referred to the INS (Information Network System).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our history in Norway - Telenor Group |url=https://www.telenor.com/about/who-we-are/history/our-history-in-norway/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.telenor.com |language=no |archive-date=2022-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203214126/https://www.telenor.com/about/who-we-are/history/our-history-in-norway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===

In the [[United Kingdom]], [[BT Group|British Telecom]] (BT) provides ISDN2e (BRI) as well as ISDN30 (PRI). Until April 2006, they also offered services named [[BT Highway|Home Highway and Business Highway]], which were BRI ISDN-based services that offered integrated analogue connectivity as well as ISDN. Later versions of the Highway products also included built-in [[USB]] sockets for direct computer access. Home Highway was bought by many home users, usually for Internet connection, although not as fast as ADSL, because it was available before ADSL and in places where ADSL does not reach.

In early 2015, BT announced their intention to retire the UK's ISDN infrastructure by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Big Switch Off|url=http://www.tmc-telecom.co.uk/News/18/the-big-switch-off|access-date=2021-01-29|website=www.tmc-telecom.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>

=== United States and Canada ===

ISDN-BRI never gained popularity as a general use telephone access technology in Canada and the US, and remains a niche product. The service was seen as "a solution in search of a problem",<ref>{{Citation | journal = Computing Japan Magazine | date = September–October 1995 | type = article | title = ISDN: A Solution in Search of a Problem | url = http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1995/sep95/09isdn.html | access-date = 2009-06-05 | archive-date = 2011-07-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718194415/http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1995/sep95/09isdn.html | url-status = live }}.</ref> and the extensive array of options and features were difficult for customers to understand and use. ISDN has long been known by derogatory [[backronym]]s highlighting these issues, such as ''It Still Does Nothing'', ''Innovations Subscribers Don't Need'', and ''I Still Don't kNow'',<ref>{{cite book| first = James Harry | last = Green| title = The Irwin Handbook of Telecommunications | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=L1iJaXDV89gC&pg=PA262| edition = 5| access-date = 12 May 2012 | date= 26 October 2005 | publisher= McGraw-Hill Professional| isbn = 978-0-07-145222-9| page = 770}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| first1=Madeline | last1 = Bodin| first2= Keith | last2 = Dawson|title= The Call Center Dictionary: The Complete Guide to Call Center & Customer Support Technology Solutions| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CTXhqkFDQKQC&pg=PA101 | access-date= 12 May 2012 | date= 3 January 2002 | publisher = Focal Press|isbn=978-1-57820-095-5|page= 227}}</ref> or, from the supposed standpoint of telephone companies, ''I Smell Dollars Now''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Idg9EcuKlT4C&dq=isdn+i+smell+dollars+now&pg=PA91 Telecompetition: The Free Market Road to the Information Highway], Lawrence Gasman, p. 91</ref>

Although various minimum bandwidths have been used in definitions of [[Broadband Internet access]], ranging up from {{nowrap|64 kbit/s}} up to {{nowrap|1.0 Mbit/s}}, the 2006 OECD report is typical by defining broadband as having download data transfer rates equal to or faster than {{nowrap|256 kbit/s}},<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.oecd.org/document/7/0,3343,en_2649_34223_38446855_1_1_1_1,00.html | year = 2006 | publisher = OECD | title = Broadband Statistics | type = report | access-date = 2012-12-10 | archive-date = 2011-05-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110527044720/http://www.oecd.org/document/7/0,3343,en_2649_34223_38446855_1_1_1_1,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref> while the United States FCC, as of 2008, defines broadband as anything above {{nowrap|768 kbit/s}}.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A2.doc | title = Statement of Chairman | first = Kevin J | last = Martin | publisher = FCC | place = [[United States of America|US]] | format = [[Microsoft|MS]] [[Microsoft Word|Word]] doc | access-date = 2012-12-10 | archive-date = 2011-10-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111017203347/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A2.doc | url-status = dead }}.</ref><ref name = "Engadget">{{Citation | newspaper = Engadget | url = https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/fcc-redefines-broadband-to-mean-768kbps-fast-to-mean-kinda/ | title = FCC redefines "broadband" to mean {{nowrap|768 kbit/s}}, "fast" to mean "kinda slow" | date = 2008-03-19 | access-date = 2017-09-01 | archive-date = 2021-06-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210606030829/https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-19-fcc-redefines-broadband-to-mean-768kbps-fast-to-mean-kinda.html | url-status = live }}.</ref> Once the term "broadband" came to be associated with data rates incoming to the customer at {{nowrap|256 kbit/s}} or more, and alternatives like [[ADSL]] grew in popularity, the consumer market for BRI did not develop. Its only remaining advantage is that, while ADSL has a functional distance limitation and can use [[ADSL loop extender]]s, BRI has a greater limit and can use repeaters. As such, BRI may be acceptable for customers who are too remote for ADSL. Widespread use of BRI is further stymied by some small North American [[Competitive local exchange carrier|CLEC]]s such as [[CenturyTel]] having given up on it and not providing Internet access using it.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = CenturyTel | title = Internet Access service offerings | quote = You may not obtain Internet services over ISDN lines (BRI or PRI), dedicated circuits or special service circuits | contribution = Disclaimer | url = http://www.centurytel.com/Pages/Disclaimers/internetDisclaimer.jsp | access-date = 2009-06-07 | archive-date = 2008-12-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081225063242/http://www.centurytel.com/Pages/Disclaimers/internetDisclaimer.jsp | url-status = dead }}.</ref> However, AT&T in most states (especially the former SBC/SWB territory) will still install an ISDN BRI line anywhere a normal analog line can be placed.{{update|date=December 2024}}

ISDN-BRI is currently primarily used in industries with specialized and very specific needs. High-end [[videoconferencing]] hardware can bond up to 8 B-channels together (using a BRI circuit for every 2 channels) to provide digital, circuit-switched video connections to almost anywhere in the world. This is very expensive, and is being replaced by IP-based conferencing, but where cost concern is less of an issue than predictable quality and where a [[Quality of service|QoS]]-enabled IP does not exist, BRI is the preferred choice.

Most modern non-[[VoIP]] PBXs use ISDN-PRI circuits. These are connected via [[T-carrier|T1 lines]] with the central office switch, replacing older analog two-way and [[direct inward dialing]] (DID) trunks. PRI is capable of delivering [[Calling Line Identification]] (CLID) in both directions so that the telephone number of an extension, rather than a company's main number, can be sent. It is still commonly used in [[recording studio]]s and some [[radio program]]s, when a [[voice-over]] actor or host is in one studio conducting [[remote work]], but the director and producer are in a studio at another location.<ref name="Talkers 2013-03-28"/> The ISDN protocol delivers channelized, not-over-the-Internet service, powerful call setup and routing features, faster setup and tear down, superior audio fidelity as compared to [[plain old telephone service]] (POTS), lower delay and, at higher densities, lower cost.

In 2013, [[Verizon]] announced it would no longer take orders for ISDN service in the [[Northeastern United States]], signalling the beginning of the end for the technology in that region.<ref name="Talkers 2013-03-28">{{cite web|title=Verizon: No Longer Taking Orders for ISDN Service in Northeast Starting May 18|url=http://www.talkers.com/2013/03/28/verizon-no-longer-taking-orders-for-isdn-service-in-northeast-starting-may-18/|work=Talkers|access-date=April 6, 2013|date=March 28, 2013|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203105609/http://www.talkers.com/2013/03/28/verizon-no-longer-taking-orders-for-isdn-service-in-northeast-starting-may-18/|url-status=dead}}</ref>