Editing Signalling System No. 7 (section)

===Signaling modes===
Apart from signaling with these various degrees of association with call set-up and the facilities used to carry calls, SS7 is designed to operate in two modes: ''associated mode'' and ''quasi-associated mode''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-Q.700-199303-I/en/|title=ITU-T Recommendation Q.700|page=4|date=1993-03-01}}</ref>

When operating in the ''associated mode'', SS7 signaling progresses from [[Telephone exchange|switch to switch]] through the Public Switched Telephone Network following the same path as the associated facilities that carry the telephone call. This mode is more economical for small networks. The associated mode of signaling is not the predominant choice of modes in North America.<ref>{{harv|Dryburgh|Hewitt|2004|pp=22–23}}.</ref>

When operating in the ''quasi-associated mode'', SS7 signaling progresses from the originating [[Telephone exchange|switch]] to the terminating switch, following a path through a separate SS7 signaling network composed of [[Signal Transfer Point|signal transfer point]]s. This mode is more economical for large networks with lightly loaded signaling links. The quasi-associated mode of signaling is the predominant choice of modes in North America.<ref>{{harv|Dryburgh|Hewitt|2004|p=23}}.</ref>