- Local loop
In
telephony , the local loop (also referred to as a subscriber line) is the physical link or circuit that connects from thedemarcation point of the customer premises to the edge of the carrier ortelecommunications service provider's network. At the edge of the carrier network in a traditionalPSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) scenario, the local loop terminates in a circuitswitch housed in anILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier) CO (Central Office). Traditionally, the local loop waswireline in nature from customer to central office, specifically in the form of an electrical circuit (i.e., ) provisioned as a singletwisted pair in support of voice communications. However, modern implementations may include adigital loop carrier system segment orfiber optic transmission system known asfiber-in-the-loop .The local loop may terminate at a circuit switch owned by a
CLEC (Competitive LEC) and housed in a POP, which typically is either an ILEC CO or a "carrier hotel ".A local loop may be provisioned to support data communications applications, or combined voice and data such as
digital subscriber line (DSL).Local loop connections can be used to carry a range of services, including:
* analog voice and signaling used in traditional POTS
*Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
* variants ofDigital Subscriber Line (DSL)Many owners of local loops are public utilities that hold a
natural monopoly .To prevent the owner from using this natural monopoly to monopolize other fields of trade, some jurisdictions require utilities to unbundle the local loop, that is, make the local loop available to their competitors.The term "local loop" is sometimes used for any "
last mile " connection to the customer, regardless of technology or intended purpose. Hence the phrase "wireless local loop ".Local loop connections in this sense include:
*Electric power line local loop: PLT or PLC
*Optical local loop: Fiber Optics services such asFiOS
*Satellite local loop:communications satellite and cosmos Internet connections ofsatellite television (DVB-S)
*Cable local loop:Cablemodem
*Wireless local loop (WLL):LMDS ,WiMAX ,GPRS ,HSDPA ,DECT ee also
*
Access network
*Local loop unbundling
*Sub-loop unbundling
*The local loop is an example ofoutside plant
*Serving area interface
*Telephone line
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