Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the global system for traditional landline phone calls. It uses a network of physical wires, cables, and switching centers to connect callers, enabling voice communication over long distances. When you make a call, your voice is converted into electrical signals that travel through the network until reaching the recipient’s phone, where the signals are converted back into sound. PSTN has been the backbone of telephone communication for decades, providing reliable, circuit-switched connections, though it's increasingly supplemented or replaced by digital and internet-based communication technologies.