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CCITU definition, switching classes and Nepal history

Short answer

Telecommunication is the transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writings, images or intelligence by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems (ITU Geneva 1992). Switching systems are manual, electromechanical (Strowger, crossbar) and SPC (space/time). Nepal: 1913 start, 1935 manual, 1962 automatic, 1975 NTC, 1982 Sanga, 1997 Act, 1999 GSM, 2004 Nepal Telecom, 2005 private GSM, 2007 3G, 2017 4G.

What is Telecommunication according to CCITU, Geneva 1992? Classify various switching systems in telecommunication. Explain the historical background of telecommunication in Nepal since 1913 A.D.

Definition (ITU, Geneva 1992)

Telecommunication is any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writings, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems (Constitution of the ITU, Geneva 1992).

Classification of switching systems

  • Manual – operator-controlled switchboards.
  • Automatic
    • Electromechanical: Strowger (step-by-step) and crossbar.
    • Electronic / Stored Program Control: space-division and time-division (digital) switching, with centralised or distributed control.
  • By transfer mode: circuit, message and packet switching.

Historical background in Nepal since 1913

  • 1913: first telephone service started in Kathmandu for the Rana government.
  • 1935: manual telephone exchange (about 100 lines) in Kathmandu.
  • 1950s: HF radio links; telephone opened to the public; telecom department formed.
  • 1962: first automatic exchange (about 1,000 lines) in Kathmandu.
  • 1975: Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) established.
  • 1982: satellite earth station at Sanga for international calls.
  • 1997–98: Telecommunication Act 2053 and Nepal Telecommunications Authority (regulator).
  • 1999: GSM mobile service by NTC; 2004: NTC became Nepal Doorsanchar Company Ltd (Nepal Telecom); 2005: private GSM (Mero Mobile, later Ncell).
  • 2007 onward: 3G (2007), 4G LTE (2017), optical fibre backbone and FTTH.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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