---
title: "CCITU definition, switching classes and Nepal history"
subject: "Telecommunications"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/telecommunications:ccitu-definition-switching-nepal"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/ccitu-definition-switching-nepal
site: BCT Engineering
---

# CCITU definition, switching classes and Nepal history

Telecommunications · Chapter 1: Telecommunication Networks

- Asked in: 2076 Chaitra, 2+2+3 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/ccitu-definition-switching-nepal
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/telecommunications/chapter-1

## Question

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.

## 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.

## Answer

#### 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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. The ITU (Geneva 1992) definition covers transmission of
   A. only voice by wire
   B. signs, signals, writings, images and sounds by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems
   C. only data by radio
   D. only text by telegraph
   Answer: B. It is technology-neutral. (Key point: Definition)

2. Electronic SPC switching is divided into
   A. Strowger and crossbar
   B. Manual and automatic
   C. Space-division and time-division (digital)
   D. Circuit and packet only
   Answer: C. Strowger and crossbar are electromechanical. (Key point: Classification)

3. What happened in Nepal in 1962?
   A. NTC established
   B. Sanga earth station
   C. GSM started
   D. First automatic exchange (about 1,000 lines) in Kathmandu
   Answer: D. NTC was 1975, Sanga 1982 and GSM 1999. (Key point: Nepal 1962)

4. In 2004 NTC became
   A. Nepal Doorsanchar Company Ltd (Nepal Telecom)
   B. Ncell
   C. Nepal Telecommunications Authority
   D. Spice Nepal
   Answer: A. NTA is the regulator (1998); the private operator came in 2005. (Key point: Nepal 2004)

## Related in Telecommunications

- [Telecommunication definition and Nepal's history since 1913](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Atelecom-nepal-history-1913) — Telecommunications, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Short note: Telecom development in Nepal since 1913](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Ashort-note-nepal-telecom-development) — Telecommunications, chapter 1