Local call
A local call is a telephone call that is made at the “ local rate”.
International standardization
The structure of telephone numbers is regulated in the ITU-T standard E.164 . According to this, the numbering plans, the local networks and the allocation of the area codes are the responsibility of the national legislation.
The European Union has stipulated that telephone numbers in the fixed network must have a local reference: the area code and subscriber number together must have a clear reference to the place of residence. These regulations lead to an identical meaning of the term "local call" throughout the EU. In Switzerland, on the other hand, the area code can be retained, even if you move to a region with a different area code.
Germany
Typically, all connections that do not require a prefix to be dialed are local calls. However, some special numbers are also charged with the local rate, so that they are referred to as local calls. The opposite of a local call is the long distance call that extends beyond a location.
Originally, local calls were connections between subscribers who were connected to the same local exchange ( local exchange , TVst) via their subscriber line. These participants formed the local network together with the TVst .
In the Federal Republic of Germany (excluding the new federal states) there were once around 8,000 local networks. For these connections within the local area network, no communication path had to be established over the long-distance network , and they were therefore subject to cheaper tariffs. With the advancing expansion of the telephone network , however, the number of local exchanges has been reduced as much as possible in almost all countries. Despite the integration of the existing telephone network in the new federal states, the number of exchanges in Germany was reduced to around 6,400 with 5,200 different area codes. As a result, each individual exchange now has a catchment area that includes many locations. The local reference of the area code was nevertheless retained. A local network is no longer characterized by the fact that all subscribers are connected to the same exchange. Rather, it is characterized in that all subscribers have the same area code, and all calls between these subscribers are local calls. In 1978, according to the Deutsche Bundespost, 11.287 billion local calls were made in West Germany.
costs
In many countries, such as the United States, local calls were free. They were included in the price for the connection. In Germany or Switzerland they were subject to a fee . In Germany, however, the fee was low, until the 1980s, for example. B. only one time 20, - Pf without time limit.
This meant that in states or regions in which local calls were free, some technical facilities, such as mailboxes, were more prevalent .
See also
- Neighboring local traffic (German postal system)
literature
- Handheld dictionary of electrical telecommunications ; 2nd edition, Volume 2 G-P; Pp. 1222-1223
