Telecommunications turbulence and the computer network evolution

Recent papers in this and other publications have addressed the current status of computer networks in some detail^{43, 14, 49, 11}. This paper is intended to provide complementary material by updating portions of previous works concerned with the telecommunications aspects of computer networks. This is a notably difficult task for several reasons, including common carrier competition, the immaturity of the technology, and a very complicated and dynamic regulatory situation. Nonetheless we shall attempt to delve into those aspects of the current telecommunications scene likely to be of major significance to common carriers, users, service and equipment vendors, and people just generally interested in the evolution of computer networking.