Networks: universal or discrete?

During the 1980s, the pace of change in telecommunication networks has been rapid. The introduction of digital transmission and switching systems has led to a vastly more flexible and reliable network and has made many new services possible. Much further development of technology remains in areas such as mobile radio, optical systems, switching systems and network management. Personal radio services and new regulations over the distribution of broadband signals open up new challenges to make use of these new technologies in an imaginative and efficient manner