Plans for data communications in Germany

The Electronic Data Switching system (EDS) and its introduction into the network of the Federal German Post Office are presented. The great demands of future data transmission will be unable to be met by conventional techniques. Therefore, special networks for data traffic are being discussed in several countries. This paper deals with the plans of the Deutsche Bundespost (Federal German Post Office) to establish a data network by making use of the newly developed EDS system. Furthermore, it describes the individual components of the network, such as the connection of the subscriber and the techniques for transmission, concentrating, and switching. The new network will offer a great number of operational and technical facilities which cannot be provided using conventional techniques. Starting from the present international agreements, the most important operational facilities of the data network are described, and an outlook is given on future synchronous modes of operation with the EDS system.