Data and Voice Network Similarities

Data and voice networks share similar functions due to the nature of networking.

• Signaling is used to establish a connection between two endpoints.

In a voice network, signaling helps identify who the calling party is trying to call and where the called party is on the network. Traditional telephony uses terminals with fixed addresses and establishes a fixed connection for the communication session between two such terminals, allocating fixed bandwidth resources for the duration of the call.

IP communications constitute a connectionless network, having neither fixed addresses nor fixed connections.

• Addressing. Each terminal on a network must be identified by a unique address.

In a voice network the unique address is a permanent attribute, based on international and national numbering plans, and/or local telephone company practices and internal customer-specific codes. In IP communications, dial plans track extension numbers assigned to terminals. No fixed connection path is needed.

• Routing is related to addressing and allows connections to be established between endpoints.

Though these functions are common to data and voice networks, the implementations differ.