Digital switching - 10 years of operational experience

Abstract

The digitalization of the Swedish network started in 1980. During the period 1980-83 the average stoppage time per exchange and year showed a steady increase and reached 80 minutes in 1983. An action programme was formulated and implemented. The trend was reversed already in 1984 and the average stoppage time is now less than 8 minutes per exchange and year. This paper touches on the various methods by which this impressive result was achieved, the importance of a well defined and strictly enforced procedural framework for the production and introduction of software upgrades and the impact of digitalization on the maintenance organization.