What Is POTS?

Date First Published: 18th June 2022

Topic: Computer Networking

Subtopic: Network Services

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 6/10

CONTENTS

Advantages and Disadvantages Of POTS

Learn more about what POTS is in this article.

Stands for Plain Old Telephone Service. POTS is the traditional analogue signal telecommunications service that is implemented over copper wires and telephone lines. It has been used since the 1880s and was the standard service that telephone companies provided until 1988 in the United States, which was when the ISDN Basic Rate Interface was introduced, along with cellular telephone systems and VoIP. POTS is based on the Bell Telephone System.

This term is reflective of the technology that has been available since the launch of the public telephone system in the late 19th century. POTS is an upgrade over the first phone system that was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

Note:

In the early days, POTS was known as the Post Office Telephone Service since callers relied on post office operators to connect them to their destinations.

POTS has been replaced by digital alternatives, such as VoIP and cellular services. However, it is still used for voice calls to and from some landlines and by older businesses. POTS lines are being phased out. Large US telecommunication companies, such as AT&T and Verizon will replace POTS lines in the US with an alternative service by 2nd August 2022.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of POTS

Even though POTS is gradually being phased out, it still has a number of advantages, which include:

High dial-tone availability of more than 99.999% of the time that the telephone is taken off-hook. This is known as the ‘five nines’ reliability standard. POTS is known to provide better reliability than other telephone systems, such as mobile phones and VoIP.
No external electrical power source is required as copper wires carry low voltage.
Clear and uncompressed voice audio.

The disadvantages of POTS are:

It relies on a hardwired connection from each home to the telecommunications company.
Other than in-home handsets, there is no wireless option.
There is limited bandwidth for transmitting digital signals.
The audio frequency range is limited to 300-3300 Hz.