SS7

ALSO CALLED: CCIS, Signaling System 7 Protocol, Common Channel Interoffice Signaling, Common Channel Signaling
DEFINITION: On the public switched telephone network (PSTN), Signaling System 7 (SS7) is a system that puts the information required to set up and manage telephone calls in a separate network rather than within the same network that the telephone call is made on. Signaling information is in the form of digital packets. SS7 uses what is called out-of-band signaling, meaning that signaling (control) information  … 
Definition continues below.

SS7 DEFINITION (continued): …  travels on a separate, dedicated 56 or 64 Kbps channel rather than within the same channel as the telephone call. Historically, the signaling for a telephone call has used the same voice circuit that the telephone call traveled on (this is known as in-band signaling). Using SS7, telephone calls can be set up more efficiently and with greater security. Special services such as call forwarding and wireless roaming service are easier to add and manage. SS7 is now an international telecommunications standard.SS7 is used for these and other services:Setting up and managing the connection for a … 
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