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Glite Dictionary
📞 A digital network 🔌 Using digital network
ISDN

ISDN

6.0
A connection that uses a digital phone line to send voice and data
  • adjective
  • /ˈaɪˌɛsˈdiːˈɛn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ISDN
  • Many businesses relied on ISDN connections before broadband became widely available.

Examples

  • The technician installed an ISDN modem to enable faster data transfer over the phone line.

  • The company upgraded to an ISDN line to improve the quality of their video conferences.

  • The ISDN service was interrupted during the storm.

  • Can you explain how ISDN works?

  • The company upgraded to an ISDN line to improve the quality of their video conferences.

  • Many businesses relied on ISDN connections before broadband became widely available.

  • The technician installed an ISDN modem to enable faster data transfer over the phone line.

How Modern

digital
576 3.0
fiber-optic
  • Specialized
12 4.9
broadband
  • Specialized
3.9
ISDN
  • Archaic
6.0
analog
  • Specialized
1 5.4

Surface Forms

ISDN positive

Morphology

ISDN = integrated + services + digital + network (opaque) = I + S + D + N

Used adjectivally but still functions as an initialism; the letters do not yield semantic transparency for learners.

Etymology

The word ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. Think of Integrated as 'joined together', Digital as 'in numbers', and Network as 'a system of lines', so an ISDN connection is one that uses this joined system to carry 'voice and data' over telephone lines.