What is a PABX/PBX?

Ever imagined how big organisations communicate within their numerous branches and departments? While still at it, you are imagining alot of cabling and cable management systems, yeah? You might be right though. Anyway, we give you an idea of a system used by most organisations and telephone companies.

  

A Sample PABX System

What is a PBX/PABX?

A PABX/PBX system which stands for Private Automatic Branch Exchange or private branch exchanges. This a private network installed im medium and large sized companies for effortless communication between departments and branches from any location. This is more affordable compared to connecting an external telephone line to every telephone in the company. How do they work? What systems were there before PABX/PBX?
Brief History Of PBX/PABX

A company with a manual switchboard was operated by a person plugging cables into sockets. This was known as a Private Manual Branch Exchange(PMBX). They were repalced by electromechanical and finally electronic switching systems(PABX). 

ElectroMechanical Switchboard

How Do PABX Work?

The PABX switchboard is installed at a site(Business premises) and connects incoming calls between extension telephone lines installed. It accept calls transferred from a public switched telephone network to one that is a private network. Incoming calls are transferred through a private switching system to a private number telephone system within the private system. For outgoing calls, callers enter a code to access an outside line. A PABX can connect all business instruments including Telephone sets, faxes,modems and other communication devices can also be connected to a PBX. All these devices are normally connected to extensions.

Components Of PABX System

The outside lines (trunk lines) are available for making and receiving calls external to the site. Companies with more than one site can connect their PBXs together with trunk lines. PBX-like services can also be provided by equipment located off site at a central provider, delivering services over the public telephone network. This is known as a Private branch exchange Hosted PBX. 

What Is The Future Of PBX?

Even though the a manual telephone operator who patched cables on a plug board was replaced, this system has continued to see improvements and developments throughout the years;

Hosted/ Virtual PABX systems is on the rise as a PABX system. This is when a large company, mostly telephone companies, offer PABX like services. After subscription, your telephone lines are connected to the service providers PABX system by internet. The only disadvantage is that your phones will not work without internet but you get rid off the need to install a PABX system.

In addition, VoIP (Voice over IP) known also as an IPBX is one of the  in PBX switchboard development which uses the Internet Protocol to carry calls. Most newer switchboards PaBXs support VoIP.