Datex-L (and other CSPDNs)

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CSPDN stands for Circuit Switched Public Data Network. The German incarnation of this concept was termed Datex-L by Deutsche Bundespost.

A CSPDN is a dedicated, separate (from PSTN) network providing digital communication services between its users. It is

  • circuit switched like a telephony network (dedicated circuits/calls/resources are explicitly established and released)

  • digital unlike a telephony network. The interface between subscriber and network is a digital interface, not an analog line

So conceptually, in a CSPDN like Datex-L, calls between two subscribers are established between digital serial interfaces provided by the telco. Analog modems were used for decades for wide-area data transmission over the traditional telephone network (POTS).

We collect, document, maintain and restore any kind of Datex-L / CSPDN related equipment.

Sadly, anything beyond the customer-side DCE (Data Commuications Equipment) like DAG and DFG seems to have been lost to history. In case anyone still has network-side components (which would mean of the Siemens EDS system, do not hesitate to reach out!

You can find more information at our Datex-L / CSPDN related wiki pages.