Public telecommunication sector

Definition
The public telecommunication sector is the

"telecommunication infrastructure over which services were provided for the public at large. Traditionally, this included telecommunication networks (e.g. telephone, telex, telegraph, data) which consisted of exchanges (switches) linked by transmission circuits that connect subscribers to each other and with subscribers abroad."

Overview
The term “public” referred to the access arrangement (anyone could subscribe to the network) rather than the ownership of the network.