ITU-T Modem Recommendati

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T) based in Geneva, Switzerland, has

developed transmission standards for data modems since the late 1980s. These standards are
known as the V-series and are identified by numbers (e.g., V.21, V.23). The V-series may have
revisions indicated by "bis" (second) or "terbo" (third).
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.29, which sets a 9600-bps data transmission standard for
synchronous data transmission over four-wire leased lines. It used 16-QAM modulation and
quadbits for data transmission. It could also work in half-duplex mode over two-wire
telephone lines using techniques like ping-pong and statistical duplexing.
Pseudo full-duplex operation over a two-wire line can be achieved through statistical
duplexing, which employs a 300-bps reverse data channel. This reverse channel enables a data
operator to send keyboard data while simultaneously receiving a file from a remote modem.
The modem monitors its data buffers to determine the data transmission direction, allowing
for the switching of high- and low-speed channels as needed.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.32 provided a 9600-bps data transmission rate with full-
duplex operation over four-wire leased lines or two-wire telephone lines. It employed trellis
encoding for better signal-to-noise ratio and echo cancellation for full-duplex operation.
Full-duplex operation over two-wire switched telephone lines is achieved with V.32 using a
technique called echo cancellation. Echo cancellation involves adding an inverted replica of the
transmitted signal to the received signal. This allows the data transmitted from each modem to
simultaneously use the same carrier frequency, modulation scheme, and bandwidth.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.32bis and V.32terbo
ITU-T recommendation V.32bis was introduced in 1991 and created a new benchmark for the
data modem industry by allowing transmission bit rates of 14.4 kbps over standard.
ITU-T Recommendation V.33 is designed for modems operating on dedicated two-point
private-line four-wire circuits. It utilizes trellis coding and is like V.32 but has a V.33 signaling
element with six information bits and one redundant bit. This configuration enables a data
transmission rate of 14.4 kbps at 2400 baud, using an 1800-Hz carrier frequency. The
modulation scheme employs a 128-point constellation.
ITU-T Modem Recommendations V.42 and V.42bis were adopted in 1988. V.42 focuses on
error-correcting procedures for Data Communication Equipment (DCEs), specifically modems.
It addresses issues related to asynchronous-to-synchronous transmission conversions and error
control, including both detection and correction.
V.42's main feature is the specification of a modem protocol called Link Access Procedures for
Modems (LAP M), which is quite similar to the packet-switching protocol used in the X.25
standard.
On the other hand, V.42bis is designed to improve the error-correcting capabilities of modems
that implement the V.42 standard. Modems equipped with data compression techniques have
shown significant improvements in data throughput compared to their predecessors. V.42bis
can achieve compression ratios of approximately 3-to-1 to 4-to-1 for ASCII-coded text, using
the specified compression algorithm, British Telecom's BTLZ. This can result in throughput rates
of up to 56 kbps when V.42bis data compression is applied.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.32, also known as V.fast, was officially adopted in 1994 and
represented a significant advancement in data transmission technology. It allowed for data
rates of 28.8 kbps without compression, and with the use of modern data compression
techniques, V.fast modems could achieve data transmission rates two to three times faster
than existing standards.
One notable feature of V.32 was its adaptive nature. It automatically adjusted to changes in
transmission-line conditions and dynamically adapted data rates based on the quality of the
communication channel. This adaptability made it well-suited for varying network conditions,
ensuring efficient data transmission.
ITU-T V.34 introduced several key innovations in modem technology:
1. Nonlinear coding: V.34 utilized nonlinear coding to counteract the adverse effects of system
nonlinearities, mitigating issues like harmonic and intermodulation distortion, as well as
amplitude-related noise.
2. Multidimensional coding and constellation shaping: These techniques were employed to
improve data resilience in the presence of channel noise, enhancing the reliability of data
transmission.
3. Reduced decoder complexity: V.34 brought about advancements in receiver decoders,
simplifying their design and making them more efficient.
4. Precoding of data: Data was precoded in a way that utilized a larger portion of the available
communication channel bandwidth. This was particularly beneficial in regions where
amplitude, frequency, and phase distortion were most severe.
5. Line probing: V.34 incorporated line probing as a technique for receive modems to quickly
assess and determine the best correction methods to compensate for impairments in the
transmission line. This ensured better performance, especially in challenging network
conditions.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.34+, established in 1996, is an upgraded standard
introduced by the ITU. It extends the V.34 specification by including data rates of 31.2 kbps and
33.6 kbps, theoretically offering a 17% increase in transmission rates. However, this
enhancement may not be deemed significant enough to be seriously considered at the present
time.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.90, developed in February 1998, established an
asymmetrical data transmission technology. It is similar to 3COM's x2 and Lucent's K56flex.
V.90 allows for modem downstream (receive) data rates of up to 56 kbps and upstream
(transmit) data rates of up to 33.6 kbps. However, these data rates are not suitable for the
United States and Canada due to regulatory limits set by the FCC and CRTC, which restrict
transmission rates offered by telephone companies to a maximum of 53 kbps.
ITU-T Modem Recommendation V.92 In 2000, the ITU approved a new modem standard
calledV.92.V.92 offers three improvements over V.90 that can be achieved only if both the
transmit and receive modems and the Internet Service Provider (ISP) have V.92 compliant
modems. V.92 offers :
1. upstream transmission rate of 48 kbps,
2. faster call setup capabilities
3. incorporation of a hold option.