Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless backbone for use with a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In one embodiment, the wireless backbone includes a central office switch coupled to the PSTN and configured to process a plurality of calls associated with the PSTN. Additionally, the wireless backbone also includes a wireless transmission unit coupled to the central office switch and configured to cooperate with another wireless transmission unit to yield a wireless trunk for communicating the plurality of calls to another central office switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communications backbone for connecting first and second telecommunication nodes. In one embodiment, the communications backbone includes a first time division multiplexed gateway associated with the first telecommunication node and configured to be directly connected to a packet-switched network. Additionally, the communications backbone also includes a second time division multiplexed gateway associated with the second telecommunication node and configured to be directly connected to the packet-switched network to form a communications trunk between the first and second telecommunication nodes.