[mikhmha]

As someone obsessed with Networking and Networking Topology I am so so fascinated by analog telephone networks. Just the idea of long-distance connections being made via physical wires connecting at switches by human operators feels so raw. I can't even imagine such a thing. When I was younger analog telephone was being phased out. I still remember my dad having to go buy calling cards at convenience stores so he could make long distance calls back home. And then one day there were no more calling cards.

I can imagine lots of lessons learned from telephone networking helped shape ideas around computer network design.