The Development of Public Switching Systems in the UK and Sweden: The Weight of History

Abstract

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the British and Swedish historical experience in public switching systems (PSSs). It makes use of the concept of sociotechnical constituencies to address the processes involved in the evolution of public switching capabilities in both countries. Molina argues that the long historical roots of the present British and Swedish public digital switching constituencies (System X and AXE 10 respectively) are critical to understanding the two experiences. Three major areas of difference are considered: the shape of the technology, the institutionality adopted, and the diffusion strategies pursued by the two constituencies.