What does the acronym POTS stand for?

The acronym POTS stands for Plain Old Telephone Service. This term is used to describe the traditional analog telephone service that has been in operation since the early days of telecommunication. It refers to the basic landline service offered by local telephone companies and is characterized by its simplicity and reliability. POTS provides voice communication over copper wire infrastructure, and it is the foundational technology upon which many telecommunications services have been built.

Understanding the significance of POTS is important, as it represents the standard in telecommunications before the advent of digital technologies and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Although modern technologies have largely replaced POTS in many areas, the term is still commonly used to distinguish between traditional analog services and more advanced digital options.