Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

4. Session / Séance. Strategies for Links with Historical Research / Stratégies de Communication envers la Recherche historique - Gonzalez, Pedro: Data Bases and Long Distance Communication. A Spanish Éxperience / Bases de données et information a distance. Une expérience des archives espagnoles (english 319 - français 343)

4. Session/Séance: Gonzalez, Data Bases and long distance Communcation

To be able to make use of the IBERPAC network it is necessary to pay the connection rates and monthly subscription for data trafic, depending on the particular form of access chosen. The rates are applied in proportion to the volume of traffic, measured in segments (1 segment = 64 characters) and the communication time. Turnover is independent of the distance within large geographical areas (Europe and countries outside Europe).

2. The IBERTEX Service

Apart from the above services, TELEFONICA, S. A. has been providing a Videotext service in Spain (IBERTEX), a communication system which permits the exchange of text and image with access to data bases in accordance with a standard protocol defined by the CEPT. The applications which are carried out through Videotext are very varied, but are generally those which may be done in a very simple way, following criteria of interaction, frequent use but short duration (access to information on current events, press services, transport, banking services, leisure activities, tele-shopping services; message services, etc.).

The standard adhered to in the IBERTEX service is the CEPT-1 standard, offered by most European countries. In order to gain access to the IBERTEX service, the user must have a specialized terminal for videotext, or a personal computer with the corresponding modem using standard V.23 of the CCITT and the appropriate software.

With this equipment and connection to the STN any user may enter the network without any need to make a specific contract with Telefonica SA for national services, and for free international services, as the service is billed through the subscriber’s telephone meter, depending on access time. Telefonica pays the Service Centre directly (information and services supplier), when the particular service is not free. Only in the case of access to paid international Service Centres is it necessary to obtain an IBERTEX User Identification Code (IUI) through contract.

The user is connected up, therefore, through STN to the IBERTEX Access Centre, and from this to the corresponding Service Centre through the IBERPAC X- 25 Network. The transmission speeds are: Access Centre to User: 1200 b/s, and from the User to the Access Centre: 75 b/s.

3. The Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN)

In the European Economic Community there is a plan for the progressive introduction of ISDN. In actual fact the EEC has promoted an Agreement Protocol, which has been signed by the majority of the rest of the European countries for the development of the ISDN during the 90s, committing the signatories to have a minimum set of ISDN services compatible for all Europe, with the necessary legislation and coordination. The degree of progress, however, in each one of the countries varies a great deal, with France and the UK taking the lead.

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