The transmission of documents via facsimile, commonly known as faxing, has traditionally relied upon connection to a standard telephone network. This requirement stems from the analog nature of traditional fax machines, which modulate data signals into a format suitable for transmission over the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Consequently, a physical connection to a phone line was indispensable for sending and receiving documents.
The reliance on a dedicated phone line offered a reliable, albeit somewhat slow, method for document transmission. This method gained widespread adoption due to its simplicity and the ubiquity of telephone infrastructure. However, maintaining a separate line solely for faxing incurred costs and limited flexibility, particularly as digital communication technologies advanced. Historically, the perceived security of transmitting documents via a dedicated line contributed to its continued use in various sectors.
