23 = 8 (0 (000) to 7 (111)) different val- ues. As another example, a digital signal with eight-bit words or bytes (often called octets in digital telecommunications systems) can represent 28 = 256 discrete values of a signal. These kinds of digital numbers are used to repre- sent analog voice, in which each sample of a voice signal is encoded into eight-bit words, as we will explain in Section 3.6. 3.4.2 Advantages of Digital Technology Analog systems in a telecommunications network have gradually been replaced with digital systems. Development of digital circuits and software technologies has made digital systems more and more attractive. The most important advantages of digital technology over analog technology are as follows: Digital functions make a high scale of integration possible. Digital technology results in lower cost, better reliability, less floor space, and lower power consumption. Digital technology makes communication quality independent of distance. Digital technology provides better noise tolerance. Digital networks are ideal for growing data communication Digital technology makes new services available. Digital system provides high transmission capacity. Digital networks offer flexibility. An analog system requires the accurate detection of signal values inside its dynamic range, that is, between the maximum and minimum values of the signal. Digital systems use binary signals internally. A binary signal has only two values, and the only problem is to distinguish these two values from each other. The dynamic range is well defined and linearity is not required. Signals Carried over the Network This makes the elements of digital circuits simple, and the utilization of com- pact technology for very complicated functions, such as integrated circuits, is feasible. As a consequence, circuit integration leads to a smaller number of elec- tronic components, smaller equipment, lower manufacturing costs, lower maintenance costs because of better reliability, and less power consumption. More and more comp