Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Whether you access the phone network over your cell phone, an SIP trunk, or via an old-school POTS line, the PSTN is an essential part of your day-to-day life, a critical stepping stone to the modern IP networks we use today, and an important part of many IP service provider's business. Despite the large-scale switchover to IP networks, the phone system is still governed by it's own distinct and obscure rules. This talk will demystify the network, starting with a brief overview of the history of the PSTN, followed by a deep dive into the inner functioning of the network. Listeners will come away with an understanding of how the US telephone network works, and how it impacts your business.
Enzo Damato: Enzo Damato is a Rice University researcher and lifelong hacker with over 7 years of experience with telecommunications, network administration, and security. He has founded Owlink Communications, a facilities-based CLEC, in order to further research telecommunications security and robocall mitigation. Enzo has also worked extensively with mainframe systems, winning a best session award at the SHARE conference for his presentation on DIY mainframe acquisition, installation, and configuration. Following this, he has developed and is currently teaching Rice University’s first course on mainframe computing. In addition, Enzo manages AS25944, an IX-peered ASN providing connectivity for his extensive personal lab.
Whether you access the phone network over your cell phone, an SIP trunk, or via an old-school POTS line, the PSTN is an essential part of your day-to-day life, a critical stepping stone to the modern IP networks we use today, and an important part of many IP service provider's business. Despite the large-scale switchover to IP networks, the phone system is still governed by it's own distinct and obscure rules. This talk will demystify the network, starting with a brief overview of the history of the PSTN, followed by a deep dive into the inner functioning of the network. Listeners will come away with an understanding of how the US telephone network works, and how it impacts your business.
Enzo Damato: Enzo Damato is a Rice University researcher and lifelong hacker with over 7 years of experience with telecommunications, network administration, and security. He has founded Owlink Communications, a facilities-based CLEC, in order to further research telecommunications security and robocall mitigation. Enzo has also worked extensively with mainframe systems, winning a best session award at the SHARE conference for his presentation on DIY mainframe acquisition, installation, and configuration. Following this, he has developed and is currently teaching Rice University’s first course on mainframe computing. In addition, Enzo manages AS25944, an IX-peered ASN providing connectivity for his extensive personal lab.
