How to understand the difference between LATA, IntraLATA and InterLATA

It used to be that people had a choice when it came to their phone service, and that was AT&T. However, after the breakdown of the AT&T monopoly in the 1980s, more phone service options became available for local and long distance calls. Even now though, people are still a bit confused when it comes to LATA, IntraLATA and InterLATA phone calls and what is best for phone bill management.

Geographic telephone regions are known as Local Access Transport Areas, or LATA. They focus on different markets, rather than being defined by state lines or area codes. In fact, some LATA cross different borders. LATAs are managed by regional hood operating companies.

Phone calls made within a LATA are considered IntraLATA phone calls. These are generally designated as local toll calls. Due to the strong assumption that proximity phone calls should not be as expensive as calls to further distances, IntraLATA calls now have a price for telephone transport equal to that of a local call.

When calling between two LATA regions, this is known as an InterLATA phone call. Many phone companies consider it a long distance phone call. Due to the fact that LATA boundaries are crossed, the use of an InterXchange Carrier is required.

Cheap IntraLATA packages should be concerned if many of the phone calls being made are within a LATA region. The price of calls between two LATA regions has also decreased and the market has become much larger.

An Intra or InterLATA package can be chosen once a person determines the location of the majority of daily phone calls. If there are problems determining what is best, a telecommunications consultant is helpful in determining what is best. A good package will provide people with the necessary skills to make their phone calls at an affordable price.