This Recommendation specifies the operation of a digital modem and analogue modem pair for use on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) at data signalling rates of up to 56 000 bit/s in the downstream direction and up to 33 600 bit/s in the upstream direction. The two modems are specified herein in terms of coding, start-up signals and sequences, operating procedures and DTE-DCE interface functionalities. The network interface of the digital modem and the signalling rate that is used to connect the digital modem locally to a digital switched network are considered to be national matters and are hence not specified herein.