Definition of local call

The term "local call" originated in the context of telecommunications in the early 20th century, as telephones became increasingly widespread. At that time, most telephone lines were owned and operated by separate, local telephone companies, which charged their subscribers a fee to make calls within their own network. These calls were considered "local" because they did not require connection to other, long-distance networks or carriers. In contrast, calls made to numbers outside of the local network were considered "long distance" and were subject to additional charges, which were often substantially higher than the cost of local calls. To differentiate between these two types of calls, telephone companies began using the term "local call" to describe calls made to numbers within their own service area, and "long distance call" for calls beyond that area. As telecommunications technology advanced and telephone networks became increasingly interconnected, the concept of a "local call" became less clear-cut. Today, many modern telephone networks are designed to provide seamless, nationwide (or even global) coverage, and the distinction between a local call and a long distance call has become less meaningful. Nonetheless, the term "local call" remains in common use as a convenient shorthand for describing calls made within a particular geographic area, and as a way to distinguish such calls from those that incur additional charges or fees.