--- title: "PABX Definition: What is a PABX? | United Business Solutions" description: The first PABX Systems were developed more than 50 years ago in the United States. Today most South African business use some form or other of a PABX system, now referred to as a PBX. image: https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Old%20Pabx.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/pabx-definition#main) [← Back to unitedbusiness.co.za](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/) [Request service](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/log-service-call/) [Request toner](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/order-toner/) [Submit meter reading](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/submit-meter-reading/) [Help Centre](https://knowledgebase.unitedbusiness.co.za/?hsLang=en-za) ★★★★★4.5 · 200+ Google reviews [086 001 8500](tel:+27860018500) [![United Business Solutions — main website](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/UBS%20Red%20Logo.png?width=194&height=60&name=UBS%20Red%20Logo.png)](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/) [Blog](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za) Search the blog [Request a quote](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/contact-united-business/) - [Managed Print Solutions](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/print-solutions/) [Multifunction photocopiers](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/print-solutions/multifunction-printers/) [Remanufactured photocopiers](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/print-solutions/remanufactured-refurbished-photocopiers/) [Wide-format printers](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/print-solutions/large-format-printers/) [Print management software](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/print-solutions/print-management-solutions/) [Managed print guides →](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/tag/managed-print-solutions) - [Telecoms & Data](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/telecoms-data-solutions/) [Cloud hosted PBX](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/telecoms-data-solutions/cloud-hosted-pbx/) [VoIP solutions](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/telecoms-data-solutions/voip/) [Virtual landlines](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/telecoms-data-solutions/virtual-landlines/) [Data connectivity](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/telecoms-data-solutions/data-connectivity/) [Telecoms and data guides →](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/tag/telecoms-data) - [AI, CCTV & Access Control](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/security-solutions/) [CCTV systems](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/security-solutions/cctv-systems/) [Access control](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/security-solutions/access-control/) [Time and attendance](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/security-solutions/time-attendance/) [Intervid Africa](https://www.intervid-africa.co.za/) [Security guides →](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/tag/ai-cctv-access-control) - [Services](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/services/) [Log a service call](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/log-service-call/) [Request toner](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/order-toner/) [Submit a meter reading](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/submit-meter-reading/) [Service agreements and rentals](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/services/) [Accounts and billing help](https://knowledgebase.unitedbusiness.co.za/accounts-billing?hsLang=en-za) [Go to the Help Centre →](https://knowledgebase.unitedbusiness.co.za/?hsLang=en-za) - [About](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/about/) - [Blog](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za) 1. [Home](https://unitedbusiness.co.za/) 2. [Blog](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za) 3. [Telecoms & Data](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/tag/telecoms-data) 4. PABX Definition: What is a PABX? # PABX Definition: What is a PABX? A By [Admin](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/author/admin) Published 2 March 2020 Updated 8 October 2026 2 min read In short The first PABX Systems were developed more than 50 years ago in the United States. Today most South African business use some form or other of a PABX system, now referred to as a PBX. ![](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Old%20Pabx.jpg?width=760&height=398&name=Old%20Pabx.jpg) ![Old Pabx.jpg](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Old%20Pabx.jpg "Old Pabx.jpg") The first PABX Systems were developed more than 50 years ago in the United States. Today most South African business use some form or other of a PABX system, now referred to as a PBX. The PABX is an essential piece of business equipment which allows businesses to process and transfer incoming telecommunications in a professional manner.   Wikipedia defines a PABX System as: A **private branch exchange (PBX)** is a [telephone exchange](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange) that serves a particular business or office, as opposed to one that a [common carrier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier) or telephone company operates for many businesses or for the general public. PBXs are also referred to as: - **PABX** – private automatic branch exchange - **EPABX** – electronic private automatic branch exchange  ![](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/200px-18butt~1(1).gif?width=200&height=121&name=200px-18butt~1(1).gif)  Today the definition of a PABX has grown widely to encompass a variety of technologies. With the growth of IP PBX’s, Hosted PABX’s and now the advent of mobile 3G PABX systems, consumers now have a wide variety of solutions reducing costs and increasing options.     United Business supplies all of these options to the Southern African market, contact us [Here](http://www.unitedbusiness.co.za/pbx_pabx_private_branch_exchange_system.html)for further information surrounding your PABX system and the options available to your business or organisation    TAGS: - [IP PBX Defined](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/category/blog-tags/ip-pbx-defined?hsLang=en-za) - [PABX Definition](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/category/blog-tags/pabx-definition?hsLang=en-za) - [PBX definition](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/category/blog-tags/pbx-definition?hsLang=en-za) - [What is a PABX ?](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/category/blog-tags/what-pabx?hsLang=en-za) [Telecoms & Data](https://blog.unitedbusiness.co.za/tag/telecoms-data) A **Admin** Part of the United Business Solutions team, advising South African businesses on print, telecoms and security. 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