This Recommendation provides guidance regarding transmission impairments introduced by digital
speech processing systems. The information provided is for use in conjunction with the
transmission planning approach described in [ITU-T G.107], [ITU-T G.108] and [ITU-T G.109].
The impairment factor method, used by the E-model of [ITU-T G.107], is now recommended. The
earlier method that used quantization distortion units is no longer recommended.
The E-model reflects the combined perceptual effects of different types of impairments on the
end-to-end speech transmission performance by using impairment factors. Impairment factors
represent the (degrading) contribution of one instrumentally measurable attribute of the connection
(e.g., attenuation, loss), or of a complete piece of equipment (e.g., a low bit-rate coding and
decoding process) on the overall quality as experienced by the user. This degradation is called an
"impairment factor" in a general sense, and "equipment impairment factor" when it is related to the
degradations due to a specific piece of equipment.
The E-model is highly useful because it combines the effects of different impairment factors.
Network and service planners who are concerned with end-to-end speech transmission performance
can use impairment factors with the E-model to assess the effects of introducing speech processing
technologies.