There is a reasonable compromise first theorized by Agner Krarup Erlang which is based upon the concept that not all calls need to be connected at the same time.
He was a member of the Danish Mathematicians' Association (TBMI) and through this met amateur mathematician Johan Jensen, the Chief Engineer of the Copenhagen Telephone Company (KTAS in Danish), an offshoot of the International Bell Telephone Company.
Agner Krarup Erlang (1878–1929), a mathematician and engineer after whom several concepts are named
Erlang (programming language) | Erlang | Agner Krarup Erlang | Steen Krarup Jensen | Erlang Shen | Erlang distribution |