A European format for digital transmission. E1 supports signals at 2 Mbps (32 channels at 64Kbps, with 2 channels reserved for signaling and controlling), versus the T1, which carries signals at 1.544 Mbps (24 channels at 64Kbps).
The service allows you finding out who has called you, when the telephone line was busy, switched off or was outside the zone of coverage. By doing so, it ensures that an important call will not be missed.