Telecommunications network

A telecommunications network is an interconnected system that carries voice, data, or video between devices and locations using transmission links and network equipment.

Communication channel: A medium or path through which information-bearing signals travel between points. Carries signals between network devices, whether through wire, radio, or optical fiber.
Telecommunications link: A connection between network points that carries signals over a physical or wireless medium. Links form the paths that join devices and network facilities.
Public switched telephone network: The traditional circuit-switched telephone system that connects public telephone subscribers. It is the established network architecture for conventional fixed-line voice calls.
Circuit switching: A communication method that reserves a dedicated path between endpoints for the duration of a connection. It contrasts with packet switching: calls hold a continuous path rather than sharing links packet by packet.
Digital divide: The gap between people and communities with effective access to digital technologies and those without it. Network coverage, affordability, and quality help determine who can participate online.
Packet switching: A method of transmitting data by dividing it into packets that are routed independently across a network. Moves digital traffic efficiently across shared links without reserving a continuous path.
Router: A device that forwards packets between networks using addressing and routing information. Routers connect network segments and choose where packets go next.
Mobile network: A wireless telecommunications system that connects mobile devices through radio access and core infrastructure. It extends connectivity to moving devices through cellular coverage.
Broadcasting: The distribution of a signal from one source to many recipients, typically without individual return paths. Broadcast systems distribute content outward, unlike networks built for two-way communication.
Network neutrality: The principle that internet service providers should treat data traffic without unfair discrimination. Traffic management choices raise questions about equal treatment across network services.

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