Definitions & Information:
carrier

carrier

Short for carrier signal, carrier system, or carrier service provider:

  • carrier signal: A frequency in a communications channel modulated to carry analog or digital signal information. For example, an FM radio transmitter modulates the frequency of a carrier signal and the receiver processes the carrier signal to extract the analog information. An AM radio transmitter modulates the amplitude of a carrier signal.
  • carrier system: A communications system providing a number of point-to-point channels through some type of multiplexing. T-1 and T-3 carrier services are examples of carrier systems that can be used between points in a Wide Area Network (WAN).
  • carrier service provider: A company offering telephone and data communications between points in a state or in one or more countries. The Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) are example of carriers.