What is the purpose of multiplexing?

Multiplexing serves the specific purpose of combining multiple circuits and services into a single transmission link. This process efficiently maximizes the use of available bandwidth by allowing simultaneous transmission of different data streams over a single medium, whether that be copper wire, fiber optics, or radio waves. By utilizing multiplexing, various types of data such as voice, video, and data can be sent together without interference, enhancing the overall capacity of communication systems.

The process is fundamental in telecommunications and data networking, as it enables the infrastructure to accommodate a higher volume of signals without requiring additional physical lines or channels, thereby optimizing resource use and reducing costs. In various applications, including telephone systems and data networks, multiplexing techniques can take many forms, such as Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), further supporting diverse communication needs in a compact way.