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Question

The traffic in a telecommunication network is measured by an internationally accepted unit of traffic intensity. Select the correct option.

The correct answer is

Erlang

Telecommunication Traffic Measurement Unit

In the field of telecommunication, accurately measuring and managing network traffic is fundamental for ensuring efficient operation and high-quality service. The quantity of traffic within a telecommunication network is quantified using specific, internationally recognized units. This measurement is crucial for effective network planning and performance analysis.

Erlang: The Unit of Traffic Intensity

The correct and internationally accepted unit for measuring traffic intensity in a telecommunication network is the Erlang. This unit is named in honor of Agner Krarup Erlang, a Danish mathematician and engineer who was a pioneer in the field of traffic theory, particularly concerning telephone systems. One Erlang represents the continuous occupation or use of a single voice path or a communication channel for one hour.

  • Formal Definition: One Erlang (E) is equivalent to 1 call-hour per hour, or 3600 call-seconds per hour.
  • Dimensionless Unit: The Erlang is a dimensionless unit. It is frequently employed to express the total traffic volume carried by a group of circuits, lines, or a complete telecommunication system during a specified period, typically the busy hour (the busiest period of the day).
  • Practical Application: The Erlang unit is extensively used in various communication systems, including traditional telephony and modern cellular networks, to calculate the necessary number of circuits or channels to achieve a desired Grade of Service (GoS) or to properly dimension network capacity.

Traffic Measurement Units Comparison

Let's examine why the other provided options are not the appropriate units for measuring traffic intensity in a telecommunication network:

Term Common Use in Telecommunication/Science Reason for Incorrectness in Traffic Intensity
Decibel A logarithmic unit used to express the ratio of two values of a physical quantity, such as power or sound intensity. It is widely used to quantify signal strength, attenuation (loss), or gain (amplification) in various communication systems. The Decibel measures relative intensity of signals or power levels, not the volume or average number of simultaneous connections (traffic intensity) in a network.
Decimal Refers to a number system based on the number 10, using digits from 0 to 9. It is a mathematical concept used for numerical representation. Decimal describes a number system; it is not a unit of measurement for network traffic intensity or volume.
Degree A unit primarily used for measuring angles (in geometry) or temperature. In some contexts, it might refer to the degree of a node in a network graph (number of connections). Degree is not a recognized unit for quantifying the volume or intensity of traffic (calls or data flow) within a telecommunication network.

Therefore, based on international standards and common practice in the telecommunications industry, Erlang is the specific unit used to measure traffic intensity.

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