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T Carrier Technical Summary

What is a T Carrier?
T Carrier is a generic name for any of several digitally multiplexed carrier systems. T Carrier systems were originally designed to transmit digitized voice signals. Current applications also include digital data transmission. T1 and T3 are the most popular T Carrier links used in United States and Canada. E1 and E3 are similar links used in Europe, and J1 and J3 are similar links used in Japan. The North American, European, and Japanese versions differ somewhat in the transmission rates and signaling protocols used. The “T” in T Carrier stands for “Trunk”.

T Carrier Rates
The following tables list the designators and rates for current T Carrier systems:

 

North American Hierarchy

Designator

Transmission
Rate

Number of
Voice Channels

DS-0 64 Kbps 1
T-1 (DS-1) 1.544 Mbps 24
T-1C (DS-1C) 3.152 Mbps 48
T-2 (DS-2) 6.312 Mbps 96
T-3 (DS-3) 44.736 Mbps 672
T-4 (DS-4) 274.176 Mbps 4032

 

European Hierarchy

Designator

Transmission
Rate

Number of
Voice Channels

E-0 64 Kbps 1
E-1 2.048 Mbps 30
E-2 8.448 Mbps 120
E-3 34.368 Mbps 480
E-4 139.268 Mbps 1920
E-5 565.148 Mbps 7680

 

Japanese Hierarchy

Designator

Transmission
Rate

Number of
Voice Channels

J-0 64 Kbps 1
J-1 1.544 Mbps 24
J-1C 3.152 Mbps 48
J-2 6.312 Mbps 96
J-3 32.064 Mbps 480
J-3C 97.728 Mbps 1440
J-4 397.200 Mbps 5760