For the majority of data communications that take place, there is a
requirement for several users to share a common channel
resource at the same time. This resource could be the high speed optical fibre links
between continents, the frequency spectrum in a cellular telephone system, or the twisted
pair 'ethernet' cable in the office.
For multiple users to be able to share a common resource in a managed and effective way
requires some form of access protocol that defines when or
how the sharing is to take place and the means by which messages from individual users are
to be identified upon receipt. This sharing process has come to be known as multiplexing in wired communication systems, and multiple access in wireless digital communications.
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