physical channel

A physical channel is a transmission channel characterized by its transmission speed.

A physical channel can be realized via wired or optical media, but also via a radio link. To increase the transmission capacity of a physical channel, there are various multiplexing methods with which the signals are multiplexed in terms of time, frequency or wavelength.

In mobile communications networks, a physical channel refers to frequency channels within the allocated frequency bands. This is particularly evident in P- GSM, where Mannesmann Mobilfunk and DeTeMobil have been allocated specific frequency bands. Of the 124 usable channels, Mannesmann is allowed to use channels 1 to 12, 51 to 80 and 105 to 121. DeTeMobil may use channels 14 to 49, 82 to 102, and 123 and 124. The remaining channels 13, 50, 81, 103, 104 and 122 are still kept free to avoid interference.