(a) The table compares packet switching and circuit switching. Complete the table. Feature Packet switching Circuit switching Connection type Route used Use...
Question 1 Report
(a) The table compares packet switching and circuit switching. Complete the table.
| Feature | Packet switching | Circuit switching |
|---|---|---|
| Connection type | ||
| Route used | ||
| Use of bandwidth | ||
| Example |
[4]
Answer Details
(a) The table below compares packet switching and circuit switching across four features. [4]
| Feature | Packet switching | Circuit switching |
|---|---|---|
| Connection type | Connectionless: no dedicated path is established before data transfer begins. Each packet is routed independently. | Connection-oriented: a dedicated communication path is established between sender and receiver before any data flows, and it remains reserved for the entire session. |
| Route used | Different packets may travel along different routes through the network, chosen dynamically by routers based on current conditions. | All data follows the same fixed route for the duration of the connection. |
| Use of bandwidth | Efficient: bandwidth is shared among many users. When one user is not sending, others can use the capacity. | Dedicated bandwidth is reserved for the entire duration of the connection, even during pauses when no data is being sent, which wastes capacity. |
| Example | Internet (web browsing, email, file downloads) | Traditional telephone network (PSTN/landline calls) |
Packet switching splits data into individually routed packets, making it flexible and efficient for bursty data traffic like web browsing. Circuit switching reserves a complete path, which guarantees consistent quality but wastes bandwidth during silence.
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