Editing Telecommunications network (section)

{{Short description|Network for communications over distance}}
{{Network science}}

A '''telecommunications network''' is a group of [[Node (networking)|nodes]] interconnected by [[telecommunications link]]s that are used to exchange messages between the nodes. The links may use a variety of technologies based on the methodologies of [[circuit switching]], [[message switching]], or [[packet switching]], to pass messages and signals. 

Multiple nodes may cooperate to pass the message from an originating node to the destination node, via multiple network hops. For this routing function, each node in the network is assigned a [[network address]] for identification and locating it on the network. The collection of addresses in the network is called the [[address space]] of the network.

Examples of telecommunications networks include [[computer network]]s, the [[Internet]], the [[public switched telephone network]]  (PSTN), the global [[Telex]] network, the aeronautical [[ACARS]] network,<ref>{{cite web|title=Telecommunication Network - Types of Telecommunication Networks|url=http://www.wifinotes.com/computer-networks/telecommunication-network.html|access-date=2014-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715071739/http://www.wifinotes.com/computer-networks/telecommunication-network.html|archive-date=2014-07-15|url-status=usurped}}{{sps|date=March 2021}}</ref> and the wireless radio networks of cell phone telecommunication providers.