Carrier Signal

Carrier Signal (Carrier Frequency) is a continuous signal of a single frequency, which is suitable of being modulated with (or carrying) a second information signal.

This is the normal method of transferring information by wireless systems, and in telecommunications the carrier frequency is usually a radio signal of much higher frequency than that contained in the information signal. Optical fibre communication networks use light as a communications medium, and the carrier will then be a laser-generated light beam.

» Technical Glossary -- (Kurt Smith)