Point-to-Multipoint Communication

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What Does Point-to-Multipoint Communication Mean?

Point-to-multipoint (PMP) communication refers to communication that is accomplished through a distinct and specific form of one-to-many connections, offering several paths from one single location to various locations. Point-to-multipoint is generally abbreviated as PTMP, P2MP or PMP. PMP communication is commonly used in telecommunications.

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PMP is usually used for establishing private enterprise connectivity to offices in remote locations, long-range wireless backhaul solutions for various sites, and last-mile broadband access. As such, it is widely used in IP telephony and wireless Internet by means of gigahertz radio frequencies. These PMP networks are employed in distribution amenities, huge corporate campuses, school districts, public safety applications, etc.

Techopedia Explains Point-to-Multipoint Communication

The point-to-multipoint topology consists of a central base station that supports several subscriber stations. These offer network access from a single location to multiple locations, permitting them to use the same network resources between them. The bridge located at the central location is known as the base station bridge or root bridge. All data that passes between the wireless bridge clients should initially go via the root bridge.

A point-to-multipoint network can be easily deployed when compared to the deployment of a point-to-point network because the equipment has to be deployed only at the new subscriber’s site. The only condition is that all the remote sites must come within the visibility and range of the base station. Hills, trees and other kinds of obstructions make point-to-multipoint nods unsuitable for office and residential coverage.

PMP systems are categorized into single system and bi-directional systems. A point-to-multipoint network is suitable for either customers or backhaul operations that are in need of a high-speed, reliable connection, but worried about paying for unused dedicated capacity. The drawback of point-to-multipoint node topology is its inability to interconnect with other nodes because of the directional antenna.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.