AT&T FDM Hierarchy

Definition
Frequency division multiplexing can be used with analog signals. A number of signals are carried
simultaneously on the same medium by allocating to each signal a different frequency band.
Overview
American Telephone & Telegraph. Provides the vast majority of long-distance services.
Has become the standard organization for the telephone industry in North America. Two
Classifications of AT&T Communication networks are Short Haul (Short Distance) and
Long Haul (Long Distance)
Multiplexing. Multiple links on 1 physical line. Common on long-haul, high capacity
links have FDM, TDM, CDM and WDM
Topics
1. Message Channel
2. Basic Group
3. Basic Supergroup
4. Basic Mastergroup
5. Larger Groupings
Self Test
Correct Answers
Glossary

1. Message Channel
It is the basic building block of the FDM hierarchy. It was originally intended for analog voice
transmission, although it now includes any transmission that utilize voice-band frequency (0-4
KHz), such as data transmission using voice-band data modems.

The basic voice-band (VB) circuit is called a basic 3002 channel and is actually band limited to
approximately a 300-3000-Hz frequency band, although for practical design consideration it is
considered a 4-kHz channel. The basic 3002 channel can be subdivided and frequency-division
multiplexed into 24 narrower-band 3001 (telegraph) channels.

2. Basic Group
It is the next higher level FDM hierarchy above the basic message channel and, consequently, is
the first multiplexing step for combining message channels.
A basic group consists of 12 voice-band message channels multiplexed together by stacking
them next to each other in the frequency domain. Twelve 4-kHz voice band-channels occupy a
combined bandwidth of 48 kHz (4 x 12). The 12 channel modulating block is called an A-type
(analog) channel bank. The 12-channel group output from an A-type channel bank is the standard
building block for most long-haul broadband telecommunication system.

3. Basic Supergroup
Next higher level FDM hierarchy is the supergroup, which is formed by frequency-division
multiplexing five groups containing 12 channels each for a combined bandwidth of 240k Hz
(5groups x 48 kHz/group or 5 groups x 12 channels/group x 4 kHz/channel).
 4. Basic Mastergroup
The next highest level multiplexing is the mastergroup, which is formed by frequency-division
multiplexing 10 supergroups together for a combined capacity of 600 voice-band message
channels occupying a bandwidth of 2.4MHz (600 channels x 4kHz/channel or 5 groups x
12/channels/group x 10groups/supergroup). Typically, 3 mastergroup are frequency-division
multiplexed together and place on a single microwave or satellite radio channel. The capacity is
1800 VB channels (3 mastergroup x 600 channels/mastergroup) utilizing a combined bandwidth
of 7.2 MHz

5. Larger Groupings
Mastergroups can be further multiplexed in mastergroup banks to form jumbogroups (3600 VB
channels), multijumbogroups (7200 VB channels), and superjumbogroups
(10,800 VB channels).

Self-Test
1. Has become the standard organization for the telephone industry in North America.
a. ITU-T c. AT&T
b. ITU-R d. DSL
2. It is the basic building block of the FDM hierarchy
a. Supergroup c. Basic Group
b. Message Channel d. Mastergroup
3. Is formed by frequency-division multiplexing 10 supergroups together for a combined
capacity of 600 voice-band message channels occupying a bandwidth of 2.4MHz
a. Supergroup c. Basic Group
b. Message Channel d. Mastergroup
4. Is formed by frequency-division multiplexing five groups containing 12 channels each for
a combined bandwidth of 240k Hz
 a. Supergroup c. Basic Group
b. Message Channel d. Mastergroup
5. A number of signals are carried simultaneously on the same medium by allocating to each
signal a different frequency band.
a. TDM c. CDM
b. FDM d. WDM
6. Larger grouping compose of 10,800 VB channels
a. jumbogroup c. multijumbogroups
b. superjumbogroup d. mastergroup
7. Larger grouping compose of 7200 VB channels
a. jumbogroup c. multijumbogroups
b. superjumbogroup d. mastergroup
8. Is the first multiplexing step for combining message channels.
a. Supergroup c. Basic Group
b. Message Channel d. Mastergroup
9. Band limited to approximately a 300-3000-Hz frequency band, although for practical
design consideration it is considered a 4-KHz channel.
a. Basic 3001 c. Basic 3002
b. Message Channel d. Supergroup
10. Larger grouping compose of 3600 VB channels
a. jumbogroup c. multijumbogroups
b. superjumbogroup d. mastergroup
Glossary
AT&T American Telephone and Telegraph
FDM- Frequency Division Multiplexing
TDM- Time Division Multiplexing
CDM-Code Division Multiplexing
WDM-Wavelength-Division Multiplexing

Number of Bandwidth Spectrum AT&T ITU-T

Voice Channels
12 48 kHz 60108 kHz Group Group
60 240 kHz 312552 kHz Supergroup Supergroup
300 1.232 MHz 8122044 kHz Mastergroup
600 2.52 MHz 5643084 kHz Mastergroup
900 3.872 MHz 8.51612.388 Supermaster
MHz group
N 600 Mastergroup
multiplex
3,600 16.984 MHz 0.56417.548 Jumbogroup
MHz
10,800 57.442 MHz 3.12460.566 Jumbogroup
MHz multiplex