Circuit Switching in Computer

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Circuit Switching is a type of switching, in which a connection is

established between the source and destination before
communication. This connection receives the complete bandwidth of
the network until the data is transferred completely. However,
circuit switching can be inefficient and costly due to its requirement
for dedicated resources, making it less suitable for high-traffic or
large-scale networks. In this article, we will discuss every point
about Circuit Switching.
What is Circuit Switching?
In circuit switching network resources (bandwidth) are divided into
pieces and the bit delay is constant during a connection. The
dedicated path/circuit established between the sender and receiver
provides a guaranteed data rate. Data can be transmitted without
any delays once the circuit is established.

The telephone system network is one of the examples of Circuit

switching. FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing) and TDM
(Time Division Multiplexing) are two methods of multiplexing
multiple signals into a single carrier.
 Frequency Division Multiplexing: Frequency Division
Multiplexing or FDM is used when multiple data signals are
combined for simultaneous transmission via a shared
communication medium. It is a technique by which the total
bandwidth is divided into a series of non-overlapping frequency
sub-bands, where each sub-band carries different signal. Practical
use in radio spectrum & optical fiber to share multiple
independent signals.
 Time Division Multiplexing: Time-division multiplexing
(TDM) is a method of transmitting and receiving independent
signals over a common signal path using synchronized switches
at each end of the transmission line. TDM is used for long-
distance communication links and bears heavy data traffic loads
from the end user. Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is also known
as a digital circuit switch.
Phases of Circuit Switching
 Circuit Establishment: A dedicated circuit between the source
and destination is constructed via a number of intermediary
switching center’s. Communication signals can be requested and
received when the sender and receiver communicate signals over
the circuit.
 Data Transfer: Data can be transferred between the source and
destination once the circuit has been established. The link
between the two parties remains as long as they communicate.
 Circuit Disconnection: Disconnection in the circuit occurs when
one of the users initiates the disconnect. When the disconnection
occurs, all intermediary linkages between the sender and receiver
are terminated.
What is Circuit Switching Used For?
 Continuous connections: Circuit switching is used for
connections that must be maintained for long periods, such as
long-distance communication. Circuit switching technology is
used in traditional telephone systems.
 Dial-up network connections: When a computer connects to
the internet through a dial-up service, it uses the public switched
network. Dial-up transmits Internet Protocol (IP) data packets via
a circuit-switched telephone network.
 Optical circuit switching: Data centre networks also make use
of circuit switching. Optical circuit switching is used to expand
traditional data centres and fulfil increasing bandwidth demands.
Advantages of Circuit Switching
 The main advantage of circuit switching is that a committed
transmission channel is established between the computers which
give a guaranteed data rate.
 In circuit switching, there is no delay in data flow because of the
dedicated transmission path.
 Reliability: Circuit switching provides a high level of reliability
since the dedicated communication path is reserved for the entire
duration of the communication. This ensures that the data will be
transmitted without any loss or corruption.
 Quality of service: Circuit switching provides a guaranteed
quality of service, which means that the network can prioritize
certain types of traffic, such as voice and video, over other types
of traffic, such as email and web browsing.
 Security: Circuit switching provides a higher level of security
compared to packet switching since the dedicated
communication path is only accessible to the two communicating
parties. This can help prevent unauthorized access and data
breaches.
 Ease of management: Circuit switching is relatively easy to
manage since the communication path is pre-established and
dedicated to a specific communication. This can help simplify
network management and reduce the risk of errors.
 Compatibility: Circuit switching is compatible with a wide range
of devices and protocols, which means that it can be used with
different types of networks and applications. This makes it a
versatile technology for various industries and use cases.
Disadvantages of Circuit Switching
 Limited scalability: Circuit switching is not well-suited for large-
scale networks with many nodes, as it requires a dedicated
communication path between each pair of nodes. This can result
in a high degree of complexity and difficulty in managing the
network.
 Vulnerability to failures: Circuit switching relies on a dedicated
communication path, which can make the network vulnerable to
failures, such as cable cuts or switch failures. In the event of a
 failure, the communication path must be re-established, which
can result in delays or loss of data.
 Limited Flexibility: Circuit switching is not flexible as it requires
a dedicated circuit between the communicating devices. The
circuit cannot be used Waste of Resources for any other purpose
until the communication is complete, which limits the flexibility of
the network.
 Waste of Resources: Circuit switching reserves the bandwidth
and network resources for the duration of the communication,
even if there is no data being transmitted. This results in the
wastage of resources and inefficient use of the network.
 Expensive: Circuit switching is an expensive technology as it
requires dedicated communication paths, which can be costly to
set up and maintain. This makes it less feasible for small-scale
networks and applications.
 Susceptible to Failure: Circuit switching is susceptible to failure
as it relies on a dedicated communication path. If the path fails,
the entire communication is disrupted. This makes it less reliable
than other networking technologies, such as packet switching.
 Not suitable for high traffic: Circuit switching is not suitable
for high traffic, where data is transmitted intermittently at
irregular intervals. This is because a dedicated circuit needs to be
established for each communication, which can result in delays
and inefficient use of resources.
 Delay and latency: Circuit switching requires the establishment
of a dedicated communication path, which can result in delay
and latency in establishing the path and transmitting data. This
can impact the real-time performance of applications, such as
voice and video.
 High cost: Circuit switching requires the reservation of
resources, which can result in a high cost, particularly in large-
scale networks. This can make circuit switching less practical for
some applications.
 No prioritization: Circuit switching does not provide any
mechanism for prioritizing certain types of traffic over others.
Difference between Circuit Switching and
Packet Switching
 Circuit Switching Packet Switching

In-circuit switching, each data unit In Packet switching, each data unit just knows
knows the entire path address which is the final destination address intermediate path is
provided by the source. decided by the routers.

In-Circuit switching, data is processed at In Packet switching, data is processed at all

the source system only intermediate nodes including the source system.

The delay between data units in circuit The delay between data units in packet
switching is uniform. switching is not uniform.

Circuit switching is more reliable. Packet switching is less reliable.

Wastage of resources is more in Circuit Less wastage of resources as compared to

Switching Circuit Switching

Circuit switching is not convenient for Packet switching is suitable for handling
handling bilateral traffic. bilateral traffic.

In-Circuit Switching there is a physical

In Packet Switching there is no physical path
path between the source and the
between the source and the destination
destination