Saturation (telecommunications)

• In telecommunications, the term saturation has the following meanings:
  1. In a communications system, the condition at which a component of the system has reached its maximum traffic-handling capacity. Note: Saturation is equivalent to one erlang per circuit.
  2. The point at which the output of a linear device, such as a linear amplifier, deviates significantly from being a linear function of the input when the input signal is increased. Note: Modulation often requires that amplifiers operate below saturation. Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188

See also

• Saturation