What does "demodulation" refer to in telecommunications?

Demodulation refers to the process of extracting the original information-bearing signal from a modulated carrier wave. In telecommunications, when data is transmitted, it is typically combined with a carrier signal through the process of modulation, which adjusts the characteristics of the carrier signal to encode the information. Once this modulated signal reaches its destination, demodulation is needed to retrieve the original data.

By separating the data from the carrier signal, demodulation allows the receiver to interpret the information intended for transmission. This is crucial for any communication system, as it enables the reconstruction of messages sent over various media, whether radio waves, fiber optics, or other forms of signal transmission.

Understanding this process is key in telecommunications, as it relates directly to how signals are effectively transmitted and received across different channels, ensuring that communication can occur successfully.