Carrier for Telephone or Telecommunications

What is Carrier for Telephone or Telecommunications?

A telephone or telecommunications company that provides different kinds of telecommunication services to its users or subscribers. A carrier is a provider of any kind of telecommunication service that can make use of the customer premises telephone connections. These services include voice transmission, data transmission over analog modems, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), frame relay, and anything else the carrier’s equipment supports. There are two kinds of carriers:

• A local exchange carrier (LEC) is a local telephone company that provides access to both local and long-distance telephone services through the local loop connecting the telco's central office (CO) with the customer premises. In the United States, LECs are either local phone companies or Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs).
• An inter-exchange carrier (IXC) is a company that provides long-distance services only. IXCs own their own telecommunication facilities and provide long-distance services between LECs located in different toll-free areas. Examples include AT&T, MCIWorldCom, and Sprint.