What is channel bonding?

Channel bonding refers to a technique used in telecommunications, particularly within the context of DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) technology. It allows multiple channels to be combined or "bonded" together to effectively increase the overall data transmission rates over a cable network. This is particularly significant for delivering higher bandwidth services, as it enables operators to maximize the capacity of their existing infrastructure.

In the context of DOCSIS, revisions such as DOCSIS 3.0 introduced channel bonding as a key feature, where multiple downstream and upstream channels can be aggregated. This aggregation results in significantly enhanced performance for end-users since they can enjoy much faster internet speeds compared to what a single channel could provide on its own.

The other options highlight different concepts that do not adequately define channel bonding. Error correction methods are important for data integrity but are distinct from the concept of channel bonding, which is primarily about increasing data capacity. An "old standard for cable signal transmission" does not apply to the advancement represented by channel bonding, which is a modern enhancement. Lastly, while bonding physical cables can refer to various practices in networking, it does not accurately capture the specific meaning of channel bonding in the context of enhancing data transfer rates.