frame relay

Telecommunications technology that breaks data stream into small data packets called frames, to provide transmission speeds of 64 kilo bits per thousand (Kbps) to 2.4 giga bits per second (Gbps) at relatively lower costs. Frame-relay equipment assigns a reference number, error detection and correction information, and an address (that identifies the device the data is being sent to) to each frame. As these frames travel through the communications network (local or world-wide) each packet switched exchange reads their addresses and routes them appropriately until they arrive at their destination device (phone, fax, computer, etc.) where they are reassembled in the proper (original) order.