3.0 Comparative Summary of Key Characteristics
This section synthesizes the detailed analysis of each hierarchical level into a side-by-side comparison. This tabular format is designed to clearly highlight the fundamental architectural differences and the evolutionary path of increasing complexity across the G.704 standards. Such a summary is useful for rapid assessment during network planning, equipment design, and interoperability analysis.
| Characteristic | 1544 kbit/s | 6312 kbit/s | 2048 kbit/s | 8448 kbit/s | 44 736 kbit/s |
| Total Bits per Frame/Multiframe | 193 bits (Frame) | 789 bits (Frame) | 256 bits (Frame) | 1056 bits (Frame) | 4760 bits (Multiframe) |
| Primary Alignment Method | Single F-bit per frame | Group of 5 F-bits | Dedicated Timeslot 0 | Dedicated bit positions (1-8 & 529-534) | M-bits (Multiframe) & F-bits (Subframe) |
| Primary Error Detection | CRC-6 (in F-bit of 24-frame multiframe) | CRC-5 (in F-bits) | CRC-4 (Optional, in Timeslot 0) | In-channel CRC-6 (TS99, not frame overhead) | P-bits (Parity) & X-bits (Error Reporting) |
| Data Link Capability | 4 kbit/s via F-bit (‘m’ bits) | 4 kbit/s via F-bit (‘m’ bit) | Message-based via Sₐ bits | Bit 536 for national use | C-bits for bulk data transport |
| Primary Signalling Method | S-bit (in 12-frame multiframe) | Channel-associated via ST-bits | Dedicated Timeslot 16 | Dedicated Timeslots 67-70 | Not specified in source |
This direct comparison reveals distinct design philosophies, the implications of which have a direct impact on how networks are planned and equipment is built.