In telecommunications, the term concentrator has the following meanings: In the evolution of modern telecommunications systems there was a requirement to connect large numbers of low-speed access devices with large telephone company 'central office' switches over common paths.
In an effort to reduce local loop costs, it was decided to push this conversion closer to the customer premises by deploying small conversion devices in customer neighborhoods.
These devices would combine multiple digital signals on a single link to a larger telephone switch, which would provide service to the customer.
In fibre-optic distribution systems which offer triple-play services (voice, television, internet) the digitization has arrived at the customer premises and signals are digitized at the source and combined using customer edge routers.
This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C.