What is central office (CO)? - Definition from WhatIs.com

Definition

central office (CO)

In telephone communication in the United States, a central office (CO) is an office in a locality to which subscriber home and business lines are connected on what is called a local loop. The central office has switching equipment that can switch calls locally or to long-distance carrier phone offices.

In other countries, the term public exchange is used.

Related glossary terms: online, IT Survival Kit: Networking refreshers, downstream, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), connection, wavelength, active network, ARPANET, frame, ELF (extremely low frequency)

This was last updated in June 2005

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