Difference Between Point-to-Point and Multi-Point Communication

Communication, as we all know, is the process of sending information from a source to a destination using any available mode like audio, video, signal, or even text. This communication could be simple, including only one sender and one receiver, or it could involve several senders and receivers. We can distinguish between Point-to-Point and Multi-Point communication based on the number of senders and receivers in a communication. The key distinctions between point-to-point and multi-point communication are listed below.

Point-to-Point Communication

Difference Between Point-to-Point and Multi-Point Communication

A point-to-point communication is also known as P2P. In the context of telecommunication, it is an established connection between two nodes that may be used to communicate back and forth. A basic telephone call, in which one phone is connected to another, and both nodes can send and receive audio, is the most common example of point-to-point communication.

These P2P connections were first established utilizing circuit-switched landlines in the early days of telephony. However, point-to-point communication in modern networks nowadays is made possible by complex fibre-optic networks. P2P connections of various forms can transmit many types of data, including digital and analog signals.

The point-to-point connection is one of the line configuration methods that explains how two communication devices are connected in a link. It is a unicast connection. A dedicated link exists between each pair of sender and receiver. The entire channel's capacity is reserved solely for packet transmission between the sender and receiver.

If a point-to-point connection is used to make a network, the packets must travel through a number of intermediate devices. The length of the link between the many intermediate devices may vary. As a result, in a point-to-point network finding the shortest distance to reach the receiver is crucial.

Multipoint Communication

Multi-point communication is the communication that occurs when a communication channel is shared not just between two devices or nodes but also between numerous devices or nodes participating in the conversation.

A multipoint connection is one that connects more than two devices together. Multidrop line configuration is another name for the multipoint connection. Numerous devices share a single link in a multipoint connection. As a result, it is possible to say that all devices connected to the link temporarily share the channel capacity. The devices use a turn-by-turn link, which is called a time-shared line configuration.

In a broadcast network, the packet transmitted by the sender is received and processed by each device on the link. However, the receiver evaluates whether the packet belongs to it or not based on the address field in the packet; if it does not, the packet is discarded. If the packet belongs to the recipient, store it and respond appropriately to the sender.

Difference Between Point-to-Point Communication and Multi-Point Communication

Basis for Comparison	Point-to-Point Communication	Multi-Point Communication
Definition	Point-to-point communication is one in which the communication channel is shared solely between two devices or nodes.	Multi-point communication is the communication that occurs when a communication channel is shared not just between two devices or nodes, but also between numerous devices or nodes participating in the conversation.
Link	In point-to-point communication, there is a dedicated link between two devices.	In multi-point communication, the link is shared between more than two devices.
Channel Capacity	The entire capacity of the channel is dedicated to the two connected devices.	The capacity of the channel is temporarily divided among the devices connecting to the link.
Example	Frame relay, T-carrier, X.25, etc.	Frame relay, token ring, ethernet, ATM, etc.
Transmitter and Receiver	In point-to-point communication, a single transmitter and a single receiver are present.	In multi-point communication, a single transmitter and multiple receivers are present.
Error Prone	When compared to multi-point communication, point-to-point communication is more error-prone.	When compared to point-to-point communication, multi-point is less error-prone.
Security and Privacy	Point-to-point communication is more secure and private than multi-point communication due to the lower number of participants involved.	Multi-point communication is less secure than point-to-point communication due to the larger number of participants involved.
Parties Involved	Only two parties are involved in point-to-point communication, one as the Sender and the other as the Receiver.	Numerous parties are involved in the multi-point communication, each party's role may be sender or receiver, and some parties may act in both capacities.
Reliability	Because point-to-point communication includes just two parties and there are fewer opportunities for information modulation, it is more reliable than multi-point communication.	In Multi-point communication, numerous parties are involved, and the odds of information modulation are higher, making multi-point communication less reliable than point-to-point communication.