Traffic intensity

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In telecommunication networks, traffic intensity is a measure of the average occupancy of a server or resource during a specified period of time, normally a busy hour.It is measured in traffic units (erlangs) and defined as the ratio of the time during which a facility is cumulatively occupied to the time this facility is available for occupancy.

A traffic intensity of one traffic unit (one erlang) means continuous occupancy of a facility during the time period under consideration, regardless of whether or not information is transmitted. The amount of information transmitted is not relevant, but will be less than 64 kilo-bits per second.

Telecommunication operators are vitally interested in traffic intensity, as it dictates the amount of equipment they must supply.