In older telegraphy and telecommunications, retardation refers to the decrease in signaling speed caused by the electrical capacitance and inductance of a long wire. This effect distorts the shape of the electrical pulses, causing them to spread out and merge, which limits how fast data can be transmitted without errors. Engineers historically used specialized coils to manage these effects on long lines.
The retardation on the submarine cable was so severe that we had to drop the transmission rate to just a few words per minute.
Related terms
Latency
The time it takes for a packet of data to travel from its source to its destination.
Jitter
The variation in the delay of received packets or the deviation of a digital signal from its precise timing.
Signal
An electrical or electromagnetic variation that transmits data or voice from one point to another.