A Data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) is a device that sits between the
data terminal equipment (DTE) and a
transmission circuit. It is also called data communications equipment and data carrier equipment.In a
data station, the DCE performs functions such as
signal conversion,
coding, and line clocking and may be a part of the DTE or intermediate equipment. Interfacing equipment may be required to couple the data terminal equipment (DTE) into a transmission circuit or
channel and from a transmission circuit or channel into the DTE.
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