In Baseband, data is sent as digital signals through the media as a single channel that uses the entire bandwidth of the media. Baseband communication is bi-directional, which means that the same channel can be used to send and receive signals. In Baseband no frequency-division multiplexing is not possible. (Multiplexing (short muxing) is a process where multiple analog message signals or digital data streams are combined into one signal over a shared medium.)

Broadband sends information in the form of an analog signal. Each transmission is assigned to a portion of the bandwidth, hence multiple transmissions are possible at the same time. Broadband communication is unidirectional, so in order to send and receive, two pathways are needed. This can be accomplished either by assigning a frequency for sending and assigning a frequency for receiving along the same cable or by using two cables, one for sending and one for receiving. In broadband frequency-division multiplexing is possible.