An uplink in computer networking refers to a wired or wireless connection from a local area network (LAN) to a wide area network (WAN). An uplink port on a home router is a special type of port used to connect to a broadband modem (a LAN) and ultimately to the Internet (a WAN).
What is the uplink port on a network switch?
A downlink is a connection made in the opposite direction of an uplink, either from a satellite to the ground or from an external network to a local area network. For example, Internet downloads travel via a downlink to the download device, while Internet uploads travel via uplink connections.
Uplinks are often used in satellite telecommunications to broadcast satellite radio and television. Broadcasters send signal feeds from ground stations to the satellite in orbit, a process known as satellite uplink.
Mobile and other wireless broadband service providers sometimes refer to the upstream communications path of a network as uplink transmission. These uplinks can carry text messages, Internet file uploads, and other data sent over the provider's network.
