What is Ethernet primarily designed as?

Ethernet is primarily designed as a baseband system that uses a single channel for transmitting data. In baseband systems, the entire bandwidth of the medium is utilized for a single communication session, rather than dividing it among multiple signals. This allows Ethernet to effectively support various forms of data transmission over network cables, utilizing the principle of multiplexing by sending different types of data in a controlled manner over the same medium.

Ethernet frames encapsulate data packets, allowing multiple devices to communicate over the same physical infrastructure. The ability to perform multiplexing in this context refers to how the Ethernet protocol manages access to the shared channel, ensuring that no two devices transmit simultaneously in a way that would cause data collisions.

While Ethernet does indeed possess characteristics of controlling network access through protocols like Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD), its fundamental design is centered around baseband transmission rather than as a broadband system or a method of wireless communication.