What does an increase in baud rate signify in a communication system?

An increase in baud rate signifies a faster transmission of digital pulses in a communication system. Baud rate refers to the rate at which symbols are transmitted over a channel. Each symbol can represent one or more bits of data, depending on the modulation scheme used. When the baud rate increases, it allows more symbols to be sent per second, resulting in a higher data transmission speed.

This increased speed is crucial for applications requiring faster data transfer, such as video streaming, online gaming, and high-speed internet services. In practical terms, a higher baud rate leads to a more efficient use of bandwidth, enabling communication systems to transmit larger amounts of data in a shorter period.

Other choices reflect misunderstandings or misinterpretations of what baud rate impacts. For example, while a higher baud rate can lead to an increase in error rates if the signal integrity is compromised, the direct implication of baud rate itself is about the pace of data transmission. Similarly, higher baud rates do not inherently cause increased signal delay, as they focus on the speed of transmission rather than the time it takes for the signal to travel.