Final answer:
Network signals represented by on-off pulses are known as digital signals. They operate by switching between fixed voltage levels, enabling the binary representation of data used in modern electronics and communications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Network signals that are represented by on-off pulses indicate a digital signal. In modern electronic devices, signals can be either analog or digital. An analog signal varies continuously over time, while a digital signal switches between two fixed voltage values. For example, this could be from plus 1 volt to zero volts, representing binary ones and zeroes in digital circuits.
In computers and other digital systems, transistors behave like on-off switches to handle digital signals, forming the foundation of binary code that governs digital communication. Additionally, various devices and systems, such as cell phones and computers, transmit information as sequences of binary ones and zeroes, which constitute bits of data. This digital format allows for clearer transmission and efficient data compression technologies.