Telecommunication

 Telecommunications, also known as telecom, is the exchange of information over

significant distances by electronic means and refers to all types of voice, data, and video
transmission.
 This is a broad term that includes a wide range of information-transmitting technologies
and communications infrastructures, such as wired phones; mobile devices, such as
cellphones; microwave communications; fiber optics; satellites; radio and television
broadcasting; the internet; and telegraphs.

History of telecommunications
The word telecommunications comes from the Greek prefix tele-, which means "distant,"
combined with the Latin word communicare, which means "to share."

Important telecommunication technologies include the telegraph, telephone, radio, television,

videotelephony, satellites, closed computer networks and the public internet.

 1876. The first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. This early model
required an interpreter, or telegrapher, at both ends. These first telephones were
intercom systems, where two phones were connected directly.

 1877. The invention of the switchboard exchange telephone system enabled any

combination of two phone lines to connect and talk with each other.

 1891. Dial telephones were invented, which bypassed the need for an operator on
each call. This made it much quicker and easier to make calls via telephone.

 1947. The transistor was invented, which led to the development of modern

electronics, such as computers and calculators.

 1948. Microwaves began to be used to transmit phone signals, in places where

phone wires did not exist.

 1960. Phones began to transition from mechanical switching to electronic switching,

which enabled features such as voice messaging, speed dialing and caller ID.

 1984. The Bell System, which provided AT&T with a near-monopoly over

telecommunications services in the U.S., was broken up, opening up space for
competition for other providers.

 1984. Cellular and personal communications service (PCS) phone use, which

offered mobile communications beyond two-way radio use, was introduced.

 1990s. Use of the modern internet became widespread.

  2000s and beyond. The first decade of the 2000s saw mobile phones grow
increasingly sophisticated. By 2012, smartphone usage was widespread.

A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each equipped with a
transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver are electronic device that are used to
transmit and receive useful data and information in the air.

The basic element of telecommunication are:

 Transmitter that takes information and converts it to a signal for transmission.

 Transmission medium over which the signal is transmitted.
 Receiver that receives and converts the signal back into usable information.

Production of radio waves with the help of the antenna provided generates radio frequency
on application of current which excites the alternating current and thus produces radio waves
and further radiation is done by it.

 Transmitter is a necessary component of all electronic devices such as cell phones,

television stations, ships etc. They are also used for navigation purposes.
 Receiver is an electronic device that receives signals and radio waves that are
transmitted by the transmitter. The function of transmitting, receiving, and accepting of
electronic signals works on a particular frequency and converts them to useful form.
 A decoder is installed in a receiver whose function is to decode and then sends it to the
amplifier.
 An amplifier is an electronic device that converts the signals sent by the receiver to a
pair of speakers. The power and current of the signal is increased by an amplifier. The
speakers are also known as amplifying devices.

The transmitter and receiver at any station may be combined into a single device called
a TRANSCEIVER.

Transceiver: is an electronic device or circuit that transmits and receives analog or digital
signals, either wired or wireless. Transceivers come in many forms; for example, a satellite
transponder is a transceiver. Ethernet adapters and cellphones also contain transceivers. The
medium of signal transmission can be via electrical wire or cable (also known as copper) optical
fiber, electromagnetic fields or light. The free space transmission and reception of data by
means of electromagnetic fields is
called wireless  communications.
 Wireless Communication -  is the transfer of information between two or more points
without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for
the transfer.

Wireless Communication
 Wireless communication works through electromagnetic signals. These are broadcasted
into the atmosphere through a device. The transmitting device can be a sender or an
intermediate device which propagates wireless signals. The communication between the
two devices occurs when the transmitter and the receiver capture the signal forming a
wireless bridge between the devices.
 Wireless communications are of various types depending on the technology, ecosystem,
and delivery method.

Different wireless communication system:

 Satellite Communication
 Wireless network communication
 Mobile communication
 Infrared communication
 Bluetooth communication
Wireless Communication System
Telecommunications networks

 The simplest form of telecommunications takes place between two stations, but it is
common for multiple transmitting and receiving stations to exchange data among
themselves. Such an arrangement is called a telecommunication  network.

A telecommunications network - is a group of terminal nodes, any intermediate nodes, and

links that are connected to enable telecommunication between the terminals.

 These transmission links between them connect the nodes. The nodes use different
types of switching such as circuit switching, message switching, or packet switching to
pass the signal through the right links and nodes to reach the right destination terminal.
 Each terminal in the telecommunication network usually has a unique kind of address so
that the messages or connections will be routed to the right recipients. The collection of
addresses within the network is named as the address space. 
 In today’s telecommunications networks, users are connected to one of the nodes, and
each link of each user is called a communications channel (it can be wire, fiber-optic
cable, or radio waves). 

The internet is the largest example of a telecommunications network. On a smaller scale,

examples include the following:
  Telephone networks;

 Cellular networks;

 Police and fire communications systems;

 Taxi dispatch networks;

 Groups of amateur (ham) radio operators; and

 Broadcast networks.

Data is transmitted in a telecommunications circuit by means of an electrical signal

called the carrier or the carrier wave. In order for a carrier to convey information, some form
of modulation is required. The mode of modulation can be categorized broadly as analog
or digital.

1. In analog modulation, some aspect of the carrier is varied in a continuous fashion.

Analog signal (sinusoidal signal) is used as a carrier signal that modulates the message signal
or data signal. The general function Sinusoidal wave’s is shown in the figure below, in which,
three parameters can be altered to get modulation – they are amplitude, frequency and phase.
The oldest form of analog modulation is amplitude modulation (AM), which is still used in radio
broadcasting at some frequencies.

Types of Analog Modulation:

 Amplitude Modulation (AM)

- Amplitude modulation was developed in the beginning of the 20th century. It was
the earliest modulation technique used to transmit voice by radio. This type of
modulation technique is used in electronic communication. In this modulation, the
amplitude of the carrier signal varies in accordance with the message signal, and
other factors like phase and frequency remain constant.
 Frequency Modulation (FM)
- In this type of modulation, the frequency of the carrier signal varies in accordance
with the message signal, and other parameters like amplitude and phase remain
 constant. Frequency modulation is used in different applications like radar, radio
and telemetry, seismic prospecting and monitoring newborns for seizures via
EEG, etc.
- This type of modulation is commonly used for broadcasting music and speech,
magnetic tape recording systems, two way radio systems and video transmission
systems. When noise occurs naturally in radio systems, frequency modulation
with sufficient bandwidth provides an advantage in cancelling the noise.
 Phase Modulation (PM)

- In this type of modulation, the phase of the carrier signal varies in accordance
with the message signal. When the phase of the signal is changed, then it affects
the frequency. So, for this reason, this modulation is also comes under the
frequency modulation.
- Generally, phase modulation is used for transmitting waves. It is an essential part
of many digital transmission coding schemes that underlie a wide range of
technologies like GSM, WiFi, and satellite television. This type of modulation is
used for signal generation in al synthesizers, such as the Yamaha DX7 to
implement FM synthesis.

Types of Analog Modulation

Therefore, Analog modulation includes AM, FM and PM and these are more sensitive to
noise. If noise enters into a system, it persists and gets carried up to the end receiver. So, this
drawback can be overcome by the digital modulation technique.

2. Digital modulation actually predates AM; the earliest form was Morse code. Modern
telecommunications use internet protocols to carry data across underlying physical
transmissions.

For a better quality and efficient communication, digital modulation technique is

employed. The main advantages of the digital modulation over analog modulation include
available bandwidth, high noise immunity and permissible power. In digital modulation, a
message signal is converted from analog to digital message, and then modulated by using a
carrier wave.

Digital Modulation

The carrier wave is switched on and off to create pulses such that the signal is
modulated. Similar to the analog, in this system, the type of the digital modulation is decided by
the variation of the carrier wave parameters like amplitude, phase and frequency.

Components of a Telecommunications Networks

Nowadays telecommunication networks can transmit voice, video, graphic images, and
text information. The components of telecommunication networks required to transmit
information include computers to process information, terminals to receive and send data,
processors, and software.

Here are some of the components of telecommunication networks are:

 Signals: Analog and digital electromagnetic signals are used by telecommunications for

data traveling. The analog electromagnetic signal is used for voice communication that
goes through a communication medium. Whereas, digital electromagnetic signals
transmit data coded as 1 bit and 0 bits or on-off electric pulses.
Computers can communicate by using digital signals. Whenever a computer has to
communicate over an analog line it needs a modem to translate the signals. A modem then
translates analog signals into digital and vice versa. 

 Communication Channels: The transmission of data over telecommunication also

requires communication channels. It uses different mediums to transmit information from
one device to another. The speed of information flows depends on the transmission
media.
High-speed transmission is costlier because the infrastructure to support the high-speed
transmission costs more than the infrastructure used to support low-speed transmission.
 Examples used for transmission include fiber optics, wireless, coaxial cable, and twisted
wire. 

 Communication Networks: Telecommunication networks has various functions and

classification based on their geographic capacity and the kind of service they provide.
The topology of a network indicates how a network performs its tasks. The various
topologies are the star, bus, and ring networks.

 Star Network: In which the star network uses a central computer connected to different
small computers.
 Bus Network: The bus network uses one circuit to link other computers.
 Ring Network: And the ring network is the most independent kind of network and
doesn’t rely on a central host computer. 

Types of Telecommunication Networks:

There are various types of telecommunication networks are given below:

1. LAN: LAN is a local area network and designed for small areas like an office,
group of buildings, or a factory. LANs are used widely because it is easy to
design and to troubleshoot. The PCs and the workstations are connected through
the LAN.

LAN has different topologies, these are Star, Ring, Bus, Tree, etc. LAN is
simple and used in connecting two computers, to share files and network among
one another while it can also be as complex as interconnecting a whole building.

Features:

 Resource Sharing
 Software Applications Sharing
 Easy and Cheap Communication
 Centralized Data
 Data Security
 Internet Sharing 
2. WAN: WAN is a wide area network that can be private or it can be public leased.
It’s used for the network that covers large distances like cover states of a
country. Networks that cover a large city or metropolitan area also can be
included in this category.

For example, WANs are used by many multinational companies to

transmit their data and receive information among their employees, suppliers,
 customers, and other organizations across various cities, regions, countries, and
the whole world.

Features:

 Covers a large area.

 Messages can be sent quickly. Messages include pictures, sounds, or
data.
 Shares software and resources with connecting workstations.
 Everyone can use the same data from WANs.
3. MAN: MAN is quite a bigger version of LAN. It’s also called Metropolitan Area
Network and uses similar technology as LAN. It’s designed to extend over the
whole city. It often means connecting several LANs into a bigger network or is
often one cable.

It’s mainly held and operated by a single private company or a public company.

Features:

 Extremely efficient.
 Fast communication via high-speed carriers.
 It provides a single backbone for a large network and provides greater
access to WAN.
 It encompasses several blocks of an entire city.
 Used dual bus transmission of data. 

4. Internetworks: Internetworks are the links to two or more networks. It means it

connects two or more individual networks using various devices such as routers,
bridges, and gateways. For example, the Internet. 

5. Intranets and Extranets: Intranets is a telecommunication network that is

designed to be open, but is secured with internal networks whose web browsing
software provides easy point-and-click access by their users to multimedia
information on the internal internet sites.

Whereas Extranets are also a telecommunication network that links

intranet resources of a company with other organizations and individuals. 

6. Wireless networks: Wireless is a much better option than any other

telecommunication network. It is not a new idea earlier morse code was used to
implement the wireless connections. Now digital wireless network systems have
much better systems, but this system’s idea is the same as before.
 It can be divided into three categories.

 System interconnection: This system is all about interconnecting the components of a

computer using short-range radio. 

 Wireless LANs: These systems need a radio modem and antenna to communicate with
each other. 

 Wireless WANs: This is a wide radio network that has a low-bandwidth wireless WAN.
Example Cellular telephones. 

Functions of the Telecommunication Network 

There are various functions of telecommunication networks, some of the functions are:

 The main and basic role of telecommunication networks is to transmit information from
one part to another or far distance and establish an interface between sender and
receiver by some means of transmission mode.
 Since terminals and nodes are connected randomly to the network so this system routes
the message along the most efficient paths that take minimum time to send a message
to the receiver end.
 Transmission of the data is completed uninterruptedly and comes with the shortest path
in minimum time.
 These systems also make sure that the right message is received by the right user only
and while transmitting is also checked for transmission errors.
 As we all know that networks use different software and hardware to transmit data via
communication channels that vary with the different mediums therefore the
telecommunication is responsible for converting and managing the speed of
transmission directly to the platform.
 It also converts messages from one format to a different because the information is
represented in several ways on the different platforms.
 Control the flow of data that depends on the communication channels and the terminals
used to transmit information. So this system controls both of them accordingly.

Examples of Telecommunication networks are as follows:

 Telecommunications network devices include telephones, microwave communication

arrangements, fiber optics, telegraph, radio, satellites, and the largest example is the
Internet.
 While the majority of people associate telecommunications with modern technologies, it
is also used in ancient times to smoke signals as a form of visual telegraph. Widely used
 by various people before, smoke signals are used to could communicate short
messages over long distances, assuming a clear line of sight.
 Telecommunications also includes mobile phones with conference calling features.
 Telecommunication technology allowed astronauts on the Moon to communicate with
the people of earth.
 Communications satellites are used for telecommunication. Satellite phones vary in size,
but all believe a satellite network.
 Cell phone towers are used for telecommunications.
 A GSM telephone is a telecommunication device.
 Telecommunication networks allow military units to be controlled by remote
headquarters through command and control systems.
 A heliograph is an optical telegraph that uses a mirror to reflect light to mimic a sign
lamp. 

Uses of telecommunication networks in daily life:

 Distant Communication: The days of sending letters are gone. Today, contacting

people from any part of the world is much easier than before with the use of computers,
handsets and the internet. People can communicate through phones, calls, text
messages, e-mails, or social media platforms. Telecommunication has simply made
keeping in touch with loved ones more convenient, efficient, and also cost-effective. 

 Entertainment: The growth of telecommunications has completely changed the

entertainment landscape. Nowadays, people can access many TV channels to watch
news, movies, and music. Social media is popularly used for entertainment to share
videos, photos, and also reels. 

 Socialization: As more people get busy in their work and careers, it’s hard to find time
for their social life. But the growth of social media platforms has now done much in filling
that gap of today’s generation. Today, anyone can connect and meet new people and
friends through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter while at work. People are also using
Skype, Whatsapp, Google Hangouts, and various other apps to interact live by making
video calls. 

Advantages of telecommunications are:

 Reduce Costs: Telecommunication help to reduce the cost of doing business.

Paperless work in offices during which email messages are the primary mode of
communication cut the price of buying papers and printing, disposing, and recycling.
 Sending letters to numerous is more expensive than sending one email with the same
information to many customers. Thus, telecommunication helps in cost savings. 

 Time-Saving: Telecommunication tools are now being used widely in the form of

computers, cell phones, and fax machines that are more efficient at delivering
messages. Compared to older modes of communication like handwritten letters,
information is exchanged more effectively within a shorter period.
For example, with a telephone you can send letters, communicate, and can
complain easily. Whereas in written form it can take a lot of time to reach the company
and respond. 

 International Clientele: Tools like the internet make e-commerce possible worldwide.

This means businesses have the opportunity to succeed in out to more customers in a
shorter time throughout the world. Telecommunication can also increase a company’s
profits while breaking down the geographical boundaries between companies and
consumers. 

 Improved Communication Logistics: Businesses spend a considerable amount of

money and time in training, traveling, and communicating with customers. Through
telecommunication methods like teleconferencing, logistical costs and limitations are
reduced. Teleconferencing involves the use of an Internet connection and a telephone
line to communicate with people who are far away.

 Quick decision making: Telecommunication feature teleconferencing enables many

businesses to make decisions more quickly, especially if these businesses have
overseas partnerships because customers and business partners have instant face-to-
face communication to exchange their ideas without traveling far or wait too long for
correspondence from the opposite side. 

 Marketing and Advertising: Marketing and advertising campaigns are vital for several
businesses. Telecommunication methods of advertising and marketing include social
network marketing, telephone marketing calls, and online advertising. These kinds of
campaigns spread awareness about the products to a wider audience. This may lead the
business to generate more sales and expanding its customer base. 

Disadvantages of Telecommunications are:

 Longer working day: It is kind of true that telecommuters can often choose what hours
they have to work in the day but this will end in being stuck in the work all the time. This
happens because of telecommuters’ inability to strike the proper balance between work
and private life and eventually leads to having to limit out-of-work activities to fulfill
project deadlines. The time spent on working out the plan of the day is lost and it’s
impossible to make it up. 
 Limited feedback: Office workers have the privilege of getting on-site immediate
feedback and hence have an opportunity to improve their work. it’s much easier to be in
control of things that matter to you once you know exactly how what you plan is
accepted by employers, colleagues, and clients by seeing their immediate reaction. 

 Logistics: Telecommuters don’t have to arrange for travel to the workplace but they
need to meet with people in different locations as against office premises. Another
problem with being at home is interoffice mail which, in this case, isn’t hand-delivered to
you by a special office employee but rather has to be picked up from a place.

 Emotional bonds: The biggest disadvantage of telecommunications is that people in

offices occasionally enjoy freebies during their working day, particularly when special
dates are approaching. With telecommuters, it’s yet again their responsibility to find a
thing to love their company for.