Telecommunication Network

Chapter 1

Telecommunication Fundamentals

Course Instructor: Elias M.

 Objectives
q Previous courses focus on
( Either data communications

( Or voice communications

qNowadays, the two fields are merging

( Most voice systems are computer controlled and data networks
support voice

q We will learn some basic telecommunications concepts

( Telecommunications used to be “voice” and “data”

( Significance and historic perspective

( Standardization and standards organizations

Page 2/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Chapter Outline

q1.1 Introduction

q1.2 Significance and historic perspectives

q1.3 Types of communication networks

q1.4 Standardization and standards organizations

Page 3/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Introduction
qIn recent years, the word has been

(Used so often and applied in so many situations

qDefinition

(Tele means "over a distance" and

(Communicara means "the ability to share“

qHence, literally means

Page 4/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Telecommunication Systems
qFour essentials/components for effective information transfer
between two points
(Transmitting and receiving devices

(A transport mechanism (medium)

(The conveyed information which is coded in such a way as to be

compatible with, and comprehensible to, the receiver.

qProtocol: The coding and method of transfer of the

information over the medium
ü Protocol also defines the procedure to be used

ü We need to ensure compatibility of the protocols (the hardest part of

telecommunications system design)
Page 5/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
qCommunication can be simplex or duplex

q one direction communication

ü E.g., Radio broadcast, remote control

q two way communication and requires a transmitter

and a receiver at both ends of the connection
( Communication is possible in both directions, but not at
the same time, as only one communications path is available

( Both communicate at the same time

Page 6/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Telecom Systems – Basic Services
q
§ Voice traffic has been strong in the developed world for years

§ However, some three billion people in the world haven't even used a basic telephone
yet

ü So there is yet a huge market to be served

§ Voice communications are typically narrowband

ü Don't require a large amount of network capacity

§ Delay must be kept to a minimum for voice services to be intelligible and easy to use

q Refers to the exchange of digitized information

§ Depending on the application supported

ü Bandwidth requirements can range from medium to high

ü May be more or less tolerant of delays

ü Data traffic is growing much faster than voice traffic

Page 7/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Telecom Systems – Basic Services …
q Image
§ Requires medium to high bandwidth

ü The greater the resolution required, the greater the BW required

§ Tolerates some delay because it includes no motion artifacts that would be

affected by any distortions in the network

q Video
§ Are becoming increasingly popular

§ Require greater band width and extremely sensitive to delay

§ The future is about visual communications

§ We need to figure out how to make video available over a network

infrastructure that can support it and at a price point that consumers are
willing to pay
Page 8/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Basic Telecom Systems – POTS
q POTS is the plain old telephone system that connects most homes and small
businesses

§ POTS lines were designed to transmit the human voice, which has a
bandwidth less than 4000 Hz

§ A telephone conversation requires two channels, each occupying 4000 Hz

q POTS cannot deliver faster signals

Page 9/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Basic Telephone Systems – Loops
qThe local loop is the telephone line that runs from the
telephone company’s central office to subscribers home or
business

qThe central office is the building that houses the telephone

company’s switching equipment
ü It provides a local dial tone on your telephone

ü Switching functionality is implemented here!

qIf you place a long distance call, the central office passes your
telephone call off to a long distance provider

Page 10/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Basic Telephone Systems – Local Loops

Page 11/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Basic Telephone Systems – Trunks
q Trunk: A special telephone line that runs between central offices and other
telephone company switching centers

q A trunk is

( Usually digital, high speed, and carries multiple telephone circuits

( Typically a 4-wire circuit, while a telephone line is a 2-wire circuit

( Not associated with a single telephone number like a line is

q A telephone number consists of an area code, an exchange, and a subscriber

extension

( May also include country code

Page 12/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Local Access Transport Areas
qThe USA is divided into a few hundred local access
transport areas (LATAs)

qLong distance call: A call from one LATA to another and is

handled by a long distance telephone company

qLocal distance call: If a call stays within a LATA and is

handled by a local telephone company

Page 13/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Basic Telephone Systems
· Modular connectors, e.g., RJ-11, are used to interconnect telephone
lines and telephone handsets to the base

· When the handset is lifted off the base (off-hook), an off-hook signal
is sent to the central office

· When the off-hook signal arrives at the central office, a dial tone is
generated and returned to the telephone

· When the user hears the dial tone, they dial (or press) the number

· The central office equipment collects the dialed digits, and proceeds
to place the appropriate call

Page 14/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Leased Line Services
qMany home computer users use POTS lines and conventional
(dial-up) modems to connect to other computer systems

qWhat if you need a faster service, or need one that is always

on? You can get a leased line service

qA basic leased line, or tie line, gives a 56 Kbps data rate

qA T-1 service gives a 1.544 Mbps rate and is used by

businesses to connect their in-house telephone systems and
data networks to the outside world

Page 15/53
Telecommunication Networks
 T-1 Service
q T-1 is digital and synchronous TDM service used by businesses and
telephone companies

§ A T-1 service is always on and always transmitting

q One T-1 service can support up to 24 simultaneous channels

§ These channels can be either voice or data (PBX support)

q A T-1 service can also be provisioned as a single channel delivering 1.544

Mbps of data (LAN to ISP connection)

q A T-1 can be either intra-LATA (local) or inter-LATA (long distance)

§ Various cost for both

q A customer may also be able to order a ¼ T-1 or a ½ T-1

Page 16/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
q ISDN is another leased service that provides a digital telephone or data
connection into a home or business

q Basic rate interface (BRI) is the service for homes and small businesses

§ BRI ISDN consists of two B channels and one D channel

§ It provides a digital telephone line and a 64 Kbps data line, or one 128
Kbps data line

§ The D channel is 16 Kbps and carries signaling information

q Primary rate interface (PRI) is the service for larger businesses and contains
23 B channels and one 64 Kbps D channel

§ PRI is equivalent to a T-1

Page 17/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Frame Relay
qFrame relay is the leased service that can provide a high-
speed connection (up to 45 Mbps) for data transfer between
two points either locally or over long distances

qA connection between two endpoints is called a permanent

virtual circuit (PVC)

qPVCs are created by the provider of the frame relay service

qThe user uses a high-speed telephone line to connect its

company to a port

§ Port is the entryway to the frame relay network

Page 18/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
qThe high-speed line, the port, and the PVC should all be
chosen to support a desired transmission speed.

Page 19/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
qATM is a very high speed packet delivery service, similar in a
number of ways to frame relay

qBoth send packets of data over high speed lines

qBoth require a user to create a circuit with a provider

qOne noticeable difference between ATM and frame relay is

speed - ATM is capable of speeds up to 622 Mbps while
frame relay’s maximum is typically 45 Mbps

· Similar to frame relay, data travels over a connection called a

virtual channel connection (VCC)

Page 20/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
q One of ATM’s strengths (besides its high speeds) is its ability to offer
various classes of service

§ Constant bit rate: If a company requires a high-speed, continuous connection

§ Variable bit rate (VBR): A less demanding service

ü VBR can also support real time applications, as well as non-real time applications,
but do not demand a constant bit stream.

§ Available bit rate (ABR) is used for bursty traffic that does not need to be
transmitted immediately

ü ABR traffic may be held up until a transmission opening is available

§ Unspecified bit rate (UBR) is for lower rate traffic that may get held up, and
may even be discarded part way through transmission if congestion occurs.

Page 21/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
qDSL is a relative newcomer to the field of leased line services

qDSL can provide very high data transfer rates over standard
telephone lines

qDSL can support up to single-digit megabits

qBecause DSL is highly dependent upon noise levels, a

subscriber cannot be any more than 5.5 kilometers from the
DSL central office

qA DSL service can be symmetric or asymmetric

Page 22/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Chapter Outline

q1.1 Introduction

q1.2 Significance and historic perspectives

q1.3 Types of communication networks

q1.4 Standardization and standards organizations

Page 23/53
Telecommunication Networks
 1.2 Significance of Telecommunication
q In the 1980s and 1990s, much of the IT&T industry's focus was on how to
reengineer financial institutions, manufacturing, retail, service, and
government.

§ Today focus is shifted at supporting the needs of the consumers.

q Telecommunications has allowed a virtual world.

q Telecommunications networks make up the most complicated equipment in

the world.

q Telecommunications is a way of life.

q Telecommunications plays an essential role on many areas of everyday

living.

q Telecommunications services have an essential impact on the development

of a community
Page 24/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Historical Perspective

Telephony Digital Data Integrated

Network Networks Digital
Networks
Year 1880s 1960s 1970s 1980s
Type of Voice Voice Data Voice, data,
traffic video, imaging
Switching Circuit Circuit Packet Circuit, packet,
technology switching switching switching and fast packet
(analog) (digital) switching

Transmissi Copper then Copper, Copper, Copper,

on media microwave microwave, microwave, microwave,
satellite satellite satellite, fiber
optics

Page 25/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Chapter Outline

q1.1 Introduction

q1.2 Significance and historic perspectives

q1.3 Types of communication networks

q1.4 Standardization and standards organizations

Page 26/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Communication Networks – Common Types
(Telephone network

(Personal area networks

(Local and wide area data networks (LAN and WAN)

(Metropolitan area networks (MANs)

(Radio networks

(Satellite networks

(Mobile phone networks

(Cable television networks

Page 27/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Telephone network
q Consists of customer premises equipment (CEP), transmission facilities, and switching
facilities

q may include telephone, modems, answering machines, and large private branch
exchanges (PBXs)

q Transmission facilities: Divided into the local loop (or subscribers loop) and the trunk
lines

v Local loop connects CPE with the telephones company switching office (central
office or local exchange)

· Local loop installations are with wire-pairs or fiber-optic cables (about 3

Kilometers)

· Are dedicated to individual customers

v Trunk lines (or circuits) connect two switching stations

· Carry traffic generated by many users and covers several thousand

Kilometers
Page 28/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont ...

Page 29/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont ...
qSwitching system: Interconnect circuits and route traffic
through the network and classified into
· Local switches, also called central office switches, connect customer
loop directly to other customer loops or to trunks

· Tandem switches: connect trunks to trunks or simply connect one

CO switch to another CO switch

· Toll switch: a tandem switch that serves the long distance network.

Page 30/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Personal Area Networks
qPersonal area networks are networks that are meant for one
person.
ü In the range of 1m

ü Example: a wireless network connecting a computer with its mouse,

keyboard, and printer

ü Also, a personal digital assistant (PDA) that controls the user's

hearing aid or pacemaker fits in this category

Page 31/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Local Area Networks
qPrivately-owned packet-switched network within a single
building or campus
ü Limited in geographic area (up to few kilometers)

qWidely used to connect personal computers and workstations

in company offices and factories to share resources (e.g.,
printers) and exchange information

qLANs are distinguished from other kinds of networks by their

size, transmission technology, and topology

Page 32/53
Telecommunication Networks
 MAN and WAN
qMetropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
§ Span area ranging from few kilometers to few hundreds of kilometers
(covers a city)

§ Could serve as a backbone for a network that interconnects

distributed LANs

qWide Area Networks (WAN)

§ Spans a large geographical area, often a country or continent.

§ Based on packet-switching techniques.

§ Consists of customer premises equipment (example a computer or a

terminal), a network packet switching node (a general purpose
computer for example), and a transmission facilities.

Page 33/53
Telecommunication Networks
 ISDN and other
q Integrated Service Digital Networks (ISDN)

§ Provides an integrated digital access b/n customer premises and the

network for the transmission of voice, data, image, and video

q Radio-based Networks

§ Provide communication over barriers such as mountainous terrain, bodies

of water, and heavy frost

§ Single-hope and multi-hope networks

q Satellite Networks

§ Operates in the 6-GHz band for the uplink and 4-GHz band for the
downlink

· Mobile communication Networks

· Examples: mobile telephony, radio paging

Page 34/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Chapter Outline

q1.1 Introduction

q1.2 Significance and historic perspectives

q1.3 Types of communication networks

q1.4 Standardization and standards organizations

Page 35/53
Telecommunication Networks
 1.4 Standardization
q Communication networks are designed to serve a wide variety of users with
equipments from different vendors

§ Standards are necessary to insure interoperability and compatibility

q Open standards are needed to enable interconnection of

§ Systems,

§ Equipment ,and

§ Networks from different manufacturers, vendors, and operators.

q Advantages of open telecommunications standards include

a) Standards enable competition: In proprietary systems

§ Specifications are the property of one manufacturer

§ Difficult, if not impossible, for a new manufacturer to start to produce

compatible competing systems

Page 36/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standardization …
b) Standards lead to economies of scale in manufacturing and engineering

§ Market for products adhering to the standard increase

§ This leads to mass production and economies of scale in manufacturing and

engineering, VLSI implementations, ….

§ Price decreases and further increase acceptance of the new technology

c) Political interests often lead to different standards in Europe, Japan, and the United
States

§ Standardization is a technical matter and also a political interest

§ Hence, approval of global standards is sometimes impossible

§ Example: T-1 vs. E-1, SONET vs. SDH, CDMA vs. GSM

§ To protect local industry, Europe does not want to accept American technology
and vice versa

Page 37/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standardization …
d) International standards are

§ Threats to the local industries of large countries

ü Open their local markets to international competition

§ But opportunities to the industries of small countries

ü Their home market is not large enough for expansion and they are
looking for new markets for their technology

e) Standards make the interconnection of systems from different vendors

possible

f) Standards make users and network operators vendor independent and

improve availability of the systems

· Standardized interfaces among systems in the network enable network

operators to use multiple competing suppliers

Page 38/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standardization – Examples
qConsider the following examples
(International telephone numbering and country codes

(Television and radio systems

(Frequencies used for satellite and other radio communications

(Connectors and signals for PC, printer, and modem interfaces

(LANs: These enable people to use computers from any manufacturer

in a company network

(Cellular telephone systems: Enable users to choose a handset from

different vendors with different features

Page 39/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations - Interested parties
q Groups that are interested in standardization and participate
in standardization work
(Network operators

(Equipment manufacturers

(Service users

(Academic experts

Page 40/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – Why Support?
qNetwork operators support standardization to

· Improve the compatibility of telecommunications systems

· Provide wide-area or even international services

· Purchase equipment from multiple vendors

qEquipment manufacturers participate in standardization to

· Get information about future standards for their

development activities as early as possible

· Support standards that are based on their own technologies

· Prevent standardization if it opens their own markets

Page 41/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
q Service users participate in standardization to
· Support the development of standardized international services

· Have access to alternative system vendors (multivendor

networks);

· To improve the compatibility of their future network systems

q Other interested parties include

· Governmental officials who are keen on having national

approaches adopted as international standards

· Academic experts who want to become inventors of new

technological approaches

Page 42/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – National Authorities
q Approve official national standards

· International standards may include alternatives and options

· So a national authority selects those suitable for their own national

standards

· These options are included in cases a common global understanding

could not be agreed on

q Example of national standards

1. Details of national telephone numbering plan (international standards

give only guidelines)

2. Frequency allocation: International standards define usage of frequency

bands (e.g., which frequency ranges), whereas the national authority
defines detailed usage of frequencies inside the country

Page 43/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
qExamples
(BIS - British Standards Institute, UK

(DIN - Deutsche Industrie-Normen, Germany

(ANSI - American National Standards Institute, USA

(SFS - Finnish Standards Institute, Finland

Page 44/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – European
q Responsible for developing European-wide standards
· E.g., helps to open national borders to improve pan-European
telecommunications services

q Examples include

a) ETSI- European Telecommunications Standards Institute:

Telecommunications network operators and manufacturers participate in
standardization work (e.g., GSM)

Page 45/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – European …
b) European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
§ Or European Committee for Standardization (CEN/CENELEC)

§ Standardizes information technology

§ It corresponds to IEC/ISO on a global level and handles environmental and

electromechanical aspects of telecommunications

c) Conférence Européenne des Administrations des Postes et des

Telecommunications
§ Or European Conference of Posts and Telecommunications Administrations
(CEPT)

§ Was doing the work of ETSI before the European Commission

Page 46/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – American
qInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
§ Largest professional societies

§ Some of these standards (e.g., LAN standards) have been accepted

by the ISO as international standards

§ ISO 8802.x  IEEE 802.x (for Ethernet LAN family)

Page 47/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
q Electronic Industries Association (EIA)

· For electronic equipment manufacturers

· Example standards: Connectors for personal computers such as the data

interface standard EIA RS-232

q Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

· Is a government organization that regulates wire and radio communications

· Example: Specifications for radiation and susceptibility of electromagnetic

disturbances of telecommunications equipment

q Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

· Develops global 3rd generation cellular systems together with ETSI from Europe
and the Association of Radio Industries and Broadcasting (ARIB) from Japan

· Adapt the global standard to the American environment

Page 48/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – Global Organizations
q International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
· A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for
telecommunications

· Has nearly 200 member countries

· Standardization work is divided between two major standardization bodies:

ITU-T and ITU-R

q Global organizations work together to avoid duplicating effort and creating

multiple standards for the same purpose

Page 49/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
q ITU-T
· International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee

· “T” comes from telecommunications

· ITU-T standardizes public telecom networks (e.g., ISDN)

q ITU-R
· International Radio Consultative Committee

· “R” stands for radio

· ITU-R works with radio aspects e.g., usage of radio frequencies worldwide
and specifications for radio systems

q ITU-T and ITU-R publish recommendations standards for

telecommunications networks

Page 50/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont …
q International Standards Organization/International Electro technical
Commission (ISO/IEC)
· Is a joint organization responsible for the standardization of information
technology

· ISO has done important work in the area of data communications and
protocols

· IEC in the area of electromechanical (for example, connectors),

environmental, and safety aspects

q These organizations work together closely to avoid duplicating effort and

create multiple standards

q As a consequence, some ITU recommendations may contain merely a

reference to an ISO standard.
Page 51/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Standards Organizations – Other Organizations
q Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
§ Responsible for the evolution of the Internet architecture, e.g., it standardizes
TCP/IP protocol suite

q Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Forum

· An open organization of cellular system manufacturers

§ Defines the 3rd generation cellular system and ensure compatibility among
different equipment vendors

Page 52/53
Telecommunication Networks
 Cont ...
qTele management Forum (TMF)
· Is an organization of system manufacturers that works to speed the
development of network management

· Telecommunications network operators will be able to control and

supervise their multivendor networks efficiently from the same
management center management standards

Page 53/53
Telecommunication Networks