What do you mean by telecommunication networks? Telecommunications networks refers to analog or digital tools for sending and receiving messages using an electrical device. It encompasses transmitting voice, video, data, internet and other communications.
A telecommunication network is a system of devices and technologies that are used to transmit and receive information over a distance. There are many types of telecommunication networks, including telephone networks, radio and television networks, the internet, satellite networks, cellular networks, and optical networks.
Telecommunications are the means of electronic transmission of information over distances. The information may be in the form of voice telephone calls, data, text, images, or video. Today, telecommunications are used to organize more or less remote computer systems into telecommunications networks.
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Types of Telecommunication Networks
There are different types of telecommunication networks, it can be analog or digital, depending on the type of signals they transmit. Analog networks transmit information using continuous waves, while digital networks transmit information using discrete signals, such as ones and zeros. Here are the different types of telecommunication networks:
1. Cellular networks
These are wireless communication networks that use cells, or small geographic areas, to transmit and receive signals. They rely on technologies like GSM, CDMA, and LTE to transmit and receive data. Cellular networks allow devices like phones and tablets to connect to the internet and make calls when they are not within range of a WiFi network.
2. Optical communication
This involves the transmission of information using light, such as through fiber optic cables or laser communication systems. It is often used for high-speed communication over long distances, as it allows for the transmission of large amounts of data at high speeds. Optical communication relies on the use of lasers or LED lights to transmit information through fibers made of glass or plastic.
3. Telephone systems
These systems allow for the transmission of voice communication over a distance. They can be analog or digital and can include technologies like circuit-switched systems, which establish a dedicated connection between two parties for the duration of the call, and packet-switched systems, which divide the voice data into packets and transmit them over the network. VoIP is a type of telephone system that uses the internet to transmit and receive calls.
4. Radio and television
These are used for the transmission of audio and visual information over a distance. Radio and television signals are transmitted through the air using technologies like broadcasting, which transmits signals over a wide area, and satellite, which uses artificial satellites orbiting the Earth to transmit and receive signals. Cable television uses a network of cables to transmit signals.
5. Internet
The internet is a global network of interconnected computers that allows for the transmission of data and information. It relies on technologies like TCP/IP, which is a set of protocols that defines how data is transmitted over the internet, and WiFi, which allows devices to connect to the internet wirelessly. Broadband is a type of internet connection that offers faster speeds and higher capacity than other types of internet connections.
5. Satellite communication
This involves the use of artificial satellites orbiting the Earth to transmit and receive signals for communication. Satellite communication is often used for long-distance communication or in areas where there is no access to other communication networks. It requires the use of satellite dishes and antennas to transmit and receive signals.
Classifications of Telecommunication Networks
Telecommunication networks can be classified into the following.
- Local area networks (LANs)
- Wide area networks (WANs)
The internet is a global network of interconnected computers that allows for the transmission of data and information. It is made up of many smaller networks, including LANs and WANs, that are connected through servers, routers, and cables.
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Local area networks (LANs)
Local area networks (LANs) are small networks that are used to connect devices within a small geographic area, such as a home or office.
A local area network (LAN) consists of a series of computers linked together to form a network in a circumscribed location. The computers in a LAN connect to each other via TCP/IP ethernet or Wi-Fi. A LAN is normally exclusive to an organization, such as a school, office, association or church.
The function of Local Area Networks is to link computers together and provide shared access to printers, files, and other services. Local area network architecture is categorized as either peer-to-peer or client-server. Routers are one of the most commonly used connection devices. They are used to send data signals across the internet. Routers work by storing the addresses of computers on the network.
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Wide area networks (WANs)
Wide area networks (WANs) are larger networks that are used to connect devices over a larger area, such as a city or region.
A wide-area network (WAN) is the technology that connects your offices, data centers, cloud applications, and cloud storage together. It is called a wide-area network because it spans beyond a single building or large campus to include multiple locations spread across a specific geographic area, or even the world.
The best example of a Wide Area Network is the Internet itself. Other smaller examples of WANs are: A network of bank cash dispensers; A Company network with several branch offices geographically distant.
The types of Wide Area Network (WAN) WAN can be classified into two broad categories: switched WAN and point-to-point WAN.
