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Telecommunications network
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A telecommunications network is a network of telecommunications links and nodes arranged so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another over multiple links and through various nodes.
Telecommunications network links (including their endpoints or "nodes") may in turn be built out of hierarchical transmission systems.
Examples of telecommunications networks are:
telecommunication networks are made up of five basic components that are present in each network environment regardless of type or use.
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Encyclopedia
A telecommunications network is a network of telecommunications links and nodes arranged so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another over multiple links and through various nodes.
Telecommunications network links (including their endpoints or "nodes") may in turn be built out of hierarchical transmission systems.
Examples of telecommunications networks are:
- Computer network
- the Internet Network- The internet network is a global ‘network of networks’. The internet is connected via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then becomes part of a network. This network then connects to a larger corporate network that interconnects with several other similar networks through Network Access Points (NAPs).
- the Public switched telephone network
- the global Telex network
- the aeronautical ACARS network
Telecommunication Network Components
All telecommunication networks are made up of five basic components that are present in each network environment regardless of type or use. These basic components include terminals, telecommunications processors, telecommunications channels, computers, and telecommunications control software.
Terminals are the starting and stopping points in any telecommunication network environment. Any input or output device that is used to transmit or receive data can be classified as a terminal component.
- Telecommunications processors
Telecommunications processors are used to support data transmission and reception between terminals and computers by providing a variety of control and support functions. (i.e. convert data from digital to analog and back)
- Telecommunications channels
Telecommunications channels are the way in which data is transmitted and received. Telecommunication channels are created through a variety of different media. The most popular methods are found in the home which include copper wires, and coaxial cables. More and more frequently fiber-optic cables are being used to bring faster and more robust connections to businesses and homes.
In a telecommunication environment computers are connected through media to perform their communication assignments.
- Telecommunications Control Software
Telecommunications control software is present on all computers and are responsible for controlling network activities and functionality.
Types of Telecommunication Networks
In it's most basic form a network is an interconnected system of things or people . From a technical standpoint a network is a data communication system that interconnects computer systems at different sites , or the connection of two or more computers using a communications system
Most networks can be classified into one of five different types. These include wide area networks (WAN), local area networks, (LAN), virtual private networks (VPN), client/server networks, network computing, and peer-to-peer networks.
Any network that encompasses a large geographic area is referred to as a WAN or Wide Area Network. Many large businesses and government agencies use WANs to keep their employees and citizens connected as well as provide a quick and effective way to send and receive information.
Similar in many ways to WANs; Local Area Networks or LANs are responsible for connecting computers in a much smaller limited physical area. A good example of a LAN would be a hotels wireless Internet offering which is self-contained within their own facility.
Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are an up and coming network that builds off of the concept of a WAN however relies upon the internet and a encrypted connection mechanism to establish a secure environment for internal or external employees or customers.
The Client/Server network architecture continues to be the main architectural choice for most enterprise network computing. In a client/server environment the client (i.e. PC) relies on a LAN to connect with a back office network server that is responsible for the connection, retrieval, and storage or data and other critical company or personal information.
Network computing is a network architecture that has rapidly picked up steam with the growth of the internet and resulting connection speeds. In a network computing architecture a computer uses its web browser to connects to another network computer that actually is running the application. A good example of this architecture in use is Google Docs, or Microsoft Office online. Both services allow users the ability to login to Google or Microsoft servers respectively and work similarly to how it would be performed on their own computing environment.
Peer-to-peer networks are now beginning to be realized for the positive benefits they provide and not as only used for the sharing of copyrighted material. Peer-to-peer networks can be separated into two major types: Central Server and Pure.
In a central server environment one host server maintains all active connections and shared information. When information is requested the central server informs the user where they can receive the file and allows the connection directly to the other PC to download. The best example of this type was the original Napster file sharing service.
A pure peer-to-peer network type has no central server to maintain active users relies instead on the individual computers to seek out all other computers offering the same information being requested. A good example of this type would be BitTorrent software which allows small parts of information to be pulled from many sources which one completed compiles into the one file that is being downloaded.
Structure
In general, every telecommunications network conceptually consists of three parts, or planes (so called because they can be thought of as being, and often are, separate overlay networks):
- The Control Plane carries control information (also known as signalling).
- The Data Plane or User Plane carries the network's users' traffic.
- The Management Plane carries the operations and administration traffic required for network management.
See also
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