Introduction to Telecommunications (2nd Edition)

It is essentials that readers understand both the technical concepts and the application of the concepts in the industry. This edition uses analogies, case studies and multiple diagrams to explain concepts and help reduce the complexity of the technical subject matter. Layering, organizing and making the information meaningful is the foundation behind the design and structure of this book. The first layer presents a high level view of the subject matter; terms are introduced and overviews presented. The second layer focuses on fundamental concepts such as protocols, the OSI layer and so forth. Once the core concepts have been defined, they are then incorporated into real world scenarios that are used to merge the theory with the application. Expanded section on telecommunications fundamentals. Presents the OSI model as it relates to common networking protocols. Includes a chapter on manipulating information for transport. New chapter on distributed switching systems used to carry VoIP. Provides readers with the latest methods used to route and switch traffic across the telecommunications network. Covers all three Service Providers, TelCo, CATV and Cellular. Suitable for anyone working in the telecommunications industry. Included in this group are Cable TV, Internet Service Providers, Telephone companies both incumbent and competitive and any organization that supports these industries. Equipment vendors may also find the book useful as it focuses on the Service Provider side of the industry - the group they sell to.

Focusing on all aspects of telecommunications, Introduction to Telecommunications provides a comprehensive overview of how information, including voice and data, travels throughout the world. Examples and analogies are used throughout the text to help simplify technical concepts and improve the reader's assimilation of the topic. Instead of providing straight content, this text presents entire scenarios that form a total picture of the subject matter being presented.

Important attributes of the book include the following:

• A wonderfully descriptive foreword describes the history of telecommunications, starting in 1845 and concluding in 2000.
• The book is divided into several sections, each containing three to five chapters. Part I: High Level Overview contains the first three chapters: The Basics–Sound, Electrical Signal, Electromagnetic Spectrum (Chapter 1), The Telephone and the Telephone Line (Chapter 2), and Connecting the Dots-Transporting Information Across the Super Highway (Chapter 3). Other sections describe Telecommunications Fundamentals, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), Telecommunications Applications, and Emerging Technologies.
• Objectives and a chapter outline at the beginning of every chapter help to focus readers on the most important topics to be presented.
• Historical photos on each part opener illustrate how far the telecommunications industry has come.
• A useful case study is divided among the chapters. This helps to bolster the students' understanding of telecommunications by requiring that they apply what they have learned by building a telecommunications network for a small town that lacks telephone and data services.

An Instructor's Manual (ISBN 0-13-032339-X) is also available with the text to help instructors work through and present the chapters and case study sections.