Telecommunication Networks (Devices, Circuits, and Systems)

Many argue that telecommunications network infrastructure is the most impressive and important technology ever developed. Analyzing the telecom market’s constantly evolving trends, research directions, infrastructure, and vital needs, Telecommunication Networks responds with revolutionized engineering strategies to optimize network construction.

Omnipresent in society, telecom networks integrate a wide range of technologies. These include quantum field theory for the study of optical amplifiers, software architectures for network control, abstract algebra required to design error correction codes, and network, thermal, and mechanical modeling for equipment platform design.

Illustrating how and why network developers make technical decisions, this book takes a practical engineering approach to systematically assess the network as a whole―from transmission to switching. Emphasizing a uniform bibliography and description of standards, it explores existing technical developments and the potential for projected alternative architectural paths, based on current market indicators.

The author characterizes new device and equipment advances not just as quality improvements, but as specific responses to particular technical market necessities. Analyzing design problems to identify potential links and commonalities between different parts of the system, the book addresses interdependence of these elements and their individual influence on network evolution. It also considers power consumption and real estate, which sometimes outweigh engineering performance data in determining a product’s success.

To clarify the potential and limitations of each presented technology and system analysis, the book includes quantitative data inspired by real products and prototypes. Whenever possible, it applies mathematical modeling to present measured data, enabling the reader to apply demonstrated concepts in real-world situations. Covering everything from high-level architectural elements to more basic component physics, its focus is to solve a problem from different perspectives, and bridge descriptions of well-consolidated solutions with newer research trends.

Eugenio Iannone received his university degree in electronic engineering from Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. He is a well-known executive consultant working mainly for small and medium-size companies. He consults on optimizing methods to drive key innovation processes or to transfer technologies from research institutes and universities to the industrial environment. With 15 years of experience in the telecommunication industry, Iannone has held several managerial positions. Since 2002, Iannone has been a senior vice president of application engineering at Pirelli Labs OI, the company’s research and design center for telecommunications and strategy. He has also served as marketing director at PGT Photonics, the arm devoted to telecommunication components and subsystems business. During the course of his career, Iannone has authored more than 100 papers and developed several international patents on optical transmission, optical switching, and the architecture of optical networks.