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 are 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 are the way by which data is transmitted and received. Telecommunication channels are created through a variety of media of which the most popular include copper wires and coaxial cables. Fiber-optic cables are increasingly 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 is present on all networked computers and is responsible for controlling network activities and functionality.

Early networks were built without computers, but late in the 20th century their switching centers were computerized or the networks replaced with computer networks.

Types of Telecommunication Networks

In its 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.

Types of Telecommunication Networks

In its 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.

Local Area Network (LAN)

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 hotel's wireless Internet offering which is self-contained within their own facility.

There are multiple standards for Local Area Networks. Examples include IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) or ITU-T G.hn (using existing home wires, such as power lines, phone lines and coaxial cables).

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are a type of network that builds off of the concept of a WAN however relies upon the internet and an encrypted connection mechanism to establish a secure environment for internal or external employees or customers.

Client/Server Network

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

Network computing is a network architecture that has grown 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 Network

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.