Telecommunications Fundamentals: Networks, Standards, and Media

Understanding Triple Play Services

Triple Play refers to the integration of Broadcast TV, Telephony, and Internet services.

Disruptive Technologies in TDM Networks

The two technologies with the potential to displace current TDM telephone network systems are SIP and IPv6.

Challenges for VoIP Implementation

Three primary challenges for Voice over IP (VoIP) include:

• Voice Quality: Issues such as delay, lost data, jitter, and echo.
• Network Issues: Non-deterministic and connectionless traffic behavior.
• Security: Protecting voice data from unauthorized access.

Jitter Removal Techniques

The most popular technique for jitter removal is the Leaky Bucket algorithm.

Transmission Media Selection

• High-capacity trunk between Ottawa and Toronto: Fiber optics, due to the high traffic volume and relatively short distance.
• Remote oil-drilling rig: Satellite, as physical wiring is impractical and traffic volume does not justify microwave infrastructure.
• Trunks between towns in rugged terrain: Microwave, due to the ability to use repeaters across mountainous, inaccessible areas.
• Full HD Video-on-Demand in urban areas: Fiber optic, as it provides the necessary high capacity for streaming services.

Telecom Standardization

Business Value for Operators

• Multiple sources of supply.
• Service interoperability.

Business Value for Vendors

• Ability to sell to all service operators without vendor-specific R&D.
• Reduction in costly customization.

Standards Bodies and Organizations

Two types of standards bodies include Accredited and Treaty-based organizations. Examples of standards development organizations include ITU, IEEE, ETSI, and IETF.

Impact and Failures

Examples of high-impact telecom standards include Signaling System #7 (SS7), SONET/SDH, AMPS, and Ethernet. Examples of failed standards include ISDN and EDI.

Digital Voice Data Rates

The data rate for digital voice commonly used in current wireless cellular networks is 10 Kbps.