02 July - 04 July 2008 (Wed - Fri)
3-day workshop. , 0900 - 1700
Singapore, Singapore

The Telecommunications landscape is in a constant flux of change. For the Non-Technical professional, Technical competence is strategic in this ever-changing Industry. The ABCs of Telecommunications is a three (3) day course which provides Non-Technical Professionals the fundamental Technical concepts in the area of Wireless and Wireline Technology.

The course starts from a discussion on Modulation and Multiplexing techniques and proceeds to branch out into Wireless Technologies: AMPS, NMT, TACS, GSM, GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE and Third generation technologies. Transmission Technologies are also covered: PDH, SDH, Wireless local loop.

For the Wireline Technologies, the course branches into Telephony, Intelligent Networks and Data communications: LAN and broadband networks: ATM, Frame relay, ISDN. New Technologies such as Bluetooth, Multimedia Messaging and Wireless LAN Technologies are also discussed. A discussion on Telecommunications business trends is also covered. The Non-Technical Professional will highly benefit from this three (3) day course and will form a foundation for the individual to branch out into the more Technical courses under Telecommunications.

After the three-day course, the participants shall be able to:
• Understand the concept of Modulation and Multiplexing techniques
• Understand how Wireless and Wireline networks, devices and equipment function
• Understand different terminologies in Telecommunications.
• Appreciate Business trends and technologies in Telecommunications
• Understand the meaning of different terminologies used in the world of Tele communications
• Understand the following technologies:
- Wireless : Analog: AMPS, NMT, TACS, Digital: GSM, GPRS, HSCSD, Cdma: EDGE and UMTS
- Transmission Technology: PDH, SDH, DWDM
- Wireline: Telephony, Intelligent Networks
- Data communications: Local Area networks, High Speed networks: ATM, ISDN, Frame relay, Xdsl
- New Technologies: WAP, Bluetooth, WLAN, Wi-Fi, MMS, Video Streaming

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DAY 1. Basic Concepts
1. Block Diagram of Basic Communication System
- Understand the basic building blocks that make up a communication system
- Be able to trace the flow of transmission & reception of electronic signals.

2. System Components
- Differentiate a transmitter from a receiver
- Define a channel & its bandwidth
- Effect of noise in the system

3. Electronic Signals

• Amplitude, Frequency, Phase, Period, Wavelength, Bandwidth etc
• Analog vs. Digital
• Voice, Data, Video Characteristics

- Understand these essential terms in telecommunication
- Enumerate the advantages of digital vs. analog systems
- Identify the characteristics of voice, data & video signals

4. Transmission Medium

• Wired Medium
  - Twisted Pair, Coaxial Cable, Fiber Optics
• Wireless Medium
  - Electromagnetic Spectrum, Antennas, Microwave, Satellite System

- Differentiate physical and non-physical media and when to use them
- Identify their capabilities and capacities as well as immunity to noise

5. Multiplexing Techniques

• FDM, TDM, CDM, WDM

- Understand multiplexing and demultiplexing
- Learn the principles of FDM,TDM,CDM&WDM

6. Modulation Techniques

• AM , FM , PM

- Understand modulation and enumerate the reasons why we need it
- Identify an AM vs an FM signal

7. Switching Types

• Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching

- Understand the concept of circuit vs. packet

8. Networks

• Physical Networks
• Logical Networks

- Learn the different topologies e.g. ring,mesh.bus etc.

9. The Fixed Network

• Block Diagram of a Public Switched Telephone Network
  - Local Loop , Multiplexers, Cross Connect, Central Office, Switch, …
  - Hierarchy of Switches Traffic Engineering, Erlang B Table
• Basics of PABX Access, How switching is done.

- Understand the functionalities of a switch,multiplexer,cross connect,etc.
- Understand the E.164 numbering plan in PSTN

10. The Mobile Network

• Block Diagram of a Public Land Mobile Network
  - Wireless Local Loop , Air Interface, Base Stations, Mobile Stations,…Factors affecting Wireless Transmission Solutions to Problems

- Learn the basic architecture of PLMN
- Identify problems in a wireless network

11. Data Communication Network

• Layers of the OSI Model
• Components
  - Repeaters, Amplifiers, Bridges, Routers, Gateways
• IP Basics
  - IP Address , MAC Address
• E-mail Routing

- What’s happening in every layer of the OSI
- Learn basic LAN topologies and components
- Learn the structure of an IP packet and its addresses
- Identify other key protocols aside form IP

12. FDM, TDM, CDM, WDM Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching

- Identify which services use which type of multiplexing method
- Enumerate the advantages of each multiplexing type

13. Modulation Techniques

- Learn how modulation is being done by varying the amplitude,frequency or phase of a signal

14. Satellite Communications

• Frequencies used for Satellite Communications
• Use of repeaters, passive and active
• Basic Satellite Communication Topology
  

DAY 2. Wireline and Transmission Technologies

1. Workshop #1 Review of Day 1

2. Transmission Technologies and Principles

• Pulse Code Modulation
  - Stages in Analog to Digital Conversion
  - The PCM Frame, G.703 , E1
• Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy
  - Multiplexing Stages
  - PDH Tributaries
• Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
  - Components of an SDH Network
  - The STM-1 Frame
  - Multiplexing Stages
  - Mapping PDH Tributaries to STM Frame

- Look into the capacity of an E1 frame
- Identify the problems of a PDH system
- Appreciate the capacity,management and security of an SDH network
- Understand how transmission and multiplexing is done in a PDH and an SDH network

3. Switching Technologies and Principles

• X.25 vs. Frame Relay
  - Packets vs. Frames
  - Packet Switching vs. Frame Relaying
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode
  - Benefits of ATM
  - The ATM Cell
  - ATM Reference Model
  - Virtual Circuits

- Describe x.25 protocol vs. Frame Relay
- Look at the strengths of X.25 vs. FR vs. ATM
- Look inside a container called “cell”
- Learn how cell switching is done

4. Signaling Technologies and Principles

• Channel Associated Signaling
• Common Channel Signaling System No. 7
  - Components and Advantages
  - Intelligent Networks

- Understand the importance of signaling in a communication network
- Differentiate CAS vs. CCS
- Enumerate Intelligent Network Applications

DAY 3. Mobility and New Telecommunications Technologies

1. Workshop #2 Review of Day 2

2. The Internet –

• The Internet Concept
• Web Browser, Switch, Router, Firewall, WWW
• Typical Internet Applications
• Internet Security

-Be able to trace the flow of request and download of information in and out of the internet
-Internet vs. Intranet
-Understand the functionalities of the different nodes used from a LAN to the internet

3. The Cellular Network

• Standards of the First and Second Generation
• Geographical Structure and Building Blocks
• GSM Principles and Specifications
• GPRS , The 2.5 Generation
• Enabling Technologies: WAP, Bluetooth, MMS, Video Streaming, MPS, WLAN

-Look at the basic architecture and geographical structure of a GSM network
-Understand the upgrades and changes made from GSM to GPRS to EDGE to 3G networks
-Trace the flow of a voice call in GSM , data flow in GPRS and multimedia transmission in 3G
-Learn the Basic concept of the enabling technologies e.g. Bluetooth and MMS

4. Welcome to the Third Generation!

• What’s New in 3G?
• UMTS Concept
• WCDMA Principles

-Learn the new nodes and terms in a 3G network
-Identify basic WCDMA codes and how they are being used

5. Broadband Technologies

• ATM, Frame Relay, ISDN
• Customer Access Network Technologies: Xdsl, Cable modems

-Understand the concept of DSL vs. cable modems
-Learn the basic topology of DSL and Cable Modem connections

6. High Speed Wireless Connectivity

• Wifi and WiMax
• HSDPA and HSUPA

- Look at the basic architecture of a Wifi and a Wimax network
- Understand new speed capabilities of HSPA