The Essential Guide to Telecommunications

by Dodd, Annabel Z.

• ISBN13: 9780130649072
• ISBN10: 0130649074
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr

Summary

Covering the latest trends and technology changes, this is the fully updated and revised bestselling guide to telecommunications for the nontechnical professional. Includes sections on convergence, globalization, speech recognition, and 3G cellular networks.

Author Biography

Annabel Z. Dodd, adjunet professor at Northeastern University's state-of-the-art program, teaches courses in Telecommunications and Data Communications for the Non-Technical. She was an adjunct professor in the Master of Science in Technology Management program at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2000, where she taught in a joint program with The Institute of Industrial Policy Studies, Seoul, South Korea. Formerly in marketing at New England Telephone and Telecommunications and Manager at Dennison Manufacturing Company, now Avery Dennison, she consults with major corporations and institutions and gives seminars to organizations worldwide. The Massachusetts Telecommunications Council honored her as the Professor of the year 2000. Annabel Dodd can be visited on the Web at www.doddontheline.com.

Table of Contents

Preface	xxiii
Acknowledgments	xxv
Part 1 Fundamentals
Basic Concepts	3	(42)
Analog and Digital	5	(8)
Analog Signals	6	(1)
Digital Signals	7	(6)
Bauds, Bits, Bytes and Codes--Getting Down to Basics	13	(2)
Overview	13	(1)
Baud Rate vs. Bits per Second--Electrical Signal Rates vs. Amount of Information Sent	13	(1)
Codes--Adding Meaning to Bits	14	(1)
A Byte = A Character	15	(1)
Bandwidth--Measuring Capacity	15	(2)
Narrowband vs. Wideband--Slow and Fast	16	(1)
Compression and Multiplexing	17	(8)
Compression--Manipulating Data for More Capacity	18	(2)
Streaming Media	20	(3)
Multiplexing--Let's Share	23	(2)
Protocols and Architectures	25	(3)
Architectures--A Framework for Multiple Networks to Communicate	26	(2)
LANs, MANs and WANs	28	(17)
LANs--Local Area Networks	30	(1)
LAN and WAN Devices	31	(5)
Home LANs--Sharing Printers and High-Speed Internet Access--A Lack of Technical Support	36	(2)
MANs--Metropolitan Area Networks	38	(1)
WANs--Wide Area Networks	38	(1)
Higher Speed Services for LAN Traffic	38	(1)
New Devices for Carrier and Internet Service Provider Networks	39	(6)
Telephone Systems, Peripherals and Cabling	45	(48)
Telephone Systems--PBXs, Centrex and Key Systems	47	(16)
What Is a PBX?	47	(1)
PBX Trunks	48	(1)
Demarcation--The Location Where Telcos Wire Trunks	48	(1)
PBX Telephones	49	(1)
Centrex--Telephone Company Supplied Service	50	(3)
Key Systems	53	(1)
Wireless PBX and Key System Telephones--On-Site Mobility	53	(4)
Direct-Inward Dialing--Bypassing the Operator for Incoming Calls	57	(1)
Convergence and Telephone Systems	58	(5)
Add-on Peripherals for Key Systems, PBXs and Centrex Systems	63	(9)
Call Accounting--Tracking Calls and Usage	64	(8)
ACDs--Specialized Equipment to Handle Large Volumes of Calls	72	(8)
Network-Based ACD Functions	73	(1)
LAN/PBX/ACD Connectivity to Enhance Productivity	74	(1)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for Call Centers	74	(2)
Integrated Voice Response Units--Using the Telephone as a Computer Terminal	76	(3)
Computer Telephony Integration (CTI)--Routing Callers More Intelligently	79	(1)
Media: Wireless, Fiber and Unshielded Twisted Pair Copper	80	(13)
Wireless LANs	81	(2)
Electrical Properties of Copper Cabling	83	(1)
Fiber Optic Cabling--High Capacity and High Costs	84	(9)
Part 2 Industry Overview
The Bell System and Regulatory Affairs	93	(42)
The Bell System Prior to and after 1984	95	(8)
Divestiture of the Bell System from AT&T in 1984	95	(3)
Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) after 1996	98	(3)
Transporting Calls Between Carriers	101	(2)
Local Competition Prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996	103	(5)
Uneven Competition for Local Telephone Service Throughout the U.S.	103	(1)
Competitive Access Providers (CAPs) to Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs)	103	(4)
The Evolving View of the Feasibility of Local Competition	107	(1)
Factors Leading to Passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996	108	(2)
Regional Bell Companies' Desire to Expand Their Offerings	108	(1)
Interexchange Carriers', Utility and Cable TV Companies' Desires to Enter New Markets	108	(1)
Demand for High-Speed Telecommunications Services	109	(1)
Technological Capabilities to Provide High-Speed Services at Low Costs	109	(1)
The Viability of Wireless Services for Local Exchange Service	109	(1)
The Desire for a Uniform National Policy on Local Competition	110	(1)
The Telecommunications Act of 1996	110	(7)
Major Features of the Act	111	(6)
Post Telecommunications Act of 1996 Developments	117	(10)
FCC Rullings, Legal Challenges and Progress Toward Deregulation	117	(1)
Permission for RBOCs to Sell In-Region Long Distance	118	(2)
Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs)--Competitors Leasing Parts of RBOCs' Networks	120	(1)
Fines Levied on Incumbents for Failure to Provide Timely Access to Competitors	121	(1)
Reciprocal Payments	121	(1)
Local Access Fees--A Shift in Balance Between Local and Long Distance Costs	122	(1)
Local Number Portability	123	(1)
Creating an Equal Playing Field and Conserving Numbers	123	(1)
Four Types of Telephone Number Portability	123	(4)
Impact of the Telecommunications Act of 1996	127	(2)
Appendix	129	(6)
Network Service Providers and Local Competition	135	(40)
Local Competition	137	(18)
Strategies for Entering the Local Calling Market--Resale, Wireless, Cable TV and Construction of Facilities	148	(7)
Carriers	155	(3)
Interexchange Carriers--IEXs	156	(2)
Bandwidth Trading: The Commoditization of Bandwidth	158	(3)
Merchants--Managing Risk for Carriers	159	(1)
Exchanges--A Place to Make Trades	160	(1)
Master Trading Agreements--Shortening the Transaction Cycle	161	(1)
Local Service Providers	161	(12)
AT&T	161	(2)
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (Integrated Communications Providers)	163	(4)
Resellers and Switchless Resellers	167	(2)
Building Local Exchange Carriers (BLECs)	169	(1)
Agents	170	(3)
Summary	173	(2)
The Public Network	175	(64)
Switched Services--Local and Long Distance Calling	177	(7)
Attributes of Real-Time Switching Services	178	(5)
DTMF: Access to Voice Mail and Computers	183	(1)
Store-and-Forward Switching--Nonsimultaneous Sending and Receiving	184	(1)
Dedicated Services	184	(9)
Overview of Dedicated Services	185	(3)
Network Topologies--The View from the Top	188	(4)
Declining Sales of Private Lines	192	(1)
Virtual Private Networks--Connectivity for Remote Access, Intranets and Extranets	193	(4)
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for Electronic Commerce	194	(1)
VPNs for Intranet Service	194	(1)
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for Remote Access	195	(1)
Security on Virtual Private Networks	196	(1)
``The Last Mile'' or Access Networks	197	(6)
End and Tandem Central Offices	199	(2)
Digital Loop Carrier Systems--Fiber Optics and Copper Cabling in the Last Mile	201	(1)
Carrier Hotels--Interconnecting Carrier and Providing Secure Space for Equipment	202	(1)
Optical Networking	203	(9)
Passive Optical Networks	204	(3)
Optical Add and Drop Multiplexers (OADM)	207	(1)
Optical Cross Connects (OXC)--Optical Switches	208	(4)
Network Intelligence and Signaling	212	(9)
Overview of Signaling	213	(2)
Background	215	(3)
Common Channel Signaling, Efficiency and Redundancy	218	(1)
Signaling System 7--The Glue for Links Between Carriers	218	(2)
SS7 Components	220	(1)
Convergence--Technical Advances Leading to Improvements in IP Networks	221	(8)
Improvements in Routers	222	(1)
Digital Signal Processors (DSPs)	223	(1)
Voice Compression	224	(1)
Higher Capacity Networks--Optical Technologies	224	(1)
Softswitches--Programmable Switches	225	(2)
The Quality of Service Issue for Voice over IP	227	(1)
SS7 in Packet Networks	228	(1)
Examples of Converged Networks	229	(4)
Free Calls or Low Priced Calls over the Internet	231	(1)
H.323--A Way to Make Telephone Calls over IP	232	(1)
Prepaid Calls over the Internet	232	(1)
Document Sharing and Click to Talk	233	(2)
Document Sharing	233	(2)
Summary	235	(4)
Part 3 Advanced Technologies, The Internet and Wireless
Specialized Network Services	239	(52)
T-1--24 Voice or Data Paths over One Telephone Circuit	243	(7)
Channel Banks--Connecting T-1 to Analog PBXs and Central Offices	244	(1)
DS-0 and DS-1--64,000 or 56,000 vs. 1,544,000 bps	244	(1)
Media Used for T-1 Signals	245	(1)
European vs. American and Japanese T-1--24 vs. 30 Channels	246	(1)
A Sampling of T-1 Configurations Using T-1 for Combining Voice, Fax, Video and Data	247	(1)
Fractional T-1--When 24 Paths Are Not Required	248	(1)
T-3--The Capacity of 28 T-1 Lines, 672 Channels	249	(1)
An Explanation of Time Division Multiplexing and Its Limitations	249	(1)
ISDN--Integrated Services Digital Network	250	(7)
Basic Rate Interface ISDN--Two Channels at 64,000 Bit per Second	253	(1)
Primary Rate Interface ISDN--24 Channels	254	(3)
Digital Subscriber Line Technology	257	(10)
Competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and DSL	261	(1)
Incumbent Telephone Company DSL Offerings	262	(1)
DSLAMs--Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers	262	(1)
Obstacles to Digital Subscriber Line Availability--Cost, Ease of Implementation and Availability	263	(3)
DSL Lite--Lower Cost Service	266	(1)
DSL--A Technical Explanation	266	(1)
Frame Relay--A Shared Wide Area Network Service	267	(4)
Connections to Frame Relay--Frame Relay Access Devices and Access Line Speeds	269	(1)
Frame Relay for Transmitting Voice	270	(1)
Frame Relay Pricing--Ports, Circuits and Committed Information Rate	270	(1)
Potential Congestion on Frame Relay	271	(1)
Interfacing Between Carriers' Frame Relay Networks	271	(1)
Gigabit Ethernet--Ethernet over Fiber in Metropolitan Areas	271	(5)
Gigabit Ethernet Providers--OLECs	272	(1)
Gigabit Ethernet Through Partners	273	(1)
Gigabit Ethernet Availability	273	(1)
The Advantages of Using Ethernet	273	(1)
Speed Options--Bandwidth on Demand	274	(1)
Gigabit Ethernet Features at Lower Prices	275	(1)
A Sample Metropolitan Area Gigabit Ethernet Configuration	275	(1)
ATM--Asynchronous Transfer Mode	276	(7)
Fixed-Sized Cells--Less Processing	278	(1)
Switching in Hardware--Less Address Lookup	278	(1)
Asynchronous Switching--Improving Network Utilization	278	(1)
Bursting--Selling More Than the Total Capacity	279	(1)
Scalability--The Ability to Use ATM for High- and Low-Speed Applications and IP Traffic	279	(1)
Elements of an ATM Network	280	(3)
SONET--Synchronous Optical Network	283	(8)
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and SONET	284	(1)
SONET Functions--The Four Layers	285	(1)
SONET Rings--For Greater Reliability	286	(1)
Telephone Company SONET Offerings	287	(1)
SONET Connections to Wave Division Multiplexers	288	(1)
Meshed Optical Technology--Lower Costs, More Suitable for Data than SONET	289	(2)
Analog, Cable TV and Digital Modems and Set-Top Boxes	291	(24)
Transferring Data from Computers to Telephone Lines	292	(2)
DCE--Connections to Telephone Lines	294	(1)
Modems--Analog Telephone Lines for Transmitting Data from Digital Devices	295	(4)
Fax Modems	296	(1)
56-Kbps Modems to Achieve Higher Speeds	296	(3)
PCMCIA Modems--Smaller Is Better	299	(1)
NT1S--Connecting Devices to an ISDN Line	299	(1)
CSU/DSUs--Connecting Devices to a Digital Line	300	(1)
Cable Modems--Using Cable TV Facilities for Data Communications	301	(6)
Reverse Channels for Two-Way Data Communications	302	(1)
Cable Modems	302	(3)
Cable Modems for Business and for Remote Access	305	(2)
Set-Top Boxes	307	(4)
Interoperable Set-Top Boxes	308	(2)
Digital Cable TV	310	(1)
Appendix: Modem Standards	311	(4)
The Internet	315	(56)
The History of the Internet	317	(6)
Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs)	319	(1)
Who Runs the Internet?	319	(1)
Who Owns the Internet?	320	(1)
Peering--A Way to Exchange Data Between Networks	320	(1)
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Caching--Solving the Problem of Bogged-Down Web Sites	321	(1)
Internet Services	322	(1)
The World Wide Web--Linking and Graphics	323	(7)
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)--Formatting Web Pages	324	(1)
Home Pages	325	(2)
Hosting--Computers Connected to the Internet with Home Pages	327	(1)
Browsers---Moving from Web Site to Web Site	328	(2)
Email---Computers that Send, Store and Receive Messages	330	(5)
Email Attachments---To Aid Collaborative Projects	331	(1)
HTML Email as a Marketing Tool	332	(1)
Instant Messaging---Real-Time Text Chats	333	(2)
Internet Service Providers, Application Service Providers and Portals	335	(7)
Dialup and Dedicated Internet Access	336	(2)
Application Service Providers (ASPs)	338	(1)
Portals---Content as Well as Internet Access	338	(4)
Search Engines	342	(4)
Internet Addresses	346	(3)
Registries---Management of Entire Top-Level Domains	346	(1)
Registrars	347	(1)
Numeric IP Addresses	347	(1)
The Structure of Internet Addresses and Adding Capacity for More Addresses	347	(1)
New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)	348	(1)
Country Code Top-Level Domain Names (ccTLDs)	349	(1)
Electronic Commerce and Advertising on the Web	349	(5)
Advertising on the Web---A Source of Revenue	350	(1)
Online Commerce---What Is Profitable and Sells?	351	(3)
Privacy on the World Wide Web	354	(3)
Opt-out vs. Opt-in---Different Approaches to Protecting Privacy	356	(1)
Legal Issues	357	(4)
Post-Napster Music Industry Online Efforts	358	(1)
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)---Royalties for Radio over the Internet	359	(1)
Anti-pornography Laws and Freedom of Speech	359	(2)
Filtering Software---Policing Corporate Browsing and Email	361	(1)
Open Cable---Cable Companies as Both ISPs and Network Service Providers	361	(4)
ISP Service for Cable TV	361	(1)
Open Cable Service---Trialing Connections to Other IPS	362	(3)
Intranets and Extranets	365	(2)
Intranets---Impact of Web Technology on Internal Operations	365	(1)
Extranets---Using Internet Technology with Customers, Partners and Vendors	366	(1)
Security on the World Wide Web---Establishing Trust	367	(3)
Public and Private Keys and Digital Certificates	368	(1)
Firewalls and Tunneling	368	(1)
Making the Internet a Trusted Place to Do Business	369	(1)
Conclusion	370	(1)
Wireless Services	371	(48)
Historical Background of Mobile and Cellular Services	376	(1)
Spectrum Allocation	377	(2)
Spectrum for Higher Speed 3G Services	378	(1)
Cellular Telephone Service---Technologies	379	(5)
Advanced Mobile Phone Services (AMPS)	379	(1)
Digital-Advanced Mobile Phone Service---D-AMPS	380	(1)
PCS---Personal Communications Services	381	(1)
GSM Service	382	(1)
Specialized Mobile Frequencies for Voice---Nextel	383	(1)
Cellular Vendors	384	(3)
Verizon Wireless	384	(1)
Cingular Wireless	384	(1)
AT&T Wireless	385	(1)
GSM Providers	385	(1)
Sprint PCS	386	(1)
The Structure of Cellular Networks	386	(1)
The Cellular Market	387	(12)
Efforts to Improve Service---Antenna Improvements	389	(1)
Health Concerns	390	(1)
Safety on the Road	391	(3)
Privacy and Advertising Intrusions on Cellular E911	394	(1)
Called Party Pays---An Impediment to Cellular Usage	395	(2)
Limited Mobility Wireless for Local Telephone Service	397	(1)
Wireless Number Portability---Keeping the Same Number When Changing Carriers	398	(1)
Limitations of Circuit-Switched Cellular for Data Communications	398	(1)
CDPD---Cellular Digital Packet Data, IP Wireless	398	(1)
The Transition from Second to Third Generation Cellular Networks	399	(7)
The Transition to W-CDMA-GPRS---Data Carried as Packets in 2.5G Networks	401	(1)
EDGE-Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution	402	(1)
Upgrades to W-CDMA from GSM---Costly	402	(1)
The Transition to cdma2000---1xRTT (First Generation cdma2000) and HDR (High Data Rate)	403	(1)
A Comparison Between W-CDMA and cdma2000	404	(1)
Handsets for 3G and 2.5G Services	405	(1)
All-Packet Cellular Networks for Voice and Data	406	(1)
4G---Futures	406	(1)
Mobile Internet Access, Messaging Services and Bluetooth	406	(3)
Mobile Commerce	407	(1)
Short Messaging Service (SMS)	407	(1)
Bluetooth	408	(1)
The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)	408	(1)
i-mode Service Worldwide	409	(1)
Specialized Mobile Radio---Originally Voice, Later Data	409	(2)
Private Networks over Mobile Radio Frequencies	410	(1)
Specialized Mobile Radio---Packetized Data Networks for Two-Way Email and Field Services	410	(1)
Paging Services	411	(2)
Paging vs. Wireless Telephone Service	412	(1)
Two-Way Paging Using Narrowband PCS	412	(1)
Satellites	413	(3)
VSAT Service---Small Satellite Dishes	414	(2)
Vendors of LEOs	416	(1)
Time Division Multiple Access, GSM and Code Division Multiple Access Air Interfaces	416	(3)
Code Division Multiple Access	418	(1)
Time Division Multiple Access and GSM	418	(1)
Globalization	419	(56)
The Impetus to Deregulate	421	(3)
Steps in Deregulation	421	(1)
Challenges	422	(1)
Trends in Global Markets	422	(2)
Latin America	424	(13)
Brazil	424	(5)
Mexico	429	(1)
Argentina	430	(3)
Impact of Poverty	433	(4)
Asia	437	(16)
China	437	(5)
Japan	442	(7)
The Internet	449	(1)
Cellular Service	450	(3)
Europe	453	(18)
The European Union	453	(2)
Cellular Service	455	(2)
Germany	457	(3)
The United Kingdom	460	(2)
France	462	(9)
Africa and the Middle East---Emerging Markets	471	(2)
Africa	472	(1)
The Middle East	472	(1)
Conclusion	473	(2)
Glossary	475	(12)
Bibliography	487	(2)
Index	489