telecommunications

The simplest form of telecommunications takes place between two stations. However, it is common for multiple transmitting and receiving stations to exchange data among themselves. Such an arrangement is called a telecommunications network. The Internet is the largest example. On a smaller scale, examples include:

• Corporate and academic wide-area networks (WANs)
• Telephone networks
• Police and fire communications systems
• Taxicab dispatch networks
• Groups of amateur radio operators

Data is conveyed in a telecommunications circuit by means of an electrical signal called the carrier or carrier wave. In order for a carrier to convey information, some form of modulation is required. The mode of modulation can be broadly categorized as either analog or digital. In analog modulation, some aspect of the carrier is varied in a continuous fashion. The oldest form of analog modulation is amplitude modulation (AM), still used in radio broadcasting at some frequencies. Digital modulation actually predates analog modulation; the earliest form was Morse code. During the 1900s, dozens of new forms of modulation were developed and deployed, particularly during the so-called "digital revolution" when the use of computers among ordinary citizens became widespread.

In some contexts, a broadcast network, consisting of a single transmitting station and multiple receive-only stations, is considered a form of telecommunications. Radio and television broadcasting are the most common examples.

Telecommunications and broadcasting worldwide are overseen by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency of the United Nations (UN) with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Most countries have their own agencies that enforce telecommunications regulations formulated by their governments. In the United States, that agency is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Learn more about Telecom Routing and Switching

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web: - The ITU maintains an official Web site.

FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST File Extension and File Format List: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

RELATED CONTENT Alcatel-Lucent floats converged backbone concept to increase network value Alcatel-Lucent is backing IP and optical converged backbones to increase applications enablement in service delivery networks to lower network costs... Three optical and IP network architectures enable converged backbone IP and optical networks can create a converged backbone using using three network architecture models -- IP-over-WDM, port-level grooming and finally... Router virtualization: Developing effective networking strategies As new router and network virtualization technologies become a reality, telecom carriers need to weigh lower capital costs against realistic...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary BGP  (SearchTelecom.com) BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is a protocol for exchanging routing information between gateway hosts (each with its own router) in a network of... CDMA  (SearchTelecom.com) CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) refers to any of several protocols used in so-called second-generation (2G) and third-generation...