In the preparation of this book, our objective was to provide an advanced understanding of emerging
telecommunications systems, their significance, and the anticipated role these systems will play in the
future. With the help of our talented associated editors and contributors, we believe we have accomplished
this. By addressing voice, Internet, traffic management, and future trends, we feel our readers will be
knowledgeable about current and future telecommunications systems.
A series of features makes the mobile telecommunications industry an
interesting field of investigation for economists: the industry is experi-
encing veryfastmarketgrowthcombinedwithrapidtechnological change;
regulatory design in setting market structure is playing a very important
role; and oligopolistic competition is unfolding under various forms. The
number of subscribers to mobile networks is growing at a rapid rate on a
worldwide basis, as shown in figure 1.1.
This book is an entry-level text on the technology of telecommunications. It has been
crafted with the newcomer in mind. The eighteen chapters of text have been prepared
for high-school graduates who understand algebra, logarithms, and basic electrical prin-
ciples such as Ohm’s law. However, many users require support in these areas so Appen-
dices A and B review the essentials of electricity and mathematics through logarithms.
This book is an entry-level text on the technology of telecommunications. It has been
crafted with the newcomer in mind. The twenty-one chapters of text have been prepared
for high-school graduates who understand algebra, logarithms, and the basic principles of
electricity such as Ohm’s law. However, it is appreciated that many readers require support
in these areas. Appendices A and B review the essentials of electricity and mathematics
up through logarithms. This material was placed in the appendices so as not to distract
from the main theme, the technology of telecommunication systems. Another topic that
many in the industry find difficult is the use of decibels and derived units. Appendix C
provides the reader a basic understanding of decibels and their applications. The only
mathematics necessary is an understanding of the powers of ten
Mobile telecommunications emerged as a technological marvel allowing for access to
personal and other services, devices, computation and communication, in any place and
at any time through effortless plug and play. This brilliant idea became possible as the
result of new technologies developed in the areas of computers and communications that
were made available and accessible to the user.
The insinuation of telecommunications into the daily fabric of our lives has been
arguably the most important and surprising development of the last 25 years. Before
this revolution, telephone service and its place in our lives had been largely stable
for more than a generation. The growth was, so to speak, lateral, as the global reach
of telecommunications extended and more people got telephone service. The
distinction between oversea and domestic calls blurred with the advances in
switching and transmission, undersea cable, and communication satellites. Traffic
on the network remained overwhelmingly voice, largely in analog format with
facsimile (Fax) beginning to make inroads.
Never have telecommunications operations and network management been so
important. Never has it been more important to move away from practices that date
back to the very beginning of the telecommunications industry. Building and con-
necting systems internally at low cost, on an as - needed basis, and adding software
for supporting new networks and services without an overall architectural design
will not be cost effective for the future. Defi ning operations and network manage-
ment requirements at the 11th hour for new technologies, networks, and services
deployments must also change.
