Study Aim: To explore the fundamental principles, components, operation and facilities of modern telecommunications systems.
Topics covered: The study programme begins by introducing the fundamental principles of telecoms technology and then provides an overview of the facilities and capabilities of modern telecommunications systems. The topics you then study in this programme depends on your chosen specialisation (see below).
What you need before beginning this programme: Although not obligatory, the study of Physics at secondary (high) school level will aid your understanding of the principles covered in the study programme.
Core unit (1) "Fundamental principles of digital communications" which is studied by everyone consists of the following courses:
Analogue and digital signals
Introduces the characteristics of the signals used in communications systems and the effect of passive circuits and transmission lines on those signals.
Signal impairments
Introduces the causes of signal impairments and their effect on the transmission of information over telecommunications and data links.
Transmission fundamentals
Describes the characteristics, capabilities and applications of copper, optical fibre and wireless transmission media.
Modulation and multiplexing
Introduces the methods employed in telecommunications systems to maximise the traffic carrying capacity of transmission media.
Data communications principles
Explains the fundamental principles of data communications and describes the role of the basic functional components of data links and the protocols that define their operation.
Core unit (2) "Telecoms networks and services" which is studied by everyone consists of the following courses:
Telephony and data services
Introduces the facilities and capabilities of telephony and data services provided by modern telecommunications networks with reference to the underlying infrastructure.
Telecommunications networks
Introduces the role, structure, capabilities and operation of modern telecommunications networks.
Media encoding
Provides an introduction to the role and principles of the encoding and compression of speech, music and video in a digital communications system.
Specialisation courses
Choose from one of the four following specialisations:
Unit 3 "Principles, characteristics and applications of data communications" has three courses:
Introduction to Wide Area Networks
Introduces the principles of operation, capabilities and features of various types of Wide Area Network and describes the requirements of different types of traffic and how these can be met.
Internet protocols
Explains the role, facilities and operation of the various protocols employed on the Internet and many other communications systems. The threats to, and protection of, such networks are referred to throughout this course. The topology and administration of the Internet is also described.
IP networks
Describes how networks using the Internet protocol reliably deliver data to its intended destination
Topics discussed include how routes for messages are discovered, and if necessary updated, the efficient use of a limited pool of addresses for large numbers of attached devices, and the conversion from user-friendly names into numeric addresses.
Unit 4 "Principles and operation of telephone networks" has two courses:
Introduction to Telephony
Introduces the principles of operation, components, structure, management, and provisioning of private and public telephony systems.
Voice over IP
Describes the operation of telephony services that operate over Internet Protocol (IP) networks with detailed treatment of the session initiation protocol (SIP) used in most VoIP systems.
Unit 5 "Principles and operation of mobile communications systems" has three courses:
Wireless communications
Introduces the basic operation, capabilities and applications of wireless communications for those joining the telecoms sector in a managerial or technical role.
Introduction to mobile systems
Introduces concepts which are used in most types of mobile systems, like handover and roaming, and cellular traffic handling. The course also reviews the various generations and types of mobile system.
Mobile radio communications
Describes the communications between a mobile user's equipment and the fixed infrastructure provided by the mobile operator.
Unit 6 "Fixed line broadband access to online services" has two courses:
Telecommunications access networks
Introduces the structure, components, applications, and capabilities of the fixed line access networks that provide broadband services.
Next generation access networks
Describes the operation of the copper and fibre based access networks that provide high speed broadband connections with emphasis on the techniques employed to maximise line speeds.
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