One of the biggest challenges facing professionals in the information and communications technologies (ICT) industry is conquering the dense, semmingly endless, yet absolutely essential language of telecommunications. During Day One, telecommunicationms fundamentals are presented in layman’s terms, laying the foundation for understanding the basic principles of telecommunications transmission and networking. The focus is on developing an understanding of the forces driving the revolutionary change in infrastructures worldwide, on providing clear explanations of communications fundamentals – encompassing voice, data, and video – explaining the differences between circuit and packet switching, and explaining the nature of transmission media. The most important aspects of data comm. basics are covered, including the 7-layer OSI reference model. While it is common knowledge that service providers are moving to converged all IP backbones, it is less common knowledge that the PSTN is coming into a renaissance of its own, serving as the starting point for network transformation for traditional carriers.

Day One also explores the PSTN infrastructure, and examines current trends in PSTN reconstruction, including the role of IMS in network and service integration. By attending Day One, you will understand the fundamental principles of telecommunications, and very importantly, you will learn to speak telecom! Day One provides you with indispensable telecom knowledge. Armed with this knowledge, you will have the intelligence to assess new developments as they emerge.

Understanding Telecommunications Today

• Measurements of the Digital World
  - Processing power, storage and bandwidth
• Changing User Profile and Traffic Trends
• Applications and Evolution
• Convergence
• The New Public Network
• Network Integration
• Service Integration

Technology Basics

• Transmission Fundamentals
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Bandwidth
• Analog vs. Digital Transmission
• Data Transmission Basics
• Modems and Modulation
• Multiplexing
• Protocols and Protocol Stacks
• OSI Reference Model
• Regulation and Standards

Transmission Systems: Characteristics & Applications

• Transmission Media Definitions and Measurements
• Twisted-pair Copper Cable
• Coaxial Cable
• Microwave
• Satellite
• Fiber Optics

Networking and Switching Modes

• Networking Modes
  - Connection-oriented vs. connectionless
• Switching Modes
  - Circuit-switched vs. packet switched
• What is Circuit Switching?
  - Definitions, Generations, Characteristics, Trends
• What is Packet Switching?
  - Definitions, Generations, Characteristics, Trends
• WAN Transport Alternatives
  - Private Line, Frame Relay, ATM, IP, MPLS, VPNs
• The PSTN vs. the Internet

Public Switched Telephone Network

• PSTN Infrastructure
• Transport Infrastructure
  - T/E/J-Carrier, SDH/Sonet
• Signaling System #7 (SS7)
• Intelligent Network (IN)
• SS& and Next-generation Network
• IMS and Network Transformation