The word telecommunications might sound archaic these days when we think about all the technology that we have right at our fingertips, the term has been around since the ‘90s. However, that thought is wrong. Telecommunications is still widely used today even though many no longer have landlines.
What Is It?
If we go by the definition of telecommunications, it is the communication over a distance long or short by cable, telegraph, phone, or even broadcast. A single telecommunication line circuit consists of two different stations, each with a transmitter and a receiver. The medium can be an electrical wire known as a copper or optical fiber these days. Electromagnetic fields or light are what is known today as wireless communications.
The Telecom Network
The most basic form of telecom takes place between your two different stations and commonly transmits data between those two stations. This is called a telecom network, and a great example of that network is our internet. In the recent decade, the internet has grown into a vast telecommunications network. We can communicate and find information at the drop of a hat today because of the telecommunications network.
Smaller groups of the telecommunications field include:
- Telephone networks
- Academic wide area networks or WANs
- Cellular
- Police and fire
- Taxi dispatch
- Smaller groups such as radio operators and broadcast networks.
The data produced from these fields is then telecommunication by a circuit, an electrical current called a carrier, or in some cases, the carrier wave. In order to convey the needed information, modulation is required. This is where we get either digital or analog.
The Industry
The telecommunications industry is run by various service providers or, as some know them, communications service providers. These providers offer multiple services such as TV, phone, internet, and even WAN systems. These providers are groups such as Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T. These providers and others make up a vast telecommunications company system that works to provide services to both individuals and businesses around our cities.
Comtel
Smaller companies, such as Comtel Inc. located in Massachusetts, ensure that their customers are getting the best internet, phone, and cable services all for affordable and competitive prices. For 20 years, they have served both the public and private sectors to find affordable solutions for their telecommunication needs.
Today, many children will not know what a landline is or the immense detail that goes into their phone, cable, and internet services. But it is still a fascinating topic to look back on and see where it all started.