Reading: Networks &

Telecommunications
Introduction

One of the fastest growing technology areas is that of

telecommunications (often referred to as telecoms).
Organizations have realized that stand-alone computers
present many problems: fragmentation of data, lack of
control, insufficient integration and limited opportunity for
teamwork. One of the major trends over the last decade has
been the move not only to have a personal computer on the
desk of virtually every knowledge worker, but to have that
computer linked to the other computers in the organization.
This chapter deals with the basic telecommunication
devices, the types of computer networks and the
telecommunications services available in South Africa. We
conclude with a discussion of arguably the most interesting
development in information systems of the last decade: the
Internet.
Computer Networks
When a numbers of computers are connected together, they
form a computer network. There are many ways of
classifying computer networks.
Networks according to size
Networks sizes can range from tiny to very large.
• Personal Area Network (PAN): consists of two to five
computing devices. This not very common term would
apply to the network typically found in the home, and
may be based on wireless technology e.g. Bluetooth.
• Local Area Network (LAN): the most common type of
network. It consists of from about four up to as many as
a couple of hundred of computers linked together with
one set of cables, usually within the same building.
 Most LANs are controlled by a central file server that
takes care of network communications, security control
and the storage of data files. A student computer
laboratory typically constitutes one LAN.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): a network infrastructure
linking various local businesses within a large city area.
This is now almost completely superseded by the
Internet.
• Wide Area Network (WAN): the opposite of the LAN. It links
computers over large geographical areas. This network
usually makes use of the public telecommunications
network. The widely dispersed Automatic Teller
Machine (ATM) network of a commercial bank is
typically part of the bank’s WAN.
• Value-Added Network (VAN): although not relating to size
(but it rhymes with the others!), it refers to the provision
of a network infrastructure service to other businesses.
The service goes beyond the physical cabling and
includes “value-added services” such as limited data
and transaction processing or message routing. An
example for the banking industry is the provision of an
inter-bank Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and
clearing service, linking the computers of different
commercial banks (and, possibly, retailers) together.
Network Topologies
The network topology refers to the physical and logical way
in which the computers in a network are connected together.
Although there are a number of proprietary ways, the
following three are the main topologies in common use (refer
to Figure 1). Note that these topologies usually refer to a
LAN configuration.
• The star network is driven by one central computer to and
through which all other computers communicate.
Although this allows for central co-ordination and
control, it requires a very reliable central computer and
 lots of cables.
• The ring network consists of a continuous loop connecting
all computers. Signals travel in a given direction and all
computers have equal access to the data. A special
version of the ring network is the token ring whereby a
special code, the token, is passed around the ring. This
token serves as the data holder and computers can
send information only after grabbing an available i.e.
empty token, adding their data and passing the token
back onto the network.
• The bus network is currently the most popular
configuration. A central data cable is used, to which
each computer (and other devices such as printers and
routers) can be attached. Although bottlenecks can
occur, its popularity stems from its inherent robustness:
devices can be added or removed without affecting the
rest of the network. Data clashes (two computers
attempting to send information simultaneously) can
prevented by a variety of means.

Figure 1: Network topologies

Telecommunication Devices
Regardless of the network topology that has been
implemented, the same basic equipment is used to connect
the different computers and to ensure error-free data
transmission between them.
• Network cables are the physical wires by which computers
are linked together. The most common types are:
• Twisted pair: thin insulated copper wires, combined in
one single cable. This is similar to the wire used
for voice telephone connections.
• Coaxial cable: (or coax) a thin copper wire inside a
tube of insulation material, surrounded by a sheath
or mesh of conducting wire, again insulated on the
 outside. This is similar to the wire used to connect
antennas to video or TV equipment. Because
there is less possibility of interference, it allows
greater volumes of data to be transmitted in a
given time – the amount or volume of data that
can be transmitted over a network connection is
referred to as bandwidth.
• Optical fibre or fibre-optic: a translucent and flexible
material through which laser light can travel over
long distances. This fibre is much more difficult to
work: it requires special connectors as well as
lasers and sensors (with electronics-to-light
converters) at each terminal. Although this
technology is more expensive, laser light can be
switched on and off a lot faster than electricity
(and it travels ten times faster), resulting again in a
much greater bandwidth.
• Wireless: not all computer devices need a physical
cable connection. Because of the cabling costs
and hassles, engineers have explored many
methods of transmitting data without the use of
wires. For short distances, infra-red signals work
well albeit slowly – the same technology as your
VCR remote control. For longer distances and
higher bandwidths, radio frequencies or other
parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum are used.
Satellite technology is increasingly being used for
digital data transmissions, especially in
conjunction with Global Positioning Systems
(GPS).
• Network interface cards (NICs) are necessary when
computers are connected directly to other computers by
means of digital network cables (as opposed to the
situation when two computers are connected to each
other via a telephone link). Their primary function is to
 make sure that there are no transmission conflicts with
the other computers linked to the network, since data
may be simultaneously sent and received by many
different computers all linked to the same network. In
addition, the network card usually fulfills an error-
checking function, to ensure that uncorrupted data is
received at its destination.
• Multiplexers allow a single channel to carry data
transmissions simultaneously from many sources, by
merging them at one end of the channel and then
separating the individual transmissions at the receiving
end of the channel.
• Front-end processors (FEP) are used in bigger networks
that are centrally controlled by large computers – often
mainframes. In order to give the expensive mainframe
more “time” to concentrate on application processing, it
needs to be relieved from the rather mundane task of
network control. FEPs handle all or most
communication processing such as error-checking, data
conversion, packaging and transmission control.
• Routers and bridges are computers dedicated to the
translation of network protocols and standards between
different networks. They are becoming important as
more and more organizations are linking their own
networks to those of other organizations. They may be
using
• different operating systems (Novell, Unix or Windows
NT),
• other technologies (coax or fibre-optic),
• or different protocols (proprietary or public standards
set for computer communications).
• Finally, the modem allows a computer to communicate with
another computer by means of the public voice
telephone network, rather than by using digital cabling.
The original model 300-baud SmartmodemThis requires the
 conversion of digital computer signals (used inside the
computer) into analogue sound signals (that can travel
over the voice telephone lines) – this process is called
modulation. At the other end of the line, these sound
signals are converted back into digital signals – or
demodulated. The word modem refers to this
modulation/demodulation process. You may have heard
this “modulated signal” when listening to a fax machine,
which is really a scanner/printer/modem in one. Since
the modem replaces the network card, it usually carries
out similar error-checking functions to ensure the
correct transmission of data.
Trivial fact: More than 5000 satellites are orbiting the earth
and most of them are involved in telecommunications.
SA Public Telecommunications Services
Because telecommunication services are a critical part of
any country’s infrastructure, most governments have been
very protective towards their telecoms. Paradoxically, this
protectionism often resulted in high tariffs (monopolies!),
thus reducing the overall competitiveness of local
businesses. Recently more and more countries have started
to privatize these services and allowed competition to drive
prices down. The South African public telecommunication
services are controlled by Telkom, although its legal
monopoly is being phased out. The following are the main
data network services provided by Telkom
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Services
The oldest data service provided by Telkom is the Datel
service, which provides a connection between computers by
means of the standard Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN)—i.e., the same as the normal voice telephone traffic.
This requires the use of built-in or external modem
equipment that modulates the digital signal into an analogue
audio signal (and demodulates it back at the receiving end).
This service is quick and easy to set up since it is available
anywhere where there is an ordinary voice telephone point.
The main drawbacks are the limited transmission speed,
high error rate and the lack of security. Customers may
choose between a dial-up or leased line connection.
Diginet
Diginet is a dedicated digital data service from Telkom that
provides reliable and efficient point-to-point (i.e. not
switched) data connections. It differs from the Datel network
in that the transmission path is entirely digital: a combination
of fibre-optic, microwave and coaxial cable. Because the
signal does not have to be translated into analogue form, no
modem is required, resulting in a cost saving. However, its
main advantages are the higher transmission rates and a
substantial reduction in transmission errors. The standard
Diginet service allows for 64 kpbs (kilobits per second)
though an enhanced service called Diginet-Plus has been
designed to transfer up to 1920 kpbs, which allows slow-
scan TV and video conferencing signals to be transmitted in
real-time.
Public Switched Data Network (PSDN) Services
Saponet is Telkom’s Public Switched Data Network (PSDN).
The Saponet-P service relies on a packet-switching
mechanism whereby all data transmissions are broken up
into smaller, standard-size units or data packets. Each of
these packets is then routed independently to their
destination. The path traveled by the packet depends on the
available capacity and bottlenecks. At the destination, the
original transmission is reassembled out of the constituent
packets. A Packet Assembler & Disassembler (PAD) is
responsible for the breaking up of a message into packets
and the opposite process of reassembling packets into a
message at the destination. This PAD can be a separate
hardware device or a software program.
X.400 and Telkom400
Telkom400 is a VAN on top of the X.400 infrastructure. It
supports electronic message handling and electronic data
interchange (EDI). EDI is the automated computer to
computer application exchange of structured business data
between different organizations. An international standard
defines common business documents such as order forms,
invoices or electronic funds transfer documents that are
exchanged directly between the computers of the respective
business partners.
ISDN and ADSL
Now that most of Telkom’s telephone exchanges have
become digital, Telkom is able to provide new functions and
services. One all-digital connection that has sufficient
capacity (bandwidth) to support speech, video conferencing,
facsimile, data and image transfer. This connection is called
an ISDN line (Integrated Services Digital Network) and is
currently available in selected metropolitan areas. Much
more popular is the newer Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line (ADSL) which allows a broadband connection (at least
several hundred kilobits/second) over your standard
telephone line while keeping the line available for voice
telephone calls. It is called “asymmetrical” because the
standard allows for much greater “download” than “upload”
speeds; this reflects the typical home user pattern. Higher
volumes and transmission speeds of up to 150 mbs –
typically needed by mid-size and larger businesses – are
available through Telkom’s ATM Express service.