Course name: Communication Network

Course code : ELC 452

 Introduction
to
Communication Networks
Evolution of Transmission Networks:
Definitions:
Broadband is used to mean any high-speed Internet
access that is faster than dial-up access over traditional
analog or ISDN PSTN services
Fixed‐telephone subscriptions: refers to the sum of
active number of analogue fixed‐ telephone lines, voice‐
over‐IP (VoIP) subscriptions, fixed wireless local loop
(WLL) subscriptions, ISDN voice‐channel equivalents and
fixed public payphones.  
Mobile‐cellular telephone subscriptions: refers to the
number of subscriptions to a public mobile‐telephone
service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular
technology. It excludes subscriptions via USB modems,
radio paging, M2M and telemetry services.  
Network Components:
• Terminal Devices: Telephone, computers, servers,
printers, mass storage, ….
• Nodes: switching system, signaling system, or
intermediate entities
• Links: guided and unguided media connect nodes and
terminal devices
Classifications of Communication Networks:
According to five (5) main criteria:
• Scale or Scope
• Capacity
• Performance
• Security
• Cost (installation (CapEx), operation and maintenance
(OpEX))
Network Scale or Scope:

Distance Location Network Abbreviation

<2m Interdisci Body area network BAN
plinary 
<10m Room Personal area network PAN
10‐100m(1km) Building Local Area Network LAN
1‐10km City Metropolitan Area MAN
Network
100‐1000km Country Wide Area Network WAN
>1000Km - Region Region Area Network RAN
- Global Global Area Network GAN
1. A Body Area Network (BAN): also referred to as
a wireless body area network (WBAN) or a body
sensor network (BSN) or a medical body area
network (MBAN), is a wireless network of wearable
computing devices.   BAN devices may be embedded
inside the body, surface-mounted , or may be carried;
in clothes pockets, by hand, or in various bags.
2. A personal area network (PAN):  for interconnecting
devices centered on an individual person's
workspace. A PAN provides data transmission among
devices such as computers, smartphones, and
tablets.
3. Local Area Network (LAN):
Small & single geographical space: office, building, for a
small company or department
4. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):
Network connecting multiple buildings within a limited
geographic area within boundaries of city.
5. Wide Area Network (WAN):
Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local area
networks (LANs). Computers connected to a WAN are
often connected through public networks.
6. Regional, and Global Area Network (RAN) and (GAN):
RAN covers interconnection of a group of countries,
while GAN cover the Globe. Both may rely on satellites.
Network Capacity:
The maximum Capacity of network's channel is defined by
Shannon:
C  B log 2 (1  SNR ) bit / s
where B is the Bandwidth, and SNR is signal to noise ratio.
bandwidth efficiency, Spectral efficiency, or spectrum
efficiency refers to the information rate that can be
transmitted in a specific communication system.
Network performance:
Throughput, Latency, Error Rates, Resiliency,
Availability, Reliability, Serviceability
Network performance - Throughput:
The amount of data transferred from one location to
another.
A typical method of performing a measurement is to
transfer a 'large' file from one system to another system
and measure the time required to complete the transfer
or copy of the file. The throughput is then calculated by
dividing the file size by the time to get the throughput.
The results of such an exercise will often result is less
than the maximum theoretical data throughput, leading
to people believing that their communications link is not
operating correctly. In fact, there are many overheads
accounted for in throughput, in addition to some
expected latency.
Network performance - Latency:
is the term used to indicate any kind of delay that
happens in data communication over a network.
Network performance – Error Rate:
the ratio of total number of data units in error to the
total number of data units transmitted.
Resiliency: is the characteristic of being able to adapt
under stress or faults in order to avoid failure.
Network performance – Availability:
is the proportion of time a system is in a functioning
condition.
For most equipment the manufacturer will supply
information on availability expectations, often described as
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). The expected time to
repair each part of the network has to be estimated. This is
normally referred to as Mean Time To Repair (MTTR).
The availability for each unit MTBF
is calculated by:
availability 
MTTR  MTBF

To calculate the total availability of the network the

availability of all units has to be summed up !!!.
Reactive Availability: As opposed to an active
measurement of the availability, a reactive measurement
calculates the downtime using the data from; e.g. a
trouble ticket system. In a network-operations
perspective an active measurement would prove more
favorable.
Adjusted availability: Measuring the raw availability will
include also the downtime produced by planned work on
the network. These planned outages, or service
windows, are normally regulated with the customer in
the Service Level Agreement (SLA).
Network performance - Reliability:
is the measure of how long a system performs its intended
function

Notice:  availability is the measure of the percentage of

time a system is operable. For example, a system may be
available 90% of the time, but reliable only 75% of the time
from a performance standpoint.

Serviceability or maintainability: is the simplicity and speed

with which a system can be repaired or maintained; if the
time to repair a failed system increases, then availability will
decrease. Serviceability includes various methods of easily
diagnosing the system when problems arise.
Security
COMmunications SECurity (COMSEC) is the prevention of
unauthorized access to telecommunication  traffic. There
are several COMSEC disciplines, including:
 Cryptographic: encrypts data and renders it unreadable
until the data is decrypted.
 Emission: prevents the release or capture of equipment
emanations to prevent information from unauthorized
interception.
 Physical security: ensures the safety of, and prevents
unauthorized access to, a network’s cryptographic
information, documents and equipment.
 Transmission security: protects unauthorized access to
service interruption.
Communication Networks Nodes
The nodes may include one or more of the following:
HUB: It passes or receives
information (Data, Voice,
Video) along or "broadcast"
to every one of its ports ;
e.g. satellite HUB, and data
network HUB
Switch:
It routes an input signal to an output line as shown in
Communication Satellite network, and Data network
Bridge:
It connects (Links) two different network’s segments
together; e.g. Data networks, Satellite networks (Inter
Satellite Links (ISL)), Exchange links,… .
Router: 
perform the traffic directing functions between similar
networks (terrestrial or satellite); e.g. protocol,
workstations and servers.
Gateways:
perform the traffic directing functions between
dissimilar networks (terrestrial or satellite).

Satellites constellation Network

Wireless Access Point (WAP): It extends the coverage of
networks, and may operates as a switch, router, or bridge.