From the course: Introduction to Telecommunications: Standards, Networks, and Innovations

Telecom systems architecture

From the course: Introduction to Telecommunications: Standards, Networks, and Innovations

Start my 1-month free trial Buy for my team

Telecom systems architecture

“

- [Instructor] I'm sure you have tried to make a call or load a website, but the connection just won't work. Have you ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes in a telecom network? In this video, I'll break down these networks into three component or three parts, to help you understand how it all works. Telecom networks are made up of three key important sub-networks that work together to send and receive calls or transfer data. These are the Radio Access Network. You also term it as RAN, the Transmission Network and the Code Network. The first piece of the puzzle is the Radio Access Network, or RAN. This part of the network connects directly to the device, like your phone or tablet through radio waves. You have probably seen cell towers around your city or town. These towers or masks have antennas that send and receive signals to and from your devices. And the base of each tower contains certain equipments called a "Base Station," and that base station handles all the communication with your device. So whenever you make a call or open any app, the communication with your device will happen through the RAN part. And the RAN picks up your device signal, and starts the processing of the data through the network. Without the Radio Access Network, our phones wouldn't be able to connect to the network at all. Once your data is picked up by the RAN, it needs a place to be processed and stored. That's where the Core network comes in. Think of it as the brain of the telecom network. The Core network, which is just like a data center in IT, it manages everything that goes in and out of the system, ensuring only legitimate users with valid subscriptions can access it. It is also responsible for security, checking who can access which services, and making sure the data moves along to where it is supposed to go. The Core network also connects to other networks like the internet. So if you are trying to access a website, your data moves from your device, through the Radio Access Network, and into the Core network before it reaches to the internet. Now, how does data actually travel between the RAN and the Core network? This is where the transmission network also termed as back haul, comes in the picture. The transmission network acts like a highway. It carries data between the Radio Access Network, and the Core network, and it use various technologies. It could be fiber optics, it could be microwave, or even satellite. So next time you connect to the internet or make a call, think about the three sub networks that are the backbone of the modern connectivity, bringing world closer one signal at a time.

Contents