Data Communications,

Networks & the Internet

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Introduction
Rapid advances in communication systems, computer use and
multimedia technologies are changing the way people
communicate and transmit data.
Data communication is the transmission of data from one location
to another for direct use or for further processing.
A data communications system is made up of hardware, software
and communication facilities.
Many schools, businesses and other organisations link computers
together to form a network so that they can transmit data and
information, store files and share resources.
There are two ways data can be transmitted between computers:
 Upload – means to send data from your computer to another
computer on the network or the Internet
 Download – to receive data to your computer from another
computer on the network or the Internet
The communication facilities mentioned before channels or transmission
links.
These channels are classified according to bandwidth. Bandwidth
determines the volume of data that can be transmitted in a given time.
The wider the bandwidth, the more data it can transmit.
Classes of bandwidth include:
 Narrow-band channel (obsolete; telegraph system; 10-30 bps)
 Voice-band channel (popular; telephone line/landline; 64Kbps)
 Broadband channel (Heavily used; 45.48 Mbps)
Data Transmission Direction

Transmission refers to either the process of transmitting or the process of

signals after they have been transmitted. It may also be characterized by
the direction in which the signals travel over the media.
 A simplex line – permits data to flow in only one direction, e.g. a school’s
P.A. system.
 A half-duplex line – can alternately send and receive data, e.g. a two-
way radio system.
 A full-duplex line – can simultaneously send and receive data, a
telephone.
Networks
A network is a group of two or more computers linked together so that they
can share resources (hardware, software and data) and communicate with
one another.
We tend to describe networks in terms of the area they cover and how they
are arranged (topology).

Network types include:

 Local Area Networks (LAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Personal Area Network (PAN)
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Local Area Networks (LANs)
A local area network (LAN) consists of a collection of microcomputers, such
as in an office building, department or school that can share peripherals,
files and programs, and communicate on the network.
Each microcomputer on the network is connected either by cables or by a
wireless link.
Each computer can function both as an independent personal computer
running its own software, and as a workstation on the network accessing
information from the network server.
The device shared by a LAN may include printers, hard drives, optical
drives, modems and fax machines.
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Benefits of a LAN include:
 Hardware can be shared
 Storage can be shared
 Software and data files can be shared by many users
 It is usually cheaper to by one copy of a software application and pay
the license fee for several machines, than to buy individual packages for
each computer
 Users can work together on a single document
 Users can communicate using email.
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Disadvantages include:
 The initial set-up costs are high
 Since many users use the system, there is a greater chance of corrupted
data or data tampering
 There is a greater risk of malware, because they are easily spread
between the computers that are part of a LAN
 If the file server fails, all the workstations are affected.
 Networks can be complicated to maintain and may require a network
manager. Additional costs may therefore be incurred.
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
A wide area network(WAN) can connect mainframes, LANs and PCs across
a large geographical area such as a city, state or a country.
LANs are often connected to WANs using a special interface device called
a gateway. A gateway is an interface that enables communication
between two different networks.
Information can be transmitted using special high-speed telephone lines,
microwave links, satellite links or a combination of all three.
WANs are used mainly by universities and research centres, large
organisations, companies and banks with different branches in different
countries.
Personal Area Networks (PANs)
A PAN is a computer network organized around an individual person and is
set up for personal use only. PANs typically involve a computer,
smartphone, printer, and/or some other personal device such as a tablet.
You can use these networks to transfer files including email, calendar
appointments, photos and music.
PANs can be wired, using USB or FireWire, or they can be wireless (WPAN),
using infrared and Bluetooth.
The range of a PAN is typically a few metres.
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
A MAN is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a
geographic area or region larger than that covered by a large LAN, but
smaller than the area covered by a WAN.

This term is applied to the interconnection of networks in a city into a single

larger network.

It is also used to mean the interconnection of several LANs by bridging then

with higher-capacity lines.
Network Topologies
LANs can be described by the way in which the computers are connected
and how they communicate with one another:
 Client or server network
 Peer-to-peer network
Client/Server Networks
A client or server network is one in which any computer on the network can
be designated as the server. This computer will be specially designed to
operate as a dedicated server and has a faster processor, more RAM and a
lot more storage.
This is the most common form of network. Client or server networks are
easier to manage when the networks are large, as changes can be made
on the server and these are passed on to the clients when they log in.
The server or servers contain the software that manages:
 A shared disk
 Requests from users
 The protection of data
 The security of the system
Peer-to-Peer Networks
A peer-to-peer network (P2P) allows every computer to communicate with
every other computer in the network. No computer is designated as a
server. Instead, each computer can be considered as both a client and a
server. This is because a user can access data from any computer on the
network and vice versa.
For this type of networking, P2P networks are limited to about ten machines,
after which the performance drops and the systems becomes
cumbersome.
They are used mainly in small businesses and departments, as they are easy
to set up for small networks.
Network Technologies
Networks use a number of specialist technologies including transmission
media, wireless technologies and network hardware.

Transmission Media
In a cabled network, all the computers and other peripheral devices on the
network are attached by cables. These cables fall into three categories:
 Twisted pair cable
 Coaxial cable
 Fibre optic cable
Twisted Pair Cable
This is a convenient and inexpensive method of connecting computers and
peripherals in a network. It is the most common method for the cabling of a
LAN in a building. It is quite flexible, and the plugs and sockets used are
easy to install.
The newest cabling is the so-called CAT6, which can carry data at
10Gbit/sec over distances of up to 100 metres.
Coaxial Cable
This cable is more expensive than the twisted pair because its transmission
capabilities are higher. It is used to transmit voice, video and data. It is also
stiffer and more difficult to fit connectors to, but it can carry signals over
longer distances.
It is most commonly found in cable television networks.
Fibre Optic Cable
This cable is relatively expensive. It enables large volumes of digital data to
be transmitted extremely fast and virtually error-free. A single strand of a
fibre optic cable is a hair-thin piece of glass tubing. The inside of the tube
acts as a mirror, allowing pulses of light, carrying data, to travel along it.
A cable consists of thousands of these hair-thin strands. Adding connectors
to this is a specialist job.
Fibre optic cable is also well suited to sending signals over long distances
and so are often used for the cabling under streets that link phone and
data networks.
Wireless Communication
Wireless communications offer organisations and users many benefits such
as portability, increased productivity and lower installation costs.
Wireless technologies, in the simplest sense, enable one or more devices to
communicate with each other without physical connections – without
cabling.
They use:
 Radio frequency
 Microwave
 Infrared
transmissions as the means for transmitting data.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the most popular means of communicating data wirelessly within a
fixed location. It is a standard way of replacing the cables in a LAN.
A LAN can mix cabled and wireless devices, and Wi-Fi is the way in which
these devices connect into the rest of the LAN. A LAN that uses wireless
technology is often called a wireless LAN or WLAN.
Most modern devices support Wi-Fi so that they can access a network to
get access and share network resources.
Wi-Fi can be used in places where it may be difficult or impractical to use a
cabled LAN, e.g. homes, large offices, warehouses and lecture halls.
Less wiring also means increased efficiency and reduced wiring costs.
Wi-Fi
Disadvantages of Wi-Fi:
 Relatively slow speed
 Interference from other devices or users using the same 2.4GHz band.
Interference can corrupt data.
 The risk of illegal access to information. Encryption is used to counteract
illegal access.

Hotspots
Another way to use Wi-Fi is a Wi-Fi hotspot whereby computers and mobile
devices such as smartphones and tablets can share its wireless or wired
Internet connection to transfer files or carry voice messages.
Bluetooth
The other widely used technology is Bluetooth.
Bluetooth is a standard developed by a group of electronics manufacturers
that allows any type of electronic equipment (computers, digital video
cameras, smartphones, tablets, keyboards, cars, etc.) to automatically
make their own connections to each other when they are close enough
without wires.
When a device is turned on, it sends out radio signals asking for a response
from any unit with an address within a particular range. Once the networks
are established, the systems begin communicating among themselves.
Bluetooth networks are formed, broken up and reformed all the time, simply
by switching on Bluetooth-enabled devices when they are in close proximity
to each other.
Microwave
Wi-Fi is suitable for short-range wireless connections, but it is not a good
choice for applications that require longer wireless links. Microwave
communication allows you to create wireless links over a wider range and
with a higher data-carrying capacity.
It is often used in places where it is not practical to lay a fibre optic cable. It
needs to have a line of sight and uses a dish aerial (a larger version of a
television satellite dish).
A typical application might be to link two campuses of a university, where
the aerials can be mounted on top of tall buildings with a clear view of
each other.
Infrared
Infrared uses infrared light, which is invisible to our eyes, to transmit small
amounts of data over short distances. Devices such as keyboards and mice
can use infrared to connect wirelessly to a computer.
Network Hardware
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Before a PC can become a part of a network it must be fitted with a
network interface card (NIC). A NIC is a device that enables wireless or
wired capabilities on a device that did not previously support it.
This card fits into an expansion slot in the motherboard and enables the
computers on the network to send and receive messages.
Most modern devices come pre-equipped with an NIC that is installed on
the device’s motherboard. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, and other wireless
devices have Wi-Fi NICs built into devices.
Modems
A modem (modulator/demodulator) is a hardware device that allows a
computer to send and receive data over a telephone line or a cable or
satellite connection.
The main purpose of a modem, when used in a home networking
environment, is to establish a connection between your home internet
connection and your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Routers
A router acts as an interface between two networks. It helps to facilitate
communications between your home’s network and the ISP’s network.
It takes the information provided by the modem and routes it to the various
devices that are connected.
Devices (such as computers, TVs, gaming consoles, etc.) can be
connected to a router in one of two ways – wired directly to the router or
wirelessly.
Routers also provide advanced functionality such as a built-in firewall to
help protect the network form unwanted attacks from hackers and some
malware.
Many routers aimed at home use have the modem to connect
to the broadband network built into it.
Switches
A network switch is used to share network connections and boost the signal
so that it can go over long distances. In a typical home network, your router
might have four connections for wired devices. If you wanted to add more
than that you would connect a switch to one of these connections and the
switch would have four, eight or more connections on it.
It can be used in a big office to connect more computers to the network.
Access Points
An access point is a device that is attached to a LAN network, which
contains a radio transmitter/receiver, encryption facility and
communications software.
It translates computer signals into wireless signals, which it broadcasts to
wireless NICs on the network.
The access point and the NIC communicate with one another using 2.5
gigahertz (GHz) radio band. It also translates wireless signals received from
NICs into wired signals.
Components of a Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Mobile Networks
Mobile networks are something that we use on a daily basis to be in
contact with the rest of the world. These networks have become the
backbone of telecommunications in recent years, with the widespread
adoption of cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices.

Mobile networks, also known as cellular networks, are made up of ‘cells’

that connect to one another and to telephone switches or exchanges.

These cells are areas of land that are typically hexagonal and overlap each
other to form a large coverage area.
Mobile Networks
Users on the network can cross into
different cells without losing
connection.
Each cell contains a base station or
mobile phone tower that sends and
receives the mobile transmissions.
They connect to each other to
hand off packets of data, voice
and text signals – ultimately bringing
these signals to mobile devices
such as phones and tablets, which
act as receivers.
Mobile Networks
A mobile device will connect to the nearest or least congested base station.
The base stations are connected to a digital exchange where the
communication is sent to other telephone or data networks.

Each base station is also connected to the main telephone network and can
relay mobile calls to landline phones.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the main mobile network providers are Digicel and
bMobile. Digicel and FLOW are also leading providers in many other
Caribbean countries such as Jamaica and Grenada.
Types of Mobile Networks

Different types of mobile technologies are used to provide mobile network

services to users. The most commonly-used radio systems are:
 GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)
 CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

One of the newest technologies is Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is based
on GSM and offers greater network capacity and speed.

GSM phones do not work on CDMA networks, and vice versa.

Types of Mobile Networks

 1G: Analogue Cellular Networks

The first commercially automated cellular network was launched in Japan by NTT in
1979. it was an analogue technology, and the phones generally have poor battery
life and voice quality. Maximum speed of 1G is 2.4 Kbps.
 2G: Digital Networks
In the 1990’s, the ‘second generation’ (2G) mobile phone systems emerged. It used
digital transmission. Capable of speeds between 40 Kbps to 50 Kbps. This allows for
call and text encryption and data services such as SMS and MMS.
 3G: High-speed IP Data Networks
 4G: Growth of Mobile Broadband
 5G:
Types of Mobile Networks
 3G: High-speed IP Data Networks
These were introduced in 1998, bringing with it faster data-transmission
speeds. The high connection speeds of 3G technology enabled streaming
of radio and even television content to handsets. The maximum speed of
4G is estimated to be around 2Mbps.
 4G: Growth of Mobile Broadband
The fourth generation of mobile networks was released in 2008. in addition
to mobile web access, 4G also supports gaming services, HD mobile TV,
videoconferencing and other applications that demand higher speeds. The
first two commercially available 4G technologies were the WiMAX standard
and the LTE standard. Speeds can be between 10 and 45 Mbps.
Types of Mobile Networks

5G is the fifth generation cellular network technology that is currently being

developed and will be in use from 2019.
It delivers vastly increased capacity, lower latency, and faster speeds.
5G networks will operate in a high-frequency band of the wireless spectrum,
between 28 GHz and 60 GHz. 5G networks speeds should have a peak data
rate of 20Gbps for download and 10 Gbps for upload.
Not only will people be connected to one another, but so will machines,
automobiles, city infrastructure, public safety and more.
Intranets
An intranet can be thought of as a micro version of the Internet within a
company or organization. It offers the same features as the global Internet
but in a localized environment, such as a factory site or an office.

Authorised users within a company can use the company’s intranet to find
information stored on it easily and quickly.

The documents in an intranet contains tags that provide links to other

documents found in the company’s network.
Extranets
If a company has an intranet and allows limited access to it by people
outside the company, the intranet is referred to as an extranet.

A company may set up an extranet, for example, to provide technical

support information to its customers based on products it sells or services it
provides.
Thank You!