Module V

Telecommunications network

A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together
to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or
message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or
connections can be routed to the correct recipients. The collection of addresses in the network is
called the address space.

The links connect the nodes together and are themselves built upon an underlying transmission
network which physically pushes the message across the link.

Examples of telecommunications networks are:

• computer networks
• the Internet
• the telephone network
• the global Telex network
• the aeronautical ACARS network

Telecommunication Network architecture

 Consists of five basic components

 Terminals
 Any input/output device that uses telecommunication networks
to transmit or receive data
 Telecommunication processors
 Support data transmission and reception between terminals and
computers
 Telecommunications channels
 The medium over which data are transmitted and received
 Computers
 Interconnected by telecommunications networks
 Telecommunications control software
  Control telecommunications activities & manage the functions
of telecommunications networks

TMN: Telecommunications Management Network Model

The Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) model was introduced by ITU-T

Recommendation M.3000 in 1985 as a reference model for the Operation Support System (OSS) of
telecommunications service providers. The TMN concept is an architectural framework for the
interconnection of different types of OSS components and network elements. TMN also describes
the standardized interfaces and protocols used for the exchange of information between OSS
components and network elements, and the total functionality needed for network management.

The TMN model composes of the following four layers:

• Business management layer: performs functions related to business aspects, analyzes trends
and quality issues, for example, or to provide a basis for billing and other financial reports.
• Service management layer: performs functions for the handling of services in the network:
definition, administration and charging of services
• Network management layer: performs functions for distribution of network resources:
configuration, control and supervision of the network
• Element management layer: contains functions for the handling of individual network
elements. This includes alarm management, handling of information, backup, logging, and
maintenance of hardware

At each layer in the TMN model, five functional areas called FCAPS are defined:

• Fault management: Fault recognition, isolation, reporting and recording.

• Accounting management: Collection, buffering and delivery of payment and accounting
information.
• Configuration management: Installation of network equipment, setting of states and
parameters, configuration of network capacity.
• Performance management: Collection, buffering and delivery of operating statistics for
network optimization and capacity planning.
• Security management: Administration of authorization functions; handling of simultaneous
use of an OSS, protection against intrusion from un-authorized users.

The above five functional areas form the basis of all network management systems for both
data and tele-communications. The mapping between the TMN and FCAPS is shown below:

FCAPS Fault Configuration Accounting Performance Security

TMN
Business Management No No Yes Yes Yes
Service Management Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Network Management Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Element Management Yes Yes No Yes Yes
 The TeleManagement Forum is working on a newer model to replace the aging TMN. This new
model is called TOM (Telecoms Operations Map) or eTOM (enhanced Telecom Operations
Map).

Mapping between TMN reference model and the FCAPS:

Mapping between TMN reference model and the FCAPS

Types of Telecommunications Networks

1. Wide Area Networks (WAN)

• Cover a large geographic area.
2. Local Area Networks (LAN)

• Connect computers & other information processing devices within a limited

physical area.
• Connected via ordinary telephone wiring, coaxial cable, or wireless radio &
infrared systems of Telecommunications Networks

3. Virtual Private Networks

• A secure network that uses the Internet as its main backbone network, but relies
on fire walls and other security features
 

4. Client/Server Networks

• Clients – end user PCs or NCs

• Server – helps with application processing and also manages the network
5. Network computing

• “the network is the computer”

• Thin clients process small application programs called “applets.”

6. Peer-to-Peer (P2P)

• Two major models

o Central server architecture
o Pure peer-to-peer