Contents
Part I Fundamentals, Data Centers, and IP PBXs
1 Computing and Enabling Technologies
Fiber-Optic and Copper Cabling
Fiber-Optic Cabling: Underpinning High-Speed Networks
Information Content Providers: Heavy Users of Fiber
Splitting Capacity of Individual Fiber Strands into Wavelengths
Fiber-Optic Cabling in Commercial Organizations
Chips—Building Blocks of the Digital Age
Deep Packet Inspection: Monitoring, Prioritizing, and Censoring Traffic
DPI in Organizations: Protecting Confidential Information
Governments Monitor: Terrorism, Web Access, and Unfavorable Comments
Carriers, Networks: Categorization and Billing
Traffic Shaping: Prioritizing Traffic
Streaming: Listening and Viewing without Downloading
Compression: The Engine behind TV over the Internet
Innovative Compression Algorithms—Fewer Bits, Higher-Quality Images
Using Codecs to Compress and Digitize Speech
Increasing Network Capacity via Multiplexing
Statistical Multiplexing: Efficient Utilization via Prioritization of Network Services
Using Protocols to Establish a Common Set of Rules
Virtualization: Space, Cost, and Maintenance Efficiencies
Scalability and Energy Savings
Virtualization—Enabling Cloud Computing
Managing Memory, Virtual Machines, and Disk Storage in Virtualized Data Centers
Containers: A Newer Form of Server Virtualization
The Cloud: Applications and Development at Providers’ Data Centers
Private vs. Public Cloud Service
Three Categories of Cloud Services—Layers in the Cloud
Amazon: The Gorilla of Cloud Computing
Fewer IT Employees; Different Skills—DevOps
A Comparison between Analog and Digital Signaling
2 Data Centers and LANs, Storage, and IP Private Branch Exchanges
Switches, Media, and Protocols in LANs
Layer 3 Switches—Transmitting Data between Switches and Data Centers
Layer 2 Switches—Links to Nodes
Virtual Local Area Networks for Specialized Treatment
Protocols for Communications in LANs
Data Centers—Centralized Locations for Housing Applications
The Impact of Cloud Computing on Data Centers
Environmental Controls in Data Centers
Storage Systems—Managing Petabytes of Data
The Impact of Virtualized Hardware Failure
Managing Users’ Computers via Virtual Desktops
Access to the Internet and Other Broadband Networks via Routers
Software to Monitor LAN-Connected Devices
Monitoring LANs—What’s Up? What’s Down?
IP PBXs—Voice, Video, and Unified Communications
IP Telephone Systems—Voice and Applications on LANs
IP Telephony—Converting Voice Signals to Digital Data
Assessing Network Quality by Using Voice Quality Measurements
Prioritizing Voice and Video on a Virtual Local Area Network
Media Gateways, Protocol Translation, and Signaling
Session Initiation Protocol—Compatible Trunks
Unified Communications, Contact Centers, and Video Conferencing
Integrating Conferencing, Instant Messaging, and E-Mail through UC
Immersive HD Video Conferencing
Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) vs. Hosted IP PBXs
Contact Centers—Efficiencies for Incoming and Outgoing Communications
Voice Response Units—Routing and Accessing Information via Touch-Tone or Speech
Part II Industry Overview and Regulations
3 Competition, Industry Structures, and Regulations
The Telecommunications Act of 1996
Costs and Competition for Cable TV Services in the United States
The Transformation of AT&T, CenturyLink, and Verizon into Conglomerates
AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink and Comcast—Recent Acquisitions
Cable TV Providers—Comcast, Charter, COX Communications, and Altice
Utility Pole Attachments—Critical for 5G
Universal Service and Rate of Return
Decreasing ICC Payments for Connecting Traffic—Gradually Being Reduced
Alternate Connect America Model
Lifeline Subsidies for Low-Income Residents
Legislation to Protect the Privacy of Minors
Lobbying Efforts to Influence Regulations
The State of the Industry—Consolidation via Mergers
Competition to Telephone, Mobile, and Cable TV Companies
Consolidation of Mobile Providers
Selling Wholesale Network Services
Other Competitors to Broadband Providers—Overbuilders
Resellers—Mobile Virtual Network Operators
Non-Traditional Competitors: Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Microsoft
Google—A Search Conglomerate that Morphed into a Multi-Function Software Company
Amazon—From Online Book Sales and Cloud Services to On-Ground Grocery Stores
Facebook—An Influential Social Network
Snapchat—A Visual Social Network App
Microsoft—Office Productivity, Operating System Software, Cloud Hosting, and Xbox
Part III Managing Broadband Networks and Broadband Network Services
Core Networks—Between Cities and Continents
Software Defined Networks to Manage Traffic Surges
Network Function Virtualization—Architecture
Bandwidth Capabilities in Carrier Networks
Optical Transport Networks—Carrying Multiple Types of Traffic
Optical Transport Networks and SDN and NFV
Transporting Movies and TV in the Core
Using Headends to Receive and Transmit Programming
Adding Capacity to Access Networks
Legacy Circuit-Switching Service
Transitioning Customers to Voice over Internet Protocol and Fiber
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers
Sharing Fiber Capacity—PON Architecture
PON Standards—Gigabit Ethernet
Access Networks in Cable Operators’ Networks
Using Cable Modems to Access the Internet
Using Set-Top Boxes to Interface to Cable TV
Using Cable Modem Termination Systems for IP Traffic
Supporting More Video via Set-Top Boxes
Cable Modem Standards Transition to Higher Speeds
Transitioning from Asymmetric to Symmetric Channels
Full Duplex DOCSIS 3.1—Symmetric Speeds
Telecommunications Services in National Emergencies
Planning to Insure Reliability and Sustainability
Internet Security and Sustainability
Interconnecting Carriers and Providing Secure Space for Equipment in Co-Location Facilities
Disagreement within the FCC over the Definition of Broadband
VoIP Calling Services over Broadband
Residential vs. Enterprise Services
Lower-Priced, Flexible Consumer VoIP Services Adopted by Enterprises
VoIP for Very Small Organizations
The Impact of VoIP and Wi-Fi on Traditional Carriers
The Demarcation Point at Which Telephone Companies Wire Trunks
Multi-Protocol Label Switching for Interoffice Connections
MPLS Virtual Private Network—A Managed Service
MPLS for Multinational Locations
Prioritizing Traffic via Classes of Service
IP Virtual Private Networks over the Internet
Using IP VPNs between Offices—Less Costly than MPLS
Adding Security on Traffic Sent over IP VPNs
Security Protocols on Access to IP VPNs
Deploying Firewalls to Protect against Malicious Attacks
Managed Services Rather than Dumb Pipe Providers
Managed Services—For a Variety of Functions
Digital Subscriber Line—Distance Limitations; Operates on Copper Cabling
Carrier Gigabit Ethernet Flexibility and Scalable Speeds
T1 and T3: Services Largely Replaced by Higher-Capacity Broadband
Network Topology on Dedicated, Private Lines
Dedicated Private Lines—For Greater Security
Network Topologies—The View from Above
Direct Dedicated Interconnections to the Cloud
Session Initiation Protocol—Out-of-Band Signaling
Wide Area Software Defined Networks for Enterprises
Network Backups—Protection from Outages
Part IV The Internet and Cellular Networks
Protocols Used on the Internet
The Impact of Capacity—The Availability of Broadband Networks
Using Search Engines to Unleash Vast Stores of Information
Search Engines—Mathematical Algorithms and Page Ranking
Internet2—A Non-Commercial Outgrowth of the Internet
Streaming—A Disruptive Technology
Easier Set-Up and Increased Internet Uptake
Accessing Streaming—Connected TVs, Game Consoles, and Mobile Devices
Keeping and Attracting Subscribers—The Criticality of Content
A Snapshot of Companies that Offer Streaming
Ad Revenue on Streaming Services
Ease of Use and Technological Enablers
Pay-TV—Skinny Bundles Plus Streaming on Set-Top Boxes
Aggregation Routers in Core Networks
Ensuring Reliability in the Core and Edge
Enhancing Internet Performance by Using Content Delivery Networks
Exchanging Data at Peering Points
Tracking and Managing Top-Level Domains
Security: Connected, Ubiquitous Networks—Vulnerable to Malicious Hackers
Methods Hackers Use to Attack and Infiltrate Networks
The Five Rs of Information Security
Cyber Terrorism between Countries
Web Site Tracking, Connected Devices, and Free Search Engines
Combining Online Services with On-Site Stores
Fostering Civic Participation and Engagement—Online Forums
Town E-Mail Lists to Keep Communities Informed
The Issues Surrounding Network Neutrality
The Digital Divide: Bandwidth, Skills, and Computers
Internet Pricing and Competition
Extranets—Saving Money on Customer Service
Spectrum for Wireless Networks—A Critical Asset
Cellular Structures—The Foundation of Mobile Networks
The Division of Airwaves into Frequencies
The Characteristics of Short and Long Wavelengths
Using Auctions to Allocate Spectrum
Profits from Unused Spectrum on the Secondary Market
Synchronizing Spectrum Internationally
Unlicensed Spectrum for “Super” Wi-Fi
Roaming—Using Mobile Devices in Other Networks
More Efficient 4th Generation Digital Networks
3G Technologies—Incompatible Standards
LTE—The First True 4th Generation Cellular Protocol
4G LTE—Designed to Transmit Data and Voice in IP Packets
LTE Cell Sites’ Additional Functionality
Backhaul—Connecting Cell Sites and Core Networks
Elements of LTE Infrastructure
The Three Elemental Functions of the LTE IP Core
Databases in the LTE Evolved Packet Core
Voice over LTE—Packetized Voice
Accessing Applications and VoLTE—The IP Multimedia Subsystem
Connections to Customers and Mobile Networks via the Cell Site, Towers, and Mobile Switches
Heterogeneous Networks—Architecture for Densely Trafficked Areas
Frequency- and Time-Division Air Interfaces in LTE
4G Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Antennas
The LTE Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing Air Interface
5G Mobile Networks—Small Cells; Additional Capacity
Massive MIMO Antennas for 5G Networks
5G New Radio Service and 5G Applications
C-RAN Centralized or Cloud-Based Radio Access Networks in 5G Networks
Interoperability and Fall Back on 5G Mobile Networks
Device Compatibility—A Multi-Year Gap
Killing Lost or Stolen Portable Computers Using GPS
Information and Privacy on IoT Services
Unmanned Aircraft; Drones—Military and Commercial Applications
Machine-to-Machine Communications between Devices with Embedded Radios
Wi-Fi Standards, Architecture, and Their Use in Cellular Networks
A Deeper Dive into Wi-Fi Standards
Wi-Fi Architecture in Enterprises
Mesh Networks—Every Device to Every Device: Controller-Less Architecture
Devices on Wi-Fi Networks—Access Points and Controllers
Using Wi-Fi to Offload Traffic from Congested Mobile Networks
Satellites—Geosynchronous and Low Earth Orbiting
Low Earth Orbiting Satellites—Fewer Delays; More Satellites; 200 to 1,200 Miles High
High-Frequency Satellite Service within Airplanes for Internet Access