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ECE 4614 - Telecommunication Networks (3C)

Course Description

Architecture, technology, operation, and application of telecommunication networks including digital telephony, data networks, and integrated services networks. Design and analysis of networks for voice, data, and video applications.

Why take this course?

Computer networks are pervasive. Electrical and computer engineers must understand the architecture, technology and applications of such networks. In addition, they must understand how the existing telecommunications infrastructure is evolving to provide integrated voice, data, and video communications services that are critical to the operation and competitiveness of companies, government, and other organizations. The continued growth of the Internet has generated new applications and spurred the need for higher speed local access. Advances in telecommunications technology and applications has increased the demand for electrical and computer engineers possessing a systems-level understanding of present telecommunications networks and the forces shaping their future.

Learning Objectives

  • describe the facilities, multiplexing, and modulation techniques used in long-distance backbone networks,
  • characterize voice and data traffic using accepted models and calculate blocking and delay probabilities in simple networks,
  • explain the purpose of layering and describe the current layered architecture for the Internet,
  • explain data link/MAC layer functions and describe the current Ethernet standards and applications,
  • explain network and transport layer functions and describe Internet routing algorithms and TCP/IP protocols,
  • use open source software to monitor and characterize Internet traffic and analyze protocols,
  • formulate a link budget for a link in a wireless LAN or cellular network using knowledge of the wireless channel,
  • discuss the design of cellular and wireless LAN networking standards and the types of multiple access techniques used in these networks, and
  • justify the choice of a particular frequency band for a given network on the basis of interference, regulatory, and business considerations.

  • Resources & Links

    Two-Semester Major Design Experience

    ECE’s two-semester Major Design Experience (ECE 4805-4806) provides teams of students with simulations of the post-college world via projects specified and directed by industry partners. For more information, contact class instructor, Dr. Joe Adams.

    Textbook List

    Take a look at the Fall 2024 ECE textbook list.
    Take a look at the Spring 2025 ECE textbook list.

    Current Prerequisites & Course Offering

    For current prerequisites for a particular course, and to view course offerings for a particular semester, see the Virginia Tech Course Timetables

    ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission

    The B.S. degree in electrical engineering and the B.S. degree in computer engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

    Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) & Student Outcomes (SOs)