What is Telecommunication Engineering?

Telecommunications engineering, or telecom engineering, is an engineering discipline that integrates electrical engineering with computer science to enhance telecommunication systems. Telecommunication is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means, particularly through electrical signals or electromagnetic waves. A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver at any station may be combined into a single device called a transceiver. Data are conveyed in a telecommunication circuit by means of an electrical signal called the carrier or carrier wave. The medium of signal transmission can be electrical wire or cable (also known as "copper"), optical fiber or electromagnetic fields. The free-space transmission and reception of data by means of electromagnetic fields is called wireless. The form of telecommunications can be divided into three parts, such as:

1. One-way communication (Simplex). In one-way communication (Simplex) transmitter and receiver cannot establish a continuous communication through the same medium. For example: Television, radio.
2. Two-Way Communication (Duplex). A duplex communication system is a point-to-point system composed of two connected parties or devices that can communicate with one another in both directions, simultaneously. For example: Telephone, VoIP.
3. Semi Two-Way Communication (Half Duplex). A half-duplex system provides communication in both directions, but only one direction at a time (not simultaneously). Typically, once a party begins receiving a signal, it must wait for the transmitter to stop transmitting, before replying (antennas are of trans-receiver type in these devices, so as to transmit and receive the signal as well). For example: Handy Talkie, Fax.

There are several basic elements to support telecommunication systems:

1. Information: This is data that will be sent, such as; sounds, images, and files.
2. Transmitter: Takes information and converts it to a signal.
3. Transmission medium: A tool that serves to send from the transmitter to the receiver. Because of the distance, the signal from transmitter will be changed with radio waves (modulation), and then converted into electromagnetic waves emitted by the device called Antenna.
4. Receiver: Takes the signal from the channel and converts it back into usable information.

Telecommunication is a diverse field of engineering, which is connected to electronics, civil, structural, and electrical engineering. Ultimately, telecom engineers are responsible for providing the method for customers to have telephone and high-speed data services. It helps people who are closely working in political and social fields, as well accounting and project management.

A telecommunication engineer is responsible for designing and overseeing the installation of telecommunications equipment and facilities, such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities, and fiber optics. Telecommunication engineering also overlaps heavily with broadcast engineering.

Telecom engineers use a variety of equipment and transport media available from a multitude of manufacturers to design the telecom network infrastructure. The most common media, often referred to as plant in the telecom industry, used by telecommunications companies today are copper, coaxial cable, fiber, and radio.

Telecom engineers are often expected, as most engineers are, to provide the best solution possible for the lowest cost to the company. This often leads to creative solutions to problems that often would have been designed differently without the budget constraints dictated by modern society. In the earlier days of the telecom industry, massive amounts of cable were placed that were never used or have been replaced by modern technology such as fiber optic cable and digital multiplexing techniques.

Telecom engineers are also responsible for overseeing the companies' records of equipment and facility assets. Their work directly impacts assigning appropriate accounting codes for taxes and maintenance purposes, budgeting and overseeing projects.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_engineering