Fundamentals of Telecommunication

Telecommunication networks are complex systems with many different blocks. In order to tap the full potential of high-speed networks, the properties and design trade-offs of these blocks must be fully understood. This chapter therefore discusses the most fundamental theoretical concepts in telecommunication systems. Starting with a brief review of important mathematical ideas, digital modulation is introduced with an overview of the most prevalent modulation techniques and implementations. Then, the general framework of a communication system is discussed along with the most critical factors that affect performance: noise, nonlinearity, and bandlimiting filtering. Finally, the most promising modulation techniques are compared and their fundamental trade-offs revealed.