Different Forms of Telecommunication: Its Types and Leading Service providers

Telecommunications, or telecom, transfers information across large distances via electronic means. It involves using various technologies and communication networks, including wired phones, mobile devices like cell phones, satellite systems, fibre optics, radio and television broadcasting, the internet, and telegraphs.

In the past seven years, the Indian Telecom Tower industry has experienced significant growth of 65%. This has been evidenced by the soaring number of mobile towers, which has risen from 400,000 in 2014 to 660,000 in 2021. Similarly, Mobile Base Transceiver Stations have grown tremendously by 187%, from 800,000 in 2014 to 2.3 mn in 2021.

This article will review all the important information concerning the telecom industry.

Different Forms of Telecommunication

Telecommunication technology is any system or device to transmit information between two or more people. It encompasses various methods, including wired and wireless networks, radio, television, satellite communications, and other forms of communication. 

1. Wired Networks: 

Wired networks are communication networks that use physical cables and wires to connect two or more users. These networks are usually faster than wireless networks, as the physical connection between the nodes provides a dedicated pathway for data. Common examples of wired networks include Ethernet, fibre optic, and coaxial networks. 

2. Wireless Networks: 

Wireless networks are communication networks that use radio waves to connect two or more users. The most common type of wireless network is a Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi networks use radio waves to send data between computers, smartphones, and other devices. Other wireless networks include cellular networks, Bluetooth, and infrared networks. 

3. Radio Communication: 

Radio communication is the transmission of information by radio waves. It is used in various applications, including two-way radio, broadcasting, and satellite communication. Radio communication is often used when traditional wired networks are not feasible, such as in remote or rural areas. 

4. Television Communication: 

Television communication is the transmission of information through the use of television signals. Television communication is used for broadcasting programs and commercials, as well as for two-way communication. 

5. Satellite Communication: 

Satellite communication is the transmission of information through the use of artificial satellites. Satellite communication is used for broadcasting programs and commercials and for two-way communication. Satellite communication is often used where traditional wired and wireless networks are not feasible. 

 6. Optical Communication: 

Optical communication is the transmission of information through the use of light. Optical communication is often used to transmit large amounts of data over long distances. Common examples of optical communication include fibre optics and free-space optics.

Different Telecommunications and Service Providers in India

Telecommunications systems are often managed by telecommunications service providers, also known as communications service providers. These companies provide various services, including telephone, internet, WAN, MAN, and global services. Many telecom service providers were once owned and operated by the government but have since been privatised. 

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations (UN) agency, is responsible for setting and enforcing international telecommunications regulations. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the primary governing body for telecom regulation in the United States.

The telecommunication industry in India is a vast and rapidly developing sector. It is one of the most significant contributors to the country’s GDP. The sector is highly competitive, with many service providers offering various services. 

The major players in the Indian telecommunication industry are:

• Bharti Airtel is India’s largest telecom service provider, with a pan-India presence and a customer base of over 300 million. It offers mobile voice and data, fixed lines, broadband, enterprise, and managed services. 
• Vodafone is the second-largest telecom provider in India, with a customer base of over 200 million. It offers a range of services such as mobile voice and data, fixed-line, broadband, enterprise, and managed services. 
• Reliance Jio is a new entrant in the Indian telecom industry. It is the only 4G-only operator in the country. It offers prepaid and postpaid plans, as well as enterprise services. 
• BSNL is a government-owned telecom service provider in India. It offers mobile voice and data, fixed-line, broadband, and enterprise services. 
• Idea Cellular is a leading telecom service provider in India. It offers various services such as mobile voice and data, fixed-line, broadband, and enterprise services. 
• MTNL is a state-owned telecom service provider. It offers various services such as mobile voice and data, fixed-line, broadband, and enterprise services.

Important Telecom Phrases You Should Know

There are many terms and phrases associated with the telecom industry. Here is a list of key terms that can help you better understand its inner workings.

• Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data transmitted over a network connection in a given amount of time. 
• Cell Tower: A structure that houses telecommunications equipment for transmitting and receiving wireless signals.
• VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that allows voice and multimedia communications over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. 
• 4G: Fourth Generation mobile technology provides faster data transmission speeds than previous generations. 
• LTE: Long Term Evolution, a 4G wireless communication standard. 
• Fiber Optic Cable: A cable that uses light pulses to transmit data over long distances. 
• IP PBX: Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange, a telephone switch used in private networks. 
• QoS: Quality of Service, a measure of the performance of a network. 
• Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity, a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology. 
• 5G: Fifth Generation mobile technology provides faster data transmission speeds than previous generations of mobile technology.

Conclusion

We've covered a variety of essential facts about the Telecommunication industry, and we hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding. If you want to learn more about the industry and its potential career prospects, we recommend you take an online telecommunication course with Skill-Lync. If you are unfamiliar with the course details, you can even book a demo session with our experts.