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Telecommunications refers to the electronic transmission of information over distances, encompassing a wide range of technologies used to connect computers and other devices. In a computer context, it involves transmitting data, voice, and video through networks like the internet, cellular networks, or wired connections, using methods such as fiber optics, radio waves, and copper cables. This allows devices to communicate, share resources, and access information from remote locations, with a modem historically used to convert digital signals for analog phone lines and a wireless router now commonly used for Wi-Fi.

Key concepts and terms

Data transmission: The process of sending and receiving information, such as emails, files, or video streams, between computers.

Telecommunications network: A group of interconnected nodes (like computers) that exchange messages using various technologies like circuit switching, message switching, or packet switching. The Internet is the largest example.

Modem (Modulator-Demodulator): A device used in older systems to translate digital computer signals into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines, and vice versa.

Wireless networking (Wi-Fi): Uses radio waves to transmit data between devices, as defined by standards like IEEE 802.11.

Fiber optics: Transmits data as pulses of light through glass or plastic cables, enabling high-speed communication.

Circuit switching: A method where a dedicated communication path is established for the duration of a call, like in the traditional telephone network.

Packet switching: A method where data is broken into small packets that are routed independently across a network and reassembled at the destination, which is how the internet works.