Telecommunications vs Networking: Difference and Comparison

Both Telecommunications and Networking appear similar but are very different from each other. Both have different mediums of data transmission, hardware and software required, and causes of failure in data transmission.

Telecommunication requires electromagnetic receptive devices, whereas networking requires cables, wires, or the atmosphere as a transmission medium.

Key Takeaways

1. Telecommunications refers to transmitting information over a distance, while Networking connects devices and systems for communication.
2. Telecommunications includes voice, data, and video transmission, while Networking facilitates data exchange, resource sharing, and collaboration.
3. Telecommunications primarily focuses on the physical transmission medium, while Networking primarily focuses on logical connectivity.

Telecommunications vs. Networking

Telecommunications is transmitting information over a distance using electronic or electromagnetic signals. Networking is the process of connecting devices and systems to facilitate communication and data exchange. It can involve both wired and wireless networks.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Telecommunications	Networking
Definition	It is the transfer of some information or data through some distance in the form of electromagnetic signals at the receptive ends of one another.	It is the process of interconnecting devices to a main system, also known as the server.
Medium	It needs electromagnetic receptive devices like radios, phones, and television in the form of text, sound, image, and video.	It needs physical mediums like cables, wires, and atmosphere to be carried at distances at a very small range.
Cause of Failure	The cause of failure in transmitting the information is miscommunication in software applications and the positioning of the main wave recipient.	The cause of failure could be the unplugged cables which will result in a lack of a medium of transition, and there will be a cut-off from the main server.
Hardware Required	The required hardware components are a Satellite system, Coaxial cable, Fiber optic cable, Receiving systems or devices, and Twisted pair wire.	It requires hardware devices like Computer, Router, Nic, Switch, Wire cables, and Hub.
Advantages	It has some advantages but less than that of a network.	It has more advantages than telecommunications.

What is Telecommunications?

Telecommunication is the transfer of data or information through some distance in the form of electromagnetic signals to the receptive ends of one another. Transmission of data or information in telecommunication is through electromagnetic receptive devices such as radios, phones, or television in text, sound, image, and video.

The transmission of data or information in telecommunications can be divided into two parts: Devices like radio and telephones mostly use analog signals.

Computers use digital signals.

Modulators, also known as Modems, transmit signals in telecommunications. The main function of any modulator is to convert the signals from one form to another for easy transmission of information.

Failure can be caused while transmitting data or information in telecommunications because of miscommunication or settings in the software applications and the positioning of the main wave recipient. In telecommunications, there is a need for certain hardware components such as Satellite systems, Coaxial cables, Fiber optic cables, Receiving systems or devices, and Twisted pair wires.

What is Networking?

Networking means connecting devices to a main system known as the server. Networking needs physical mediums such as cables, wires, and atmosphere to transmit data to some distance at a very small range.

The system applications and protocols are required to get good performance; Failure can be caused while transmitting the data, or information in networking can be caused by: Unplugged cables, which will cause a lack of medium in the data transition. Hence, there will be a cut-off from the main server.

When the protocol between the two communicating mediums is not the same, the two mediums won’t be able to communicate, and networking will fail. There are many advantages of networking, such as:

1. Information stored in one device connected to the main server can be shared within the network by locating the information in a suitable file that the entire network can easily access. Resources can be easily shared and used simultaneously within the network.
2. The software can also be shared within the network; hence no need to install the software on every system from the source. The devices in the same network can communicate and provide a place to share data.

In order to have a proper working system in networking, there is a need for two communication components, i.e., software and hardware.

Software: It is the non-tangible part of the system, such as the data, applications, etc. The two software required are:

1. Operating System: The software manages other devices from the main server.
2. Applications. The software is required to enable the devices to run the information and to serve the required purpose in storing and data transformation.

Hardware: It is the physical part of the system. The hardware components required in the networking are:

1. Computers
2. Router
3. Nic
4. Switch
5. Wire cables
6. Hub

Main Differences Between Telecommunications and Networking

1. Telecommunication is the transfer of information or data through a distance in the form of electromagnetic signals at the receptive ends of one another. On the other hand, Networking is the process of interconnecting devices to a main system, also known as the server.
2. Telecommunication needs electromagnetic receptive devices to transmit data in text, sound, image, and video, whereas Networking needs cables, wires, and atmosphere to carry the data to a distance.
3. In telecommunication, failure can occur due to miscommunication in software applications and the positioning of the main wave recipient. In contrast, in networking, failure can be caused due to unplugged cables that will be cut off from the main server.
4. Telecommunication requires hardware like a Satellite system, Coaxial cable, Fiber optic cable, Receiving systems or devices, and Twisted pair wire. In contrast, networking requires hardware like Computer, Router, Nic, Switch, Wire cables, and Hub.
5. Networking has more advantages than telecommunications.

References

1. https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=558729
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SUtaDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA2&dq=Telecommunications+and+Networking&ots=cACJDBxVOg&sig=BaLM6ZNU3wabTd28nbzhozKNUUs