| CODE | CCE5105 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Broadband Communications Systems | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Communications and Computer Engineering | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit introduces the student to broadband communications systems. The unit will cover: (1) optical fibre media and systems; (2) optical transmission systems; (3) Gigabit LANs at the Physical and MAC layer; (4) Gigabit MANs focusing on Metro Ethernet; (5) Broadband WANs and optical access networks; (6) Current and future broadband Wi-Fi networks. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to familiarize students with the characteristics of the optical fibre and radio media that underpin broadband communications networks. The study-unit then introduces student to current and future broadband local, metropolitan and wide area networks, both fixed and wireless. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand the physical characteristics of optical fibre media that limit the bit-rate on the channels; - Understand the modulation techniques used on these channels, to achieve broadband transmission rates; - Understand the technologies and engineering techniques underpinning broadband LANs, MANs and WANs and Access Networks; - Understand the architecture of broadband wide area networks and telecommunications systems. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe attenuation and dispersion characteristics of optical fibres; - Calculate link budgets and estimate transmission rates; - Identify and Select optical fibre media and components to implement local, metropolitan and wide area networks; - Describe, compare optical transmission systems; - Compute the bit rate supported by optical transmission systems; - Describe, compare and select broadband LANs; - Describe the evolution of Metro Ethernet; - Describe the architecture of Broadband WANs; - Describe the options available to implement fixed broadband access networks; - Describe the broadband wireless channel and the impulse response model; - Analyze and design broadband schemes using OFDM; - Describe and compare SIMO, MISO and MIMO multiple antenna techniques and their use in broadband Wi-Fi systems. Syllabus: Introduction: What is Broadband? Broadband Optical Media & Systems - MMF and SMF fibres - Attenuation properties - Dispersion properties - Link Budgets - Optical systems and components Gigabit LANs - Organization of Gigabit LANs - Optical/Copper PMD Gigabit MANs - MPLS & Metro Ethernet Broadband WAN Architecture - Access, Transmission, Switching and signaling subsystems Broadband WAN Transmission Systems - Optical transmission systems Broadband Access Networks - Copper based: ADSL, VDSL and G.Fast - HFC based: DOCSIS 1/2/3 - Optical fibre based: Passive and Active optical access networks including GPON and XGPON Wi-Fi Broadband Networks - The broadband radio channel characteristics of Wi-Fi channels - OFDM systems as employed in Wi-Fi systems - Multiple Antenna Techniques for Wi-Fi systems - Positioning techniques using Wi-Fi systems. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Martin Zammit |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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