Optical networks, undersea networks, GSM, UMTS…The recent explosion in broadband communications technologies has opened a new world of fast, flexible services and applications. To successfully implement these services, however, requires a solid understanding of the concepts and capabilities of broadband technologies and networks. Building Broadband Networks provides a comprehensive, non-theoretical introduction to broadband networking. It clearly and thoroughly conveys the principles and the technical fundamentals of the high-performance technologies that enable the reliable delivery of media-rich voice, video, and data services. After a careful examination of ISDN and ATM technologies, it describes optical network solutions based on SONET/SDH, WDM, and DWDM technologies. It then explores Ethernet operations and services and introduces Frame Relay and Fibre Channel networks, DSL solutions, and wireline and wireless cable networks. The author reviews the capabilities of cellular technologies, describes the characteristics of wireless networking technologies, and examines broadband satellite networks. She also explores next-generation network configurations, such as Internet2 and GEANT, and concludes with a study of network security problems and solutions.

The process of building and implementing broadband networks is technically complicated. Straightforward, highly readable, and logically presented, Building Broadband Networks provides the foundation for understanding the broadband communications infrastructure and the framework needed to effectively develop and deploy broadband network solutions.