Computer networks now form the backbone of most computing environments. Businesses rely on local and wide area networks to conduct their operations, and consumers who connect to the Internet using DSL lines are actually using networks, although they may not be aware of the infrastructure in place. There are many different components that go into making a successful network, including different types of network media as well as various types of networks themselves. This research considers different media types, different network types, service carriers, and which type of service may become dominant in the future.
There are two categories of media commonly used for networking: bounded and unbounded. Bounded media are those that use cables for transmitting electricity or light; unbounded media does not require cabling and includes satellite, microwave and radio transmission. Wireless connections, including 802.11b and 802.11g, are examples of unbounded media. Today, bounded media continue to be more common than unbounded, and it is bounded media considered here.
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) provides the dial-up connections with which many residential consumers connect to the Internet. This uses connections on the standard copper phone lines found in homes, which makes it convenient, but has an analog transmission limit of 53Kpbs. Modems are used for communications by modulating digital signals into analog signals that can travel over the phone lines. Five different modem standards set by the Microcom Networking Protocol offer different levels of error detection and correction.
Integrated services digital networks (ISDN) use a single wire or fiber optic line to carry voice, data and video signals. A basic rate interface (BRI) provides the most common type of ISDN connection in residential settings, while primary rate interface (PRI) is typically used in business settings. BRI
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