Customer Reviews

Telecommunications Internetworking: Delivering Services Across the Networks

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In the interest of disclosure, I feel that I should mention I was a reader for this book prior to its publication.

P.J. Louis' book covers the telecommunications industry in great breadth. It focuses on two interrelated topics; technology as an enabler for telecommunications, and the economics of building and managing telecommunications networks. In this book, P.J. Louis provides the essentials of a number of technologies, ranging from SS7 to ATM, TCP/IP and satellite communications, without getting lost in the technical details. He addresses the essentials of network architecture and planning, and he explains why different industries have adopted different alternatives for their networks.

Perhaps more important, he discusses wireline, wireless, satellite, cable and Internet networks in terms of the services they provide, and the financial and regulatory considerations they must face. When helpful, P.J. provides comparisons between competing technologies and industries, listing the similarities and differences between each alternative. He also provides a clear and concise summary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

I expect that decision-makers will find this book an indispensable reference in planning and growing their networks and businesses. I highly recommend it to newcomers as well as seasoned professionals.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that is easy to understand, yet thorough, for the non-engineer. My background is in finance and I currently work as a financial consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, focused on the telecom industry. I would recommend this book to anyone with a desire to learn more about what happens "behind the scenes" and how networks will continue to evolve in the future.

"Telecommunications Internetworking" is a well thought out description of an evolving market few people really understand. There are many individuals who posess expertise in one or more specific areas, but few posess the breath of expertise presented in this book. Mr. Louis has created a book that should be on every telecom professional's book shelf. Informative, yet easy to read, I am sure I will refer to this book often as various questions arrive on my desk.

Finding that we needed to bring our young, and inexperienced, switch planners up to speed on the telecom business, and their place in the network, we created our own training program. Telecommunications Internerworking became the solid foundation for us to build our program. It covered the business at just the right depth and breadth to allow anyone to understand how it all comes together. We bought copies for all our planners and recommend it for anyone coming fresh into the telecom business. Telecommunications Internerworking is an excellent starting point before delving deeper into the specific area of your business.