DISCIPLINE FOCUS:Communications engineering is a discipline addresses all issues related to transmission of information among humans and machines. Often associated with wireless networks and the Internet, communication networks carry all types of information such as social media, smart phone traffic, videoconferencing, business data and security signals over physical links using wires, cables, fiber links, satellites and wireless radio channels. Communications engineers are trained to design, build and operate such networks to ensure high-transmission fidelity and virtually error-free communications across many networks. Communications engineers:
- provide a smooth flow of information with minimal tie-up and traffic bottle necks over many interconnected networks.
- learn communication protocols and how to convert an image, video or a spread sheet into packets of bits and bytes that can be transmitted conveniently over networks.
- know how networks are interconnected and how to secure the transmission of data through a maze of physical links that carry thousands, and even millions, of communication sessions simultaneously.
- learn what the next generation of smart phones might look like and how everything we use and touch will interact and interconnect in the near future.
- study international standards and network protocols and apply this knowledge to develop efficient networking for small, medium and large enterprises. The Internet is an example of a system that operates on many protocols to provide efficient and almost instantaneous connectivity to billions of computers, databases and local networks all over the world.
IMPROVING THE WORLD THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING:Efficient communications is an integral part of our life. We get the daily news, weather and traffic through broadcast media; we get our mail and connect to our friends and colleagues through computers and smart phones; and we are entertained by various forms of communication broadcast and Internet-based multimedia content. The recent, huge advances in communication networks have considerably improved many aspects of our life. Communications plays an important role in: tracking products and delivery of goods, supply chain management, transportation networks of trains, buses and subways where instantaneous accurate communications are essential, the management of thousands of security cameras, and many other applications. Communications touch and change our life every day in many direct and indirect ways, including bringing the world closer. Strong communication ties create greater bonds among people and promote greater sense of community.
POSSIBLE JOBS:Communication is part of every sector of the society and as such communication engineers are in demand in many organizations. Examples of job opportunities of communication engineers include, but by no means are limited to: the health industry; transportation, where communication engineers design, build and operate networks to control road, railways, buses and subways; travel and airports; the defence industry; many government organizations; sea ports and global navigation; managing and monitoring pipelines and many large industrial complexes.