1.1 Foundations (Non-negotiable) – Math Basics

Linear algebra • Complex numbers • Probability & statistics • Fourier Series & Transform • Laplace Transform • Convolution

Why? Signals = math.

1.2 Foundations – Physics & Signals

Analog vs digital • Energy vs power signals • Time vs frequency domain • Bandwidth • Noise (AWGN) • SNR, BER

Telecom = sending information reliably over imperfect medium.

2 Signals & Systems (Core Telecom Brain 🧠)

Continuous vs discrete-time • LTI • Impulse response • Sampling theorem • Aliasing • Filtering • ADC/DAC

Tools: MATLAB, Python (NumPy, SciPy)

3 Digital Communications (VERY IMPORTANT)

Modulation: ASK/FSK/PSK/QPSK/QAM/OFDM • Coding: source/channel/error correction • Metrics: BER, throughput, latency, spectral efficiency

4 Transmission Media & RF Basics

Wired: twisted pair, coax, fiber • Wireless/RF: antennas, propagation, path loss, fading (Rayleigh/Rician), Doppler

5 Networking (Telecom ≠ only RF)

OSI/TCP-IP • IP/TCP/UDP • DNS/DHCP/NAT • Routing/Switching: Ethernet, VLAN, STP, OSPF/BGP • Wi-Fi & cellular basics

6 Cellular Networks (CRITICAL)

2G→5G evolution • RAN/Core/IMS/EPC/5GC • Handover, roaming, QoS, slicing, Massive MIMO, beamforming

7 Telephony & VoIP

PSTN, SS7, SIP, RTP, VoIP architecture, softswitches

8 Satellite Communications

GEO/MEO/LEO • Link budget • VSAT • Satellite internet (Starlink etc.)

9 Programming for Telecom Engineers

Python (automation, simulation) • C/C++ (low-level, embedded) • Bash scripting • Use cases: network automation, log analysis, protocol simulation

10 Telecom Security

SS7 vulnerabilities • LTE/5G security • IMS security • SIM authentication • Network monitoring • IDS/IPS • Lawful interception

11 Practical Projects

Beginner: QPSK/QAM BER sim, VoIP, Wireshark SIP/RTP • Intermediate: LTE sim, srsRAN+Open5GS • Advanced: 5G core, telecom attack sim, secure VoIP