Telecommunication is simply broadcasting of signals over a distance for the main purpose of communication. Nowadays, telecommunication requires the use of electronic transmitters like the telephone, television, radio, or computer. Typically, information is sent over the phone lines. With the advent of satellites and other technology, data can now be sent using radio waves. Telecommunication is an important aspect in any field. It allows people, who are separated by a great distance, to still be in contact with each other.

Contrary to popular belief, telecommunications has actually been present for several decades now. If you can remember, there was the telegraph that can transmit words or codes. This was followed by the telephone which was able to transmit sounds. After which, there were already handheld radios or the walkie-talkie.

Since earlier times, telecommunications has been constantly evolving and its development is rapid and wide reaching. Some applications that rely on telecommunications technology are:

• Email (electronic mail)
  
  This is one of the frequently used types of telecommunications. In this case, the message is sent through the internet. Both sender and receiver should have access to the internet in order to make use of this technology
  

• Fax (facsimile) machine
  
  This equipment sends an exact, monochrome image of a document. A phone line is necessary to transmit the data. This is like photocopying; however the photocopy is received on the other end of the line.
  

• Videoconferencing
  
  Videoconferencing is more enhanced than teleconferencing in the sense that you can also see the person you are talking to. It makes use of computers, cameras, and even hi-tech cell phones. With this technology you can conduct a seminar, or hold a meeting with
  your staff, even if you are away on business.
  
  
• World Wide Web
  
  The internet is one of the widely-used technologies to gather information. With just one click of a button, you can pull up records and information from a wide range of topics. It involves computer networks and can be accessed if you have modem.
  

Certainly, telecommunication has a lot of applications and can provide us with a whole host of options. In order to set up a telecommunications system you need to have the following basic elements:

1. A transmitter ¨C It is any device that can obtain information and then convert it into a signal to be broadcasted or sent
   
   
2. A transmission medium ¨C This carries the signal from the transmitter to the receiver. Examples of transmission medium are the copper wires for telephone, fiber optics, and free space where radio waves travel in.
   
   
3. A receiver ¨C This is the device that accepts the signal and converts it back into usable information. Basically, converting signals back into sound, images, text or words.
   

To put this in simple terms, take radio broadcasting for example. In this scenario, the broadcast tower is the transmitter, the radio waves traveling through free space are the transmission medium, and your radio is the receiver. Some devices, like the mobile phone, can act both as a transmitter and a receiver. In this case, it is known as a transceiver.

Telecommunication can be point-to-point wherein it is done between one transmitter and one receiver. An example of which is telecommunication over the phone line. On the other hand, telecommunication through radio is called broadcasting since it is from one powerful transmitter and sending it out to numerous receivers.

Telecommunications has played a great role in people's lives. Whether they use it for business or pleasure does not really matter for as long as they are able to send and receive information with less of a hassle.

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