Access Technologies
Code: 102697Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunication Systems Engineering | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Angeles Vazquez Castro
- Email :
- angeles.vazquez@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Objectives
Objectives
- Understand the fundamentals and trends of telecommunication access technologies from a systems engineering perspective.
- Integrate and apply knowledge acquired in previous courses —such as modulation, coding, propagation, networks, digital communications and information theory— to the analysis and design of access technologies.
- Analyse the role of spectrum, standardization and the evolution from 5G to 6G in the design of real communication systems.
- Study terrestrial, aerial and satellite access technologies considering coverage, capacity, latency, availability, security and operational constraints.
- Introduce the basic principles of classical and quantum security applied to networks and access technologies.
- Apply system design concepts, including CONOPS, architecture, services, requirements and life-cycle management.
- Develop the ability to justify technical decisions through architectural reasoning, numerical estimates and technical communication.
Learning outcomes
- Build, exploit and manage telecommunications networks from the point of view of access technologies.
- Use techniques based on telecommunication networks, services and applications both in fixed and mobile, and local or long distance environments with different bandwidths, including television and data.
- Apply signal processing techniques in order to improve the features of multiuser systems.
- Distinguish multiple access technologies based on digital signal processing techniques.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different technological options for the deployment or implementation of emerging communication systems.
- Measure the features of different access technologies in terms of multiuser capacity.
- Develop critical thinking and reasoning.
- Work autonomously.
- Develop independent learning strategies.
- Prevent and solve problems.
- Assume and respect the role of the different members of a team, as well as the different levels of dependency in the team.
- Communicate efficiently, orally and in writing, knowledge, results and skills, both professionally and to non-expert audiences.
Contents
Fundamentals and technological context
- Electromagnetic and radio spectrum.
- Evolution of access technologies.
- 5G/6G trends and new connectivity scenarios.
Standardization and deployment
- Standardization processes and organizations.
- Interoperability, regulation, innovation and technology adoption.
- Role of standards in the design and deployment of real systems.
Access technologies and architecture
- Terrestrial, aerial and satellite networks.
- Heterogeneous networks and multi-layer integration.
- Coverage, capacity, latency, availability and life cycle.
- Analysis of access technologies from a systems perspective.
- Integrated application of previous knowledge in communications, modulation, coding, propagation, networks and information theory to the design of access technologies.
Security and emerging technologies
- Classical security applied to access networks.
- Resilience, adversarial models and crypto-agility.
- Introduction to quantum technologies and secure communications.
Applied laboratory
- Development of different design phases of an access technology system.
- Definition of the operational scenario and preparation of the Concept of Operations.
- Design of architecture, services, functions and interfaces.
- Integrated application of previous knowledge to system analysis and dimensioning.
- Basic numerical dimensioning calculations.
- Analysis of constraints, security, availability and resilience.
- Technical presentation and defence of the proposed solution.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual work | 80 | 3.2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Tutorships | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12 |
| Master class | 38 | 1.52 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 |
| Laboratory | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 |
Methodology
The course combines lectures, practical sessions, participatory activities and autonomous work. The methodology is designed to help students analyse access technologies from a systems engineering perspective and apply previous knowledge to practical design problems.
Lectures and practical cases
Lectures introduce the main theoretical concepts, technological trends and system-level design principles related to access technologies. Practical cases connect these concepts with real communication systems, including spectrum, standardization, 5G/6G, satellite access technologies, security and emerging technologies.
Laboratory sessions
Laboratory sessions focus on different design phases of an access technology system, including operational scenario definition, CONOPS, architecture, services, basic numerical calculations, security analysis and final presentation. Students work in teams and are encouraged to distribute technical, coordination and communication roles equitably. For some sessions, each team must have at least one laptop.
Participatory activities and gender perspective
Participatory activities may include brainstorming, role play, case analysis, short debates and group discussions. These activities promote active participation, critical thinking, inclusive teamwork and balanced visibility in technical discussions and presentations. Students are also encouraged to consider the diversity of users, contexts of use and social impacts of the proposed technological solutions.
Autonomous work
Autonomous work includes the study of course contents, completion of planning and case-resolution exercises, search and critical analysis of bibliography, standards and technical documentation, and preparation of laboratory deliverables and presentations.
Use of artificial intelligence
The use of artificial intelligence tools is allowed and encouraged. AI tools may support the work, but they cannot replace the student’s own technical reasoning, design decisions or critical analysis. Random oral checks may be conducted to verify the student’s understanding of the submitted work and the appropriate use of AI tools.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlaB | 40% | 4 | 0.16 | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 |
| Developement and exercices presentation | 60% | 14 | 0.56 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Final qualification will be based on the exercices and activities at class.
There will be around 3 exercises defining 50% of the qualification, and a practical part that will define 50% of the qualification. Active participation in class can rise the qualification up to one additional point. Both the exercises and PLaB should have a qualification above 3, otherwise the student will have the oportunity to have a final exam related to the whole subject.
Ater being qualified at least of 2 thirds of the total subject, the student will have the oportunity to have a final exam related to the whole subject. This exam will be after finishing the standard activities. In case the student does not attend this exam, there won`t be a second chance.
In case of failing to present 2 thirds of the evaluation activities the sudent will be considered unqualifiable.
Honors are decided by the professor of the subject only if finla qualification is over 9.00 and no more than 5% of students can be awarded with this honors.
Notwithstanding other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with the academic regulations in force, assessment activities will receive a zero (0) whenever a student commits academic irregularities that may alter such assessment. Assessment activities graded in this way and by this procedure will notbe re-assessable. If passing the assessment activuty or activities in question is required to pass the subject, the awarding of a zero (0) for disciplinary measures will also entail a direct fail for the subject, with no opportunity to re-assess this in the same acadeimc year. Irregularities contemplated in this procedure include, among others:
- the total or partial copying of a practical exercice, report, or any other evaluation activity;
- allowing others to copy;
- presenting group work that has not been done entirely by the members of the group;
- presenting anymaterials prepared by a third party as one's own work, even if these materials are translations or adaptations, including work that is not original or exclusively that of the student;
- having communication devices (such as mobile phones, smart watches, etc.) accessible during theoretical-practical assessment tests (individual exams).
- talk to other student during the individual practical or theoretical tests.
- copying or trying to copy from other students during the individual practical or theoretical tests.
- using or trying to use writen material related to the subject during the individual practical or theoretical tests when they have not been explicitly allowed.
When a student is involved in any evaluation irregularity, the final mark of the course will be the lowest value considering 3.0 and the weighted average of the grades (and no compensation is thus possible).
Bibliography
Basic bibliography
- A. Goldsmith, Wireless Communications. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
- D. Tse and P. Viswanath, Fundamentals of Wireless Communication. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
- L. J. Ippolito, Satellite Communications Systems Engineering: Atmospheric Effects, Satellite Link Design and System Performance, 2nd ed. Wiley, 2017.
- N. Abdelkafi, K. Blind, C. Mazzoli, S. Ramel and R. Schubert, Understanding ICT Standardization: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed. ETSI, 2021.
Complementary bibliography and updated resources
- 3GPP, technical specifications and reports on 5G, 5G-Advanced and studies towards 6G.
- ETSI, technical specifications, reports and educational material on ICT standardization.
- DVB Project, technical standards and reports on broadcasting, satellite and broadband systems.
- ENISA, reports and guidelines on cybersecurity and resilience in communication systems.
- Recent scientific and technical papers on 5G-Advanced, 6G, non-terrestrial networks, satellite access technologies and quantum-safe communications.
Software
No specific SW is required. Standard Office tools will be needed, text applications and spread sheet. Participation tools like Kahoot will also be used.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 330 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 331 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 331 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |