Intermediate
Event Organizer(s)
Description
Modern societies are powered by digital highways—the transmission networks that connect people, businesses, and governments across the globe. As the demand for bandwidth grows with cloud services, video, 5G, and the coming era of 6G, building resilient, high-capacity transport networks has become a strategic priority for nations.
This course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the technologies, standards, and policy frameworks that underpin modern transmission infrastructure. It traces the evolution of transport networks from PDH and SDH to Optical Transport Networks (OTN), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and packet-optical convergence.
Beyond fibre optics, the course explores wireless backhaul, microwave, mm Wave, and satellite integration, reflecting the hybrid reality of today’s networks. Critical enablers such as synchronization, latency management, resilience, and cybersecurity are addressed through technical insights and global case studies. Participants will also examine the future of digital highways, including multi-core fibre, AI-driven network optimization, and quantum communication for secure transmission.
A unique highlight is a session deep dive into the BharatNet project, India’s ambitious nationwide fibre rollout that aims to connect over 250,000 Gram Panchayats(Village level local body). These sessions provide practical exposure to large-scale deployment challenges, GPON technologies, rural connectivity models, and policy frameworks such as USOF and PPP. The socio-economic impact of BharatNet on digital inclusion will be discussed, with lessons for other regions seeking to bridge the digital divide.
The course employs interactive lectures, hands-on exercises, case studies, and a capstone project, ensuring participants gain both theoretical knowledge and applied skills. By the end, learners will be equipped to design national or regional transmission strategies that are future-ready, resilient, and inclusive.
The target audience for this course are
- Senior professionals from telecom operators, internet service providers (ISPs), infrastructure providers.
- ICT ministry/regulator officials.
- Academics, consultants, and researchers.
- Policymakers engaged in broadband and digital economy planning.
- University degree in ICT/Telecom/Electronics or related field.
- ≥ 3 years professional experience.
- Familiarity with digital comms and networking basics.
Participants will be empowered with in-depth insights and practical skills. At the end of the training, they will be able to:
- Describe modern transmission architectures in the context of broadband strategies.
- Apply ITU standards (optical, packet, wireless, satellite).
- Evaluate trade-offs of capacity, cost, and reliability.
- Identify policy, regulation, and sustainability issues.
- Generate a strategic roadmap for resilient transport infrastructure.
The course aims to enhance participants’ capabilities in designing, deploying, and managing modern transmission networks that serve as the digital highways of national and regional connectivity. Through a mix of theoretical foundations, ITU standards, and real-world case studies, participants will learn how optical, wireless, and satellite technologies—together with sound policy and regulatory frameworks—enable resilient, inclusive, and future-ready broadband infrastructure.
The instructional approach encompasses:
- Expert lectures from seasoned professionals
- Peer learning and interaction through asynchronous moderated online forums
- Analytical case studies
- Daily quizzes to reinforce learning, culminating in a comprehensive assessment for certification.
Participants will undergo daily quizzes (4) and a final assessment test on the last day. The quizzes will be objective, hosted on the ITU Academy Platform, with a passing threshold set at minimum 70%. The final test comprises 10 questions, with a passing mark of 70%. Out of the 10 questions 5 questions will be short answer questions of approx. 25 words and 5 questions will be long answer type of approx. 100 words
- Live sessions attendance/Active participation: 10%
- Forum participation: 20%
- End of day quizzes (4): 30%
- End-training test (1): 40%
- Total: 100%
An overall grade of 70% is required to receive the ITU certificate of completion for this course.
Day 1
Session-1 Course Introduction
- Course Brief
- Introduction of Participants
Session-2 Global Digital Highways – Context & Vision
- Explore the role of transmission in enabling broadband and digital economies.
- Trace the evolution from PDH → SDH → OTN → packet-optical transport.
- Review relevant ITU frameworks
- Compare global digital highway strategies (EU, Digital India, ASEAN).
Day 2
Session-3 Modern Transport Architectures
- Outline SDH hierarchies, framing, and protection schemes.
- Recognize synchronization principles in synchronous networks.
- Examine relevant ITU-T standards.
- Design a hybrid SDH/OTN architecture using a practical case exercise.
Session-4 Optical Transport: OTN & DWDM
- Examine OTN framing structure and client signal mapping.
- Explore DWDM principles
- Explain amplification technologies (EDFA, Raman).
- Analyse deployment examples (submarine cables, metro core).
Day 3
Session-5 Carrier Ethernet & MPLS Evolution
- Analyse Ethernet service models .
- Examine MPLS-TP architecture and functions.
- Explore NG-SDH features.
- Apply knowledge in designing a metro backhaul transport scenario.
Session-6 Wireless Backhaul & Satellite Integration
- Examine microwave, mmWave, and RoF (Radio over Fibre) solutions.
- Study relevant ITU framework.
- Explore satellite payloads, HTS, VSAT, and LEO/MEO constellations.
- Identify integration approaches for satellite + fibre networks.
Day 4
Session-7 BharatNet – Technology, Policy & Impact
- Outline BharatNet’s architecture as a national fibre backbone.
- Apply GPON technology for rural broadband delivery.
- Explore deployment challenges: geography, vendors, cost, sustainability.
- Examine integration with satellite and mobile backhaul.
- Analyse funding models: USOF, PPP frameworks.
- Explore institutional and regulatory challenges.
- Assess socio-economic impacts: education, healthcare, e-governance, inclusion.
- Identify lessons and best practices for replication in developing regions.
Session-8 Resilience & Emerging Horizons
- Classify resilience and protection mechanisms.
- Study optical fibre standards.
- Explore cybersecurity for transport networks.
- Examine 5G/6G transport requirements.
- Articulate future trends: multi-core fibre, AI/ML in optical networking, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
Day 5
Session-9 Participant (Group) Presentations – National Transmission Networks
- Present national/regional network overview and propose a rural broadband extension plan.
- Identify key challenges in backbone, fibre rollout, satellite integration, and policy.
- Discuss similarities, differences, and shared regional issues.
Session-10
- Final knowledge assessment
- Feedback and evaluation
- Final training course test
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
