PTT course catalogue

PTT offers over a wide range of online courses covering telecommunications subjects in the categories listed below.

Accredited telecommunications qualifications

PTT Level 3 Award in Principles of Telecommunications
This study programme introduces the fundamental principles, operation and facilities of modern telecommunications systems. The programme consists of nide online courses and associated online examinations. Successful learners will be awarded a certificate of achievement by NCFE.

PTT Level 3 Certificate in Unified Communications
This programme describes the fundamental principles, protocols, components, applications, testing, and security aspects of unified communications systems. This programme includes twelve online courses along with associated online assessment and essays. Upon completion, successful learners will be awarded a certificate of achievement by NCFE.

Individual courses

To see the individual online courses, select the button by the category name.

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Introduction to telecommunications (4 courses)

Telecommunications for managers The "Telecoms for managers" courses are particularly useful for managers and non-technical staff who require an appreciation of the technological, regulatory and commercial aspects of telecoms.
TCA	Telephony and data services Introduces the facilities and capabilities of telephony and data services provided by modern telecommunications networks with reference to the underlying infrastructure.
TCB	Wireless communications Introduces the basic operation, capabilities and applications of wireless communications for those joining the telecoms sector in a managerial or technical role.
TCC	Telecoms infrastructure and administration Introduces the underlying physical infrastructure of a telecommunications system and the commercial, standardisation and regulatory aspects of telecoms provision.
Telecoms for call centre staff The "Introduction to telecoms services" course is particularly useful for customer facing staff who need an appreciation of telecommunications without technical detail. These include customer service agents and retail sales representatives working in the telecoms sector.
TCE	Introduction to telecoms services Provides an overview of the facilities provided by modern fixed line and mobile telecommunications services.

Telecommunications fundamentals (7 courses)

Courses providing an introduction to telecoms: The following courses cover the fundamental principles of telecoms technology and are designed for technical staff especially those new to the telecoms sector.

PAA	Analogue and digital signals An introduction to the characteristics of the signals used in communications systems and the effect of passive circuits and transmission lines on those signals.
PAB	Signal impairments An introduction to the causes of signal impairments and their effect on the transmission of information over telecommunications and data links.
PAC	Transmission fundamentals Describes the characteristics, capabilities and applications of copper, optical fibre and wireless transmission media.
PAD	Modulation and multiplexing Introduces the methods employed in telecommunications systems to maximise the traffic carrying capacity of transmission media.
SRC	Data communications principles Explains the fundamental principles of data communications and describes the role of the basic functional components of data links and the protocols that define their operation.
PAG	Telecommunications networks Introduces the role, structure, capabilities and operation of modern telecommunications networks.
PAF	Media encoding Provides an introduction to the digital processing that is carried out on speech and video before transmission over circuit-switched networks such as the PSTN and VoIP systems.

Telecommunications security (1 course)

Telecoms companies are amongst those which are most vulnerable to cyber attacks and other threats. The PTT course below ensures telecoms employees are aware of such threats and helps them to guard against security breaches.

TCG

Telecommunications systems security
Provides an overview of the protection of personal data held by telecommunications providers against misuse and the protection of telecoms systems against intrusion and fraudulent misuse.

Broadband access (7 courses)

Courses covering copper and optical fibre based technologies that provide broadband access to telecoms services and the Internet.

Broadband access over copper
DLA	ADSL principles Describes the characteristics and structure of access networks based on the use of copper wires and explains the principles of the technologies that provide access to broadband services over those wires.
DMB	DSL systems Describes the structure, functional components, operation and testing of systems that provide Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) broadband services to customers over copper wires.
Broadband access over fibre
OLA	Optical fibre principles Introduces the principles of optical fibre transmission, describes the components of a fibre link and discusses the impairments that affect the transmission of data.
FAB	Optical access networks Describes the use of optical fibre in access networks to provide point to point and FTTH, FTTB and FTTC broadband connections, with emphasis on the practical aspects of installation and testing.
FAA	Passive optical networks Describes BPON, GPON and EPON implementations of passive optical networks that provide high capacity broadband services (FTTB, FTTC and FTTH) to residential and business customers.
TCF	Hybrid fibre coax systems Describes the operation, components and capabilities of hybrid fibre coax cable systems with reference to the provision of television, video on demand and broadband services.
Next generation access
TCD	Next generation access networks Describes the capabilities, components and operation of the next generation fixed line access networks that will meet the demand for very high capacity broadband connections to online services in the coming years.

Voice and video services (7 courses)

Courses covering the delivery of voice and video services.

MEA	Telephony systems Provides an introduction to the principles and operation of circuit-switched telephony as used in the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
MAB	Voice over IP Provides an introduction to the principles, operation and applications of telephony services that operate over Internet Protocol (IP) networks and includes detailed treatment of SIP and H.323.
MEC	C7 signalling systems Provides a detailed treatment of the principles and operation of C7 signalling systems as used in fixed and mobile telephony systems.
MED	VoIP systems Describes the functional components and operation of public telephony systems based on the Internet Protocol (IP) with emphasis on those employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in a next generation network.
MEE	Video principles for engineers Introduces the fundamentals of video capture, compression, storage and transmission.
MEF	Video over IP Discusses the technical aspects of providing a television over IP (IPTV) service.
TCF	Hybrid fibre coax systems Describes the operation, components and capabilities of hybrid fibre coax cable systems with reference to the provision of television, video on demand and broadband services.

Data communications and converged services (10 courses)

Courses covering data communications and the convergence of data and voice services.

EBB	Structured cabling Describes the structure, components, installation requirements and testing of cabling systems employed in local area networks.
EBA	Ethernet fundamentals Provides an introduction to the underlying concepts of Ethernet Local Area Networks (LAN) and the capabilities, components and structure of Ethernet LANs.
EBC	Ethernet networks Describes the operation of fixed line and wireless Ethernet networks with reference to their address schemes, protocols, functional elements and security methods.
EBE	Network testing and fault-finding Describes the role of the various tests employed on Ethernet/IP networks and their use in following a structured approach to fault finding and measuring network performance.
EBD	Advanced Ethernet networks Describes the enhancement of the security of Ethernet local area networks (LANs), network management and testing tools, and the wide area network services that provide connections between remote LANs.
TAA	Introduction to WANs Introduces the principles of operation, capabilities and features of various types of Wide Area Network and describes the requirements of different types of traffic and how these can be met.
TNF	IP networks Describes the topology and administration of the Internet and explains the operation and security aspects of IP networks with reference to the Internet suite of protocols.
NHA	Next Generation Networks Explains the concept, architecture, underlying technologies and advantages of IP-based NGNs. The course also introduces the concepts and benefits of software defined networking.
TNG	IP routing Describes in detail the role, facilities, and operation of the various protocols that discover routes over an IP network.
TAH	Advanced IP networks Describes the techniques such as RSVP, Diffserv and MPLS that are used to offer a differentiated quality of service over an IP network.

Mobile and wireless networks and services (9 courses)

Courses covering the principles and operation of mobile and wireless networks.

TCB	Wireless communications Introduces the basic operation, capabilities and applications of wireless communications for those joining the telecoms sector in a managerial or technical role.
MJA	Introduction to mobile systems Introduces concepts which are used in most types of mobile systems, like handover and roaming, and cellular traffic handling. The course also reviews the various generations from 1G to 5G comparing their performance, operation and network structure.
MIB	Mobile radio communications Describes the operation of the radio access network of a mobile system with emphasis on radio communications to and from a mobile. MJA and MIB are designed as preparation for the more advanced mobile courses.
MBC	GSM mobile networks Describes the structure, components and features of GSM (Global System Mobile) networks and the provision of telephony services using such networks.
MBD	GSM data services Describes the provision of data services by GSM mobile systems with reference to EDGE, GPRS, HSCSD and SMS.
MBE	UMTS (3G) mobile radio networks Designed for study by those working in, or intending to work in, the mobile radio sector with a technical role. The course covers the technologies employed in Third Generation (3G) mobile networks.
MOF	LTE (4G) mobile radio networks Designed for study by those working in the mobile radio sector with a technical role. The course introduces the features, structure and operation of 4G / LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile systems.
MBG	LTE mobile systems This course describes mobility in, and the provision of services over, LTE (4G) mobile systems. The enhanced performance of an LTE Advanced system is also discussed.
WMA	WiMAX radio networks Gives an introduction to WiMAX, the wireless technology which provides fixed or mobile broadband services.

Optical transmission networks (4 courses)

Courses covering the principles and operation of optical networks.

SYA	Synchronous transmission principles Introduces the principles of synchronous transmission techniques as employed in modern long-haul networks.
SYB	SDH principles Introduces the fundamental principles of the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) as employed in modern broadband networks.
SYC	Optical line systems inc WDM Describes the capabilities, components and operation of the optical links that provide interconnections in core and metro networks.
SYD	Optical networks Describes the capabilities, components and operation of metropolitan and national networks that employ optical links to provide the high capacity needed for modern communications.

Bundled courses providing a comprehensive programme of study:

PTT "Ethernet/IP networks" study programme
This online study programme provides a comprehensive guide to the principles and operation of local and wide area networks. The programme consists of seven online courses and online tutor support. Successful learners will be awarded a certificate of achievement by PTT.

To request further information on any of our e-learning telecommunications courses, including discounts for multiple users and courses, please go here>>

Course facilities inc. tutor support and certificates

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