Subject Overview

Data Communication and Networking introduces the principles, protocols, architectures and technologies used to transmit data and operate modern networks. It combines foundational theory with practical configuration, security, troubleshooting, network design, governance and emerging industry developments.

Learning Goal

Students will be able to explain network models and transmission principles; configure and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks; apply IP addressing, routing, switching, transport and application protocols; evaluate performance and security; and recommend ethical, scalable and future-ready networking solutions.

Syllabus

1. Foundations of Data Communication and Networking

Learning Objective: Define data communication, network components, terminology, topologies, network types, standards and performance measures including bandwidth, throughput, latency, jitter and reliability.

Category: foundation

2. Network Architectures, Models and Protocols

Learning Objective: Explain the OSI and TCP/IP models, layered communication, encapsulation, protocol data units, service interfaces, standards bodies and client-server and peer-to-peer architectures.

Category: foundation

3. Signals and Data Transmission

Learning Objective: Examine analog and digital signals, frequency, spectrum, bit rate, baud rate, channel capacity, transmission modes and impairments such as attenuation, distortion and noise.

Category: foundation

4. Encoding, Multiplexing, Media and Switching

Learning Objective: Apply digital and analog encoding concepts; compare guided and wireless media; and explain multiplexing, circuit switching, packet switching and message switching.

Category: core

5. Data Link Control and Media Access

Learning Objective: Explain framing, error detection and correction, flow control, ARQ, link protocols and channel-access methods including CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA and controlled access.

Category: core

6. Ethernet, Wireless LANs and LAN Switching

Learning Objective: Configure Ethernet and Wi-Fi networks; interpret MAC addressing; and apply switches, VLANs, trunking, spanning tree, link aggregation and basic wireless security.

Category: application

7. Internet Protocol Addressing and Subnetting

Learning Objective: Work with IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnet masks, CIDR, VLSM, address resolution, ICMP, DHCP, NAT and systematic subnet planning.

Category: core

8. Routing and Internetworking

Learning Objective: Explain packet forwarding and configure static and default routes; compare distance-vector, link-state and path-vector routing using RIP, OSPF and BGP concepts.

Category: core

9. Transport-Layer Communication

Learning Objective: Compare TCP, UDP and QUIC; explain ports, sockets, connection management, reliability, flow control and congestion control; and select suitable transport services.

Category: core

10. Application-Layer Protocols and Services

Learning Objective: Analyze DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, email, FTP/SFTP, SSH, DHCP, SNMP, VoIP and streaming; use common network utilities and understand basic socket-based communication.

Category: application

11. WAN, Mobile, Cloud and IoT Networking

Learning Objective: Compare WAN services, VPNs, broadband, cellular networks, satellite communication, cloud networking and IoT architectures while considering interoperability, scalability and quality of service.

Category: application

12. Network Design, Deployment and Professional Decision-Making

Learning Objective: Translate requirements into logical and physical designs; select devices and services; estimate capacity and cost; document networks; and assess availability, redundancy, SLAs and vendor alternatives.

Category: strategic

13. Network Security, Ethics and Governance

Learning Objective: Apply security principles, access control, firewalls, encryption, PKI, secure protocols, segmentation and incident response while addressing privacy, acceptable use, legal compliance and responsible administration.

Category: application

14. Network Operations, Analytics and Emerging Trends

Learning Objective: Monitor and troubleshoot networks using logs, packet analysis, SNMP, telemetry and performance baselines; examine automation, SDN, NFV, intent-based networking, AI-assisted operations, edge computing, 5G/6G, zero-trust networking and future developments.

Category: contemporary