The development in telecommunication Technologies along with the advancing computer technologies has changed the life of almost every individual. The exponential growth in the use of Information Technology in Business activities and ever-increasing popularity of Internet has posed new challenges and demands on the new generation of electronics and telecommunication engineers. They now need to be proficient in their field of Electronics along with latest technology in Computers.

Telecommunications engineering or telecom engineering or electronics and communications engineering is a major field within electronic engineering. Telecommunications engineering is all about the transmission of information across a channel such as a coax cable, optical fibre or free space. Telecom engineers come in a variety of different types from basic circuit designers to strategic mass developments. A telecom engineer is responsible for designing and overseeing the installation of telecommunications equipment and facilities, such as complex electronic switching systems to copper telephone facilities and fiber optics.

Telecommunications is a diverse field of engineering comprising of electronics, civil, structural, and electrical. Ultimately, telecom engineers are responsible for providing the method that customers can get telephone and high speed data services.

The program is thus designed to equip the students with theoretical knowledge, related learning exposure and experience in the various fields of electronics such as telecommunications, radio and TV broadcasting and other communications engineering technologies, industrial electronics and instrumentation, semiconductor applications and manufacturing, system analysis and controls engineering, and even in the software and hardware knowledge of computer science and engineering.

Globalization and liberalization has resulted in stiff competition in every segment of Telecom Industry, making new demands on individuals with good basics in Electronics, modern management knowledge and skills thereby making the field of information systems and supporting electronics and communications technology a huge and expanding market.

An electronics and communications engineer has tremendous scope in the telecom and IT industry. They can choose software development as an alternate career because of their exposure to the computer technologies.

Within the field, they can either choose to take up one of these roles:

a) Telecom equipment engineer – one who oversees the design of equipments such as routers, switches, and other electronics/computer equipment designed for its application in telecommunication network infrastructure.

b) Central office engineer – one who oversees the design and implementation of telecommunication equipment in a central office such as a telephone exchange. They are responsible for integrating new technology into the existing network, clocking the digital equipments, assigning equipments and providing power in the central office.

c)  Field engineer – one who overlooks the civil environment, aerial, above ground, and below ground. They are responsible for taking plant (copper, fiber, etc.) from a telephone exchange to a distribution point or destination point directly.

d)   Network engineers – they are responsible for the smooth functioning and maintenance and configuration of routers and switches.

e)      Software development is also an alternative career option for these professionals.

 Some of the big players in this industry that absorb these professionals are Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Nokia, Samsung, Alcatel, Cisco, Reliance, Tata, Bharti, Connexant enterprises etc among the private sector. In the public sector MTNL, BSNL, Center for development of Telematics, National Physical Laboratories, Civil aviation, and the police wireless departments. These engineers are also absorbed into the entertainment transmission industry, research establishments, and defense. They can also take up teaching and research in one of the many engineering colleges in India or abroad.

One can pursue post graduate and PhD programs in telecom, electrical engineering, broadcast engineering, microelectronics, VLSI, Information technology and Information systems. Management program is also a good option for higher studies.

These professionals draw a starting salary of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month plus allowances depending on the company, industry sector, field of work and knowledge.