Telecommunications: A Definition

The term “telecommunication” is derived from the Greek tele, meaning distant, and
communicate, meaning sharing. From the beginning of time, the need to communicate
has been part of man’s inherent being. The human race has, throughout the
years, communicated using different techniques, dependant on the circumstances
and available technology. Early forms of communication included:

Smoke signals of the early American Indians
Drums of African tribes
Semaphore using flags

Papyrus and paper used to record communication for later use
As time passed, technology advanced and it is now expected that telecommunications
is both reliable and efficient. Nothing is more annoying than having to
repeat your message to the recipient, whether by phone, facsimile, or e-mail. Other
areas that are now paramount to the customer are the availability and quality of
additional services that may be requested, and all this has to be at a price that keeps
both the customer and the seller happy.

Today, telecommunications can be defined as:
The reliable and efficient movement of information between two or
more points for the purpose of providing services of the required quality
and availability, at a price which reflects the needs of the customer
and the business.