Introduction: Data Communication, Networks, Protocols and Standards, Standards Organizations. Basic Concepts: Line Configuration, Topology, Transmission mode, Categories of Networks, Internetworks. The OSI Model: The Model, Functions of the layers. Signals: Analog and Digital, Analog signals, Digital Signals. Encoding and Modulating: Analog-to-Digital Conversion - Digital-to-Analog Conversion. Transmission Media: Guided Media, Unguided Media. Error Detection and Correction: Types of Errors, Detection, Vertical Redundancy Check (VRC), Longitudinal Redundancy Check (LRC), Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), Checksum - Error Correction. Data Link Control: Line discipline, Flow Control, Error Control. Data Link Protocols: Synchronous Protocols, Character Oriented Protocols, Bit Oriented Protocols. Switching: Circuit Switching, Packet Switching, Message Switching. Local Area Networks: Project 802, Ethernet, Token Bus, Token Ring, FDDI. TCP/IP Protocol suite Part I: Overview of TCP/IP, Network layer, Addressing. TCP/IP Protocol suite Part II: File Transfer Protocol, Telnet, SMTP, HTTP. Network Security: Four Aspects of Security, Digital signature, PGP. ATM Protocol, Introduction to Routing.