NETWORKING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

Computers can now communicate with each other and with a range of peripheral devices, over distances with increasing speed and reliability. Technological advances in worldwide communications have ushered in a new era not only of computing power but also of access to information services at _least in those countries which have been able to develop extensive and reliable telephone networks. The transmission over telephone network, not only of voice, but more recently also of text and illustration through telefacsimile, laid the foundations for this age in which communication is taken for granted in developed countries. Predictions made earlier, that rapid growth in computer networking would be the emphasis of the .1990s seem to be borne out in the developments of networks at local, regional, national and global levels. Some of the developments are discussed in the following paragraphs.