Communication Networks Course | IIT Kharagpur | Prof. Goutam Das
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 1115 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Communication and Signal Processing |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Backbone of the Digital World: A Deep Dive into Communication Networks
In our hyper-connected era, communication networks form the critical infrastructure powering everything from global finance to social media. Understanding their architecture, protocols, and performance is paramount for any aspiring engineer or researcher in telecommunications. This detailed blog explores an exhaustive 12-week postgraduate course on Communication Networks, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and instructed by the renowned Prof. Goutam Das.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Goutam Das
Learning from an expert with both deep academic and international research experience is invaluable. Prof. Goutam Das brings precisely that to this course.
- Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, Australia (2008): Grounded in rigorous research methodology.
- Postdoctoral Fellow at Ghent University, Belgium (2009–2011): International exposure to cutting-edge European research in photonics and networking.
- Associate Professor at IIT Kharagpur: A seasoned educator at one of India's premier engineering institutes.
- Research Expertise: His active research in optical access networks, data center networks, radio over fiber, and media access protocols ensures the course content is both fundamental and forward-looking.
Course Overview: What Will You Learn?
This 12-week program is designed to transform postgraduate students and final-year undergraduates into proficient network architects and analysts. The course moves systematically from core principles to advanced contemporary concepts.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Communication Networks Basics |
| Week 2 | Circuit Switched Networks |
| Week 3 | Switching Concepts |
| Week 4 | Layered Architecture, Introduction to DLL Layer |
| Week 5 | MAC Protocols – Ethernet, Wireless LAN, PON |
| Week 6 | Network Layer - IP |
| Week 7 | Routing Algorithms and Associated Protocols |
| Week 8 | Transport Layer |
| Week 9 | Introduction to Queuing Theory |
| Week 10 | Application of Queuing Theory for Design of Circuit Networks |
| Week 11 | Performance Analysis of CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA |
| Week 12 | Advanced Concepts: OpenFlow, SDN, NFV, Network Slicing, Cognitive Networks |
Who Should Take This Course?
Intended Audience: This course is perfectly tailored for:
- Master’s students specializing in Telecommunications or Network Engineering.
- Final-year B.Tech/B.E. students in Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), and Computer Science (CS).
- Professionals looking to solidify their theoretical foundations in networking.
Industry Relevance & Support
The curriculum is designed with strong industry alignment, ensuring the skills you learn are in high demand. The course enjoys recognition and support from leading global and Indian telecom giants, including:
- CISCO, Broadcom, QUALCOMM, Ericsson (Core Networking & Hardware)
- Samsung, Vodafone, Jio (Service Providers & Vendors)
- Tejas Networks, Xilinx (Optical & Hardware Solutions)
This industry backing underscores the course's practical relevance in areas like 5G/6G infrastructure, optical networking, cloud data centers, and software-defined networking.
Essential Reference Books
To complement the lectures, Prof. Das recommends these classic and authoritative texts, forming a solid personal library for any network engineer:
- Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum (4th/5th Edition)
- Data and Computer Communications by William Stallings
- Data Networks by Dimitri Bertsekas and Robert G. Gallager
- Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz A. Forouzan
Why This Course is a Must-Consider
This Communication Networks course stands out because it offers a complete journey. It doesn't just teach you how protocols work (Weeks 4-8); it also equips you with the mathematical tools (Queuing Theory in Weeks 9-11) to analyze, design, and optimize network performance. The culmination in Week 12 on SDN, NFV, and Network Slicing places you at the forefront of network innovation, topics that are revolutionizing how networks are built and managed today.
Whether you aim for a career in core R&D with companies like Broadcom and Tejas, in network design with Cisco or Jio, or wish to pursue advanced research, this course from IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Goutam Das provides the rigorous, end-to-end knowledge foundation you need to excel.
Enroll Now →