Telecom Business Architectures and Models

The essence of the course

The ET4034 course Telecom, Architectures and Business Models was designed in 2001 and scheduled since 2002. The aim of the course is giving students from any faculty of the Delft University of Technology the opportunity to learn about a large variety of aspects of the telecom domain, not only its technologies, but also the diverse and challenging daily practice of organisations active in the communications sector. The course is provided by a team of 14 lecturers interactively sharing their knowledge about communications infrastructure in the context of overarching societal trends, service en network architecture, long term developments and new technology evolving from standardization initiatives. As a consequence of continuous innovation and societal developments, the course content is being updated each year including a well-considered choice of central themes that enhance and connect the course lectures. In 2025, themes were highlighted such as: telecom operator strategy/decision making including scenario analysis, Business / Service architecture, Artificial Intelligent processes, 5G/6G mobile communications including worldwide standardisation, Fiber to the Home network including explanation of the national FttH rollout algorithm.

The examination of the course

Students are invited to work in couples or trio's on four ET4034 course assignments of which three written documents and a Value Case pitch presentation. By means of a pitch practice opportunity, students strengthen their pitching skills. At the final course lecture, students present their self-developed Value Case to a live audience and a team of jury members who together grade the Value Case pitch.

In the end mark of the ET4034 course:
- two written documents regarding the Fiber to the Home rollout and the Value Case description each have a weight factor 1.
- the written assignment regarding the Digital Services Scenario analysis has a weight factor 0,75.
- the Value Case pitch presentation has a weight factor 0,25.

In case of an insufficient final result, repair options may exist in accordance with Article 17A, Times and number of examinations, sub 1, of the Teaching and Examination Regulations.

Disclaimer: information may change depending on unforeseen circumstances or measures (see: TER Art 2, sub 5).