“Free access portal for knowledge-based society”                                                                                               

        Telecommunication, one of the main areas in electrical engineering, is defined in this Thai Telecommunications Encyclopedia (TTE) as that “communication
   that eliminates distance between persons, equipments, or any automatic system. It is used with any kind of electro-mechanic, light, electromagnetic wave, or the    specific quantum properties, in order to deliver understanding signs, signal, text, sound, picture or multimedia to the receiver”. Obviously, telecommunication has
   been playing a very important role in human life and society since history. It is also evidenced and recorded as a fast growing subject with numerous discovered
   technologies in the field. Furthermore, utilization of its results has been found throughout the globe and beyond. In order to create a sustainable media for
   knowledge management on that telecommunication related content, the proper portal form should be adopted.

         “Encyclopedia” which is found in various definitions such as “general education” or “training in a circle or circular”, is that the structure to support the
   aforementioned objectives. Basically, there are two main categories of encyclopedia by editorial type. These are “classical” and “free encyclopedia” where the
   first is the long-time and well-known type edited by an expert or editorial group. Whereas the latter, has just been appeared along with the growing of internet
   technology. Absolutely, the free access and free revision to be the “free encyclopedia” is that the ideal target. Its key success depends obviously on the adequate
   number of chapter-authors, co-reviewer, and even the number of users. Eventually with the support from investigated information including experiences of all
   concerns for the further development, the decision to set up this telecommunication-knowledge management project is directed to a “hybrid encyclopedia” - mixing
   of both advantages. Thus, classical editorial style combining with the support of information technology management via internet is then initiated. In conclusion,
   the strategic editorial model of this encyclopedia constructs  on two steps which has been done first on “set it up” style for this edition, and would move through
   the step of “support its growth” to be the free encyclopedia afterward.

         TTE in the form of book, web site, and other electronic media, are the project goals. Its targets are to place for general purpose as a Thai telecommunication
   knowledge reference, to provide overall coverage of Thai telecommunications on its history & development as well as basic technical aspects, and to be a
   contemporary knowledge sharing pool that can be accessed freely. TTE has been organized in responding to a comprehensive, scenario, and yet concise including
   the latest in telecommunications theory and applications. It has been designed for public use which graded to advanced high school students level. Therefore, its
   users may cover those who has some or nontechnical background. Each chapter contains important telecommunication discipline, not including much on its
   convergence, which separated in to three main groups of users. It treats on a) general topics in telecommunications, b) fundamental of telecommunication
   science, and c) telecommunication technologies. The whole three volumes in this first edition contain more than 80 chapters, 500 glossaries, 300 illustrations,
   40 tables, and bibliographic entries. Beginning of each chapter, glossary provides facilitate understanding to reader who is not familiar with topic matter covered.
   Next, the chapters outline trends to provide similar structure in every part starting from the basic concept through the core of centered-telecommunication subject,
   and ends with applications or concerned standards. Nevertheless, with the distinct in details of these three volumes apart from science and engineering
   background such as its history, social science, or economics, chapter outline of each volume may slightly different. Including the milestones at the chapter end,
   concerned histories on people or technologies are illustrated in simple manner of text and time. Throughout this first edition, a few important lessons-learnt for
   further development, are also found such as on Thai laws with intellectual property (co-copyright transfer), and history matter versus its citation.

        The organization of this encyclopedia is with the Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications, and Information Technology association of
   Thailand (ECTI). It is co-sponsored by 1) the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC)/NSTDA, through its knowledge engineering
   technology program / platform technology cluster, and 2) the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) through the support of NTC-NECTEC collaboration
   committees. In addition, TTE was also with technical supports from the IEEE Thailand section. To express the appreciation of completing this initiated edition,
   special thanks are for advisory and steering committees. This work is particularly indebted to all authors, those are affiliated with lecturers, experts, scientists &
   engineers, students, and others from domestic (mostly) and Thai people abroad. The appreciation is also for former technical committees that later opened widely
   to the public in order to join this technical team. For the administrative support, it is pleased to acknowledge former and present staff & interns of the
   Optical and Quantum Communications laboratory (OQC), NECTEC, since the first line of this editorial work started in 2002.

         To all of people and resources for their contributions both directly and indirectly throughout this “set it up” edition of 2009, thank you.  

Keattisak Sripimanwat  
(D.Eng – Telecommunications, SMIEEE)  
IEEE Communications Society (Thailand Chapter - Chair)