Here is a practical, end-to-end roadmap. Follow the order. Ship artifacts at each milestone.
Phase 0. Baseline (2–3 weeks)
Goal: math and systems base.
Core: signals, probability, linear algebra, calculus, OS, networking.
Skills: Fourier/Laplace, sampling, random processes, queueing, sockets, Linux.
Build: - Implement a complex baseband simulator in Python or MATLAB. Focus on AWGN and Rayleigh
channels. - Write a packet sniffer and TCP client in any language. Validate with Wireshark.
Phase 1. Digital comms fundamentals (4–5 weeks)
Core: source coding, channel coding, modulation, synchronization.
Standards context: how QPSK, QAM, LDPC, Turbo, OFDM appear in LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi.
Labs: - Modulate BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM. Plot BER vs Eb/N0.
- Build an OFDM PHY toy: IFFT, CP, pilot tones, CFO correction.
Deliverable: short report that compares coded vs uncoded BER.
Phase 2. RF and propagation (3–4 weeks)
Core: link budget, antennas, fading, path loss, MIMO, beamforming, filters, mixers, PLLs.
Tools: GNU Radio, SDR hardware like RTL-SDR or LimeSDR.
Labs: - Capture FM broadcast with SDR. Demodulate.
- Do a 2.4 GHz site survey. Produce heatmaps.
Deliverable: complete link budget spreadsheet for a 5 km 6 GHz microwave hop.
Phase 3. Wired media and optical (3–4 weeks)
Core: copper, coax, DSL, DOCSIS, Ethernet PHY, PON, WDM, dispersion, FEC.
Labs: - Terminate fiber. Measure loss with VFL and OTDR traces if available.
- Simulate NRZ-PAM4 eye diagrams under dispersion.
Deliverable: FTTH architecture doc: GPON vs XGS-PON tradeoffs.
Phase 4. Packet networking and transport (4–5
weeks)
Core: IP, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, Segment Routing, QoS, RSVP-TE, EVPN, VXLAN. NAT and CGNAT.
Service layers: SIP, RTP, VoIP. CDN.
Labs: - Build a 6-node router lab in containerized FRR or Cisco VIRL.
- Configure QoS for voice. Validate MOS with synthetic traffic.
Deliverable: network design for a metro ISP with MPLS core and BGP edge.
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Phase 5. Cellular systems 2G→5G (6–8 weeks)
Core: GSM basics, UMTS WCDMA, LTE OFDMA, 5G NR numerology, MIMO, beam mgmt, DSS, NSA vs SA.
Core network: EPC vs 5GC. AMF, SMF, UPF. Slicing. VoLTE and VoNR.
RAN planning: PCI/RSI, PRACH, neighbor lists, handover.
Labs: - Decode LTE downlink with srsRAN or openLTE.
- Spin up a small EPC with srsEPC or Open5GS and attach a UE.
Deliverable: 5G NR spectrum plan for N78 and N41 with capacity estimates.
Phase 6. Wi-Fi and unlicensed (2–3 weeks)
Core: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax. OFDMA, MU-MIMO, BSS coloring. DFS rules.
Labs: - Capture 802.11ax frames with monitor mode.
- Tune channel width and power. Measure throughput vs airtime.
Deliverable: WLAN design for an office. Include channel plan and airtime model.
Phase 7. Microwave backhaul and satellite (3–4
weeks)
Microwave: XPIC, adaptive modulation, hitless switching.
Satellite: GEO vs MEO vs LEO, spot beams, ISLs, rain fade, VSAT, DVB-S2X, phased arrays.
Labs: - Plan a 60 GHz short-haul link with rain margin.
- Calculate a Starlink-class link budget with ITU rain stats.
Deliverable: backhaul topology for rural coverage with CAPEX and OPEX.
Phase 8. IoT and LPWAN (2–3 weeks)
Core: BLE, Zigbee, Thread, LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, LTE-M. Power budgets.
Security: device identity, TLS, DTLS, PSK vs certificates.
Labs: - Bring up LoRaWAN nodes and a gateway.
- Compare NB-IoT vs LoRaWAN latency and payload efficiency by experiment.
Deliverable: protocol selection guide by range, cost, and battery life.
Phase 9. Telecom software and automation (2–3
weeks)
Core: OSS/BSS basics. NETCONF, gNMI, OpenConfig, YANG, TMF Open APIs.
DevOps: CI for network configs. Telemetry.
Labs: - Write a gNMI collector to time-series DB.
- Automate config pushes with Ansible or NAPALM.
Deliverable: intent-based change workflow with dry-run and rollback.
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Phase 10. Security and reliability (2–3 weeks)
Core: lawful intercept, 3GPP AKA, SIM and eSIM, IPSec, MACsec, TLS 1.3, DNSSEC, DDoS mitigation, RPKI.
Reliability: FRR, ECMP, BFD, dual-homing, GEO redundancy.
Labs: - Configure IPSec tunnels for 5G N3 interface emulation.
- Enable RPKI on edge. Validate route origin.
Deliverable: threat model and control matrix for ISP or MNO.
Phase 11. Regulation, spectrum, and standards (1–
2 weeks)
Core bodies: ITU, 3GPP, IEEE, IETF, ETSI.
Reg: spectrum allocation, type approval, SAR, EIRP limits.
Task: map local regulator rules to your spectrum plan.
Deliverable: compliance checklist and filing calendar.
Phase 12. Emerging tech and 6G topics (ongoing)
Items: sub-THz, RIS, NTN 5G, joint comms and sensing, AI-native RAN, Open RAN maturity, PQC.
Task: monthly literature scan. Maintain a living brief on what is real vs hype.
Weekly cadence
• 60% labs. 30% reading. 10% writeups.
• Keep a “lab book” with configs, scripts, captures, BER curves, and results.
• Convert deliverables into a portfolio.
Checkpoints and certification targets
• CompTIA Network+ or CCNA after Phase 4.
• JNCIA-M/J or JNCIS-SP after Phase 4–5.
• 5G Core Associate or vendor RAN cert after Phase 5.
• CWNA after Phase 6.
• MEF-SDN/NFV or DevNet Associate after Phase 9.
• Security certs like JNCIS-SEC after Phase 10.
Resource set
• Books: Proakis Digital Communications. Rappaport Wireless Communications. Sklar Digital
Communications. Tanenbaum Computer Networks. Keiser Optical Fiber Communications. Doyle
MPLS.
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• Tools: Wireshark, iperf3, GNS3 or containerlab, FRR, srsRAN or Open5GS, GNU Radio, RTL-SDR or
LimeSDR, MATLAB or Python with NumPy and SciPy, OTDR access if possible.
• Data: ITU-R rain maps, 3GPP TS 38 series, IETF RFCs, IEEE 802.11 standards summaries.
How to execute
1. Timebox each phase. Do not slip.
2. Produce the deliverable before you move on.
3. Review against real traces and captures, not theory alone.
4. Iterate your portfolio quarterly.
If you want a 24-week compressed plan, say so and I will compress the schedule and labs.
