The topic of telephone communication includes the analysis and construction of devices such as landline and cellular telephones. In addition to the principles and construction of the devices themselves, the topic of telephone communication also includes an analysis of the infrastructural elements that allow these devices to function properly. This includes elements such as telephone lines, switchboxes, cell phone towers and even satellite technology.
As a topic of study, networking pertains to devices that transfer packets of information to other machines through a connected interaction. While the largest and most obvious example of device-to-device sharing occurs through various Internet technologies (servers, routers, Wi-Fi), engineers specializing in networking might also interact with more basic network technologies including intercoms and closed circuit television.
Engineers focusing on broadcasting investigate the principles and devices used in the relay of radio signals. These devices include tools such as terrestrial and extraterrestrial satellites, antennae, digital receivers, televisions and radio and television broadcasting towers.
A foundational topic in communication and electrical engineering, information theory relates to the quantification of information so it can be transferred through telephones, over networks or via broadcast signals. While engineers who focus on topics such as telephone communication, networking and broadcasting work with physical devices, those who focus on information theory tend to focus on the information that's shared with those devices.