A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V W X

A
Access Code – short numbers beginning with 1 which enable callers to reach services provided on telecoms networks (eg 150 for directory enquiries).

Amplitude Modulation (AM) - A type of transmission used in standard radio broadcast band at 535-1705 kilohertz, shortwave broadcasting, and in some private radio services such as citizens band (CB) and aviation.

AMPS: Advanced Mobile Phone System. An analogue cellular telephone service standard utilizing the 800 to 900 MHz band (and recently also the 1800-2000 MHz band).

Analogue - the direct representation of a waveform, as opposed to digital which is a coded representation.

Applet - A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page. Applets differ from full-fledged Java applications in that they are not allowed to access certain resources on the local computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.), and are prohibited from communicating with most other computers across a network. The common rule is that an applet can only make an Internet connection to the computer from which the applet was sent.

Application Programme Interface (API) – software in the receiver which interprets a set of commands telling it, for instance, where to display a graphic or other object on the screen. The API also allows the same applications to run on different receiver designs without the need for the application to be rewritten for each one.

ASCII - (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) - This is the de facto world-wide standard for the code numbers used by computers to represent all the upper and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, punctuation, etc. There are 128 standard ASCII codes each of which can be represented by a 7 digit binary number: 0000000 through 1111111.

ASR (Answer Seizure Ratio) - the number of calls having left the outgoing side of the exchange, that have been successful in returning an answer signal.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) - utilises a technology that transforms a normal telephone line into a high-speed digital line thus enabling access to telephony services and the Internet at the same time. ADSL provides always-on access to Internet or TV and Video on-demand services at speeds that are 10 to 40 times faster than a standard 56k modem. An ADSL line has a higher downstream speed (into the end user) than upstream speed (away from the end user).

ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode – the internationally agreed basis for broadband ISDN. A technology that enables all types of information (data, voice and video in any combination) to be transported by a single network infrastructure.

B

B7 – a modern signalling system, based on standards set by the CCITT (the former name of the world telecommunications standards-making body), for the transfer of messages between entities in telecommunications networks. It enables the setting up, routing and clearing of calls and the transfer of other relevant information related to the operation of these networks. The B7 signalling system is used for the transfer of such messages between different networks as well as within individual networks

Backbone - A high-speed line or series of connections that forms a major pathway within a network.

Backhaul – the link from the cable head to (usually) the International Switching Centre

Bandwidth – the physical characteristic of a telecommunications system that indicates the speed at which information can be transferred. In analogue systems, it is measured in cycles per second (Hertz) and in digital systems in binary bits per second. (Bit/s).

Baud - A measure of the speed at which data is transmitted, computed in number of elements changed per second. The “Baud Rate” is the speed in which a computers can transfer data through a modem using communications software.

Binary - Information consisting entirely of ones and zeros. Also, commonly used to refer to files that are not simply text files, e.g. images.
Bit -- (Binary DigIT) - A single digit number in base-2, in other words, either a 1 or a zero. The smallest unit of computerized data.

Binary Digit (BIT) - The smallest unit of digital information. A single digit number in “base-2”, either a 0 or a 1. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second (bps).

Bluetooth - A radio technology that makes possible transmitting signals over short distances between mobile phones, computers and other devices.

bps (bits-per-second) - A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 56K modem can move about 56,000 bits per second.

BRI (Basic Rate Interface) - The Basic Rate Interface consists of two 64 Kbps B-channels and one 16 Kbps D-channel. Thus, a Basic Rate Interface user can have up to 128 Kbps service.

Broadband – a service or connection allowing a considerable amount of information to be conveyed, such as television pictures. Generally defined as a bandwidth > 2Mbit/s
BTS – Base Transceiver Station used in wireless system.

Bundling – the tying of one service or product to the supply of others including some situations where the supply of services are linked through the use of discounts. See also full- line forcing

Byte - A set of Bits that represent a single character. Usually there are 8 Bits in a Byte, sometimes more, depending on how the measurement is being made.

C

C7 – a modern signalling system, based on standards set by the CCITT (the former name of the world telecommunications standards-making body), for the transfer of messages between entities in telecommunications networks that enables the setting up, routing and clearing of calls and the transfer of other relevant information related to the operation of these networks. The C7 signalling system is used for the transfer of such messages between different networks as well as within individual networks.

Cablehead – the point at which the international cable arrives and terminates. Also known as cable landing station

Call Diversion (Call Forward) – call is re-routed to another number

Call waiting – caller to an engaged number is placed on hold whilst the called line is notified of a call waiting to be answered.

Calling Card - a service that allows calls made from a telephone to be billed to a prepaid account, a different telephone or credit card account.

Calling Line Identity (CLI) – a facility that enables identification of the number from which a call is being made.

CDMA - Short for Code-Division Multiple Access, a digital technology that uses spread-spectrum techniques. Unlike TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), CDMA does not assign a specific frequency to each user. Instead, every channel uses the full available spectrum. Individual conversations are encoded with a pseudo-random digital sequence.

CDMA is a military technology first used during World War II by the English allies to foil German attempts at jamming transmissions. The allies decided to transmit over several frequencies, instead of one, making it difficult for the Germans to pick up the complete signal.

Because Qualcomm Inc. created communications chips for CDMA technology, it was privy to the classified information. Once the information became public, Qualcomm claimed patents on the technology and became the first to commercialize it.

CD Rom – read-only memory stored on a compact disk.

CEPT – Conférence Européenne des Postes et des Télécommunications (the European Conference of Posts and Telecommunications). The original body concerned with pan-European topics for Posts and Telecommunication services.

Committed Information Rate (CIR) - the bandwith guaranteed to a Frame Relay connection. The FR network has the ability to transmit data at a rate higher that the CIR up to the speed of the transmission link.

Co-axial - a type of cable generally used for conveying television pictures.

Consumer Equipment – also known as customer premises equipment (CPE) or customer apparatus. Equipment on consumers' premises which is not part of the public telecommunications network and which is directly or indirectly attached to it.

Cookie - A cookie is a piece of text that a Web server can store on the hard disk of a user via Internet. Cookies allow a Web site to store information on a user's machine and later retrieve it. The pieces of information are stored as name-value pairs.

Country code - the combination of 1, 2 or 3 digits characterizing the called country.

Crosstalk - the phenomenon whereby telecommunications signals on one circuit can leak across to another, potentially degrading the performance on the affected circuit.

CUG - Closed User Group Closed User Group (CUG) allows a group of members to communicate with each other within a network (PSTN, Mobile etc.) CUG can be custom designed to satisfy the specific needs of a company

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) – sometimes referred to as customer apparatus or consumer equipment, being equipment on consumers’ premises which is not part of the public telecommunications network and which is directly or indirectly attached to it.

D

Data Network Identification Codes - codes allocated from the Numbering Scheme which allow for the routing of data services over telecommunications networks

DECT - Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. A standard for cordless telephony originally established by ETSI.

Dedicated Line - A communications circuit or channel provided for the exclusive use of a particular subscriber. Dedicated lines are used for computers when large amounts of data need to be moved between points.

Direct Dialling In (DDI) – a switchboard’s capability to route an incoming call to the extension dialled without the intervention of an operator

Digital – the coded representation of a waveform by, for example, binary digits in the form of pulses of light, as opposed to analogue which is the direct representation of a waveform.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) -a family of technologies, generically referred to as DSL or xDSL, that are capable of transforming a normal telephone line into a high-speed digital line. These include ADSL (Asymmetric DSL), SDSL (Symmetric DSL), HDSL (High data rate DSL) and VDSL (Very high data rate DSL). DSL enabled lines are capable of supporting services such as fast Internet access and video or TV on-demand.

Digital Subscriber Loop Multiplex (DSLAM) – It is composed of a multiplex and the DSL modems necessary to operate DSL services over the loops served by the Operator from the exchange.

Digital Technology – this enables information of all types to be transmitted in digital form over networks – it is faster than analogue systems.

Digitalization - the process of converting information in analogue form into digital form.

Directory enquiry service (DQ) – directory information service which is operator assisted and involves the operator looking up entries on a database.

Domain Name - The unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general. A given machine may have more than one Domain Name but a given Domain Name points to only one machine.

Downlink - The part of a satellite system that includes the satellite itself, the receiving earth station and the signal transmitted from the satellite to earth stations.

Download (Receive) - To receive data from another computer into your computer. It is also called “receive.” The opposite is called “Upload.”

DSL- Digital Subscriber Loop - A family of technologies generically referred to as DSL, or xDSL, capable of transforming ordinary phone lines (also known as "twisted copper pairs") into high-speed digital lines, capable of supporting advanced services such as fast Internet access and video-on-demand. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), HDSL (High data rate Digital Subscriber Line) and VDSL (Very high data rate Digital Subscriber Line) are all variants of xDSL.

Ducts – the tubes through which cables are laid.

E

E1 - Transmission rate of 2.048 Mbps on E1 communications lines. An E1 facility carries a 2.048 Mbps digital signal. See also T1 and channel.

E-Commerce - The action of buying online or establishing an online store-front. Also, using technology to speed up and make more efficient the transaction of commerce at all stages of the process from production to delivery.

Electronic Data Interchange - EDI – network which allows access from different locations for transmitting orders, invoices and payments electronically. The technology used is similar to e-mail but has a higher level of security. EDI operators have computers which carry out the necessary centralised processing.

Electronic Programming Guide - (EPG) A application that allows the viewer to interactively select their television programming. The development of applications enhancing the EPG such as dynamic video selection, recording options, and more is a high growth area. Currently, the EPG allows the viewer to also access summaries of shows, the ability to set recording times, show program length and names of crew members, as well as the ability to select content via categories. More advanced EPG (also called Interactive Programming Guides -IPGs) applications enable the viewer to select shows to record over several weeks every time a show or a selected movie star appears on the schedule Ultimately, EPGs will enable the TV set to learn the viewing habits of its user and suggest viewing schedules.

Erlang – The unit of traffic volume corresponding to the number of simultaneous calls in progress at any given time or averaged over a period of time.

Ethernet - A very common method of networking computers in a LAN. There is more than one type of Ethernet. By 2001 the standard type was "100-BaseT" which can handle up to about 100,000,000 bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer.

ETSI - European Telecommunications Standards Institute. It has the primary responsibility within Europe for the production of telecommunications standards for pan-European application.

European Committee for Telecommunications Regulatory Affairs (ECTRA) - ECTRA is the major European forum for the discussion of regulatory issues, set up within the framework of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration (CEPT).

Ex-directory – a directory status classification whereby the customer's directory information is not available from any directory information services or products.

Extranet - a network connecting a group of entities using Internet protocols, but being separate from the Internet. Often parts of an organisation’s internet shared with other organizations. An intranet that is accesible to computers that are not physically part of a company’s own private network, but that is not accessible to the general public, for example to allow vendors and business partners to access a company web site. Often an intranet will make use of a Virtual Private Network. (VPN.)

F

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) – provides a basic service for the reliable transfer of files from one machine to another. A very common method of moving files between two Internet sites. FTP is a way to login to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. There are many Internet sites that have established publicly accessible repositories of material that can be obtained using FTP, by logging in using the account name "anonymous", thus these sites are called "anonymous ftp servers". FTP was invented and in wide use long before the advent of the World Wide Web and originally was always used from a text-only interface.

Firewall - A combination of hardware and software that separates a Network into two or more parts for security purposes. Basically, a firewall is a barrier to keep destructive forces away from your private network or computer system. Its job is similar to a physical firewall that keeps a fire from spreading from one area to the next.

Footprint - The area in which a specific transmission can be received. Some footprints, such as satellite or cell systems, cover as much as one-third of the earth.

Frame Relay service - a packet switched data service (see packet service) providing for the interconnection of Local Area Networks (LANS) and access to host computers at higher speeds (up to 2 Mbit/s) than those provided by an X.25 service.

Freephone (Callfree 800) – automated reversed charge mechanism whereby caller pays nothing while company receiving call pays all call charges and associated costs (line rental, enhanced services)

Freeware - Software, which is free to users, and is available from many locations on the Internet.

Frequency Modulation (FM) - signalling method that varies the carrier frequency in proportion to the amplitude of the modulating signal.

G

Gateway - a facility which adapts signals and messages of one network to the protocols and conventions of other networks or services.

Geostationary Orbit - The revolutionary path traveled by a satellite in which the satellite travels in sync with the Earth’s motion, so that it appears stationary in the sky. A stationary antenna located on Earth can remain pointed at the satellite at all times.

GIF -- (Graphic Interchange Format) - A common format for image files, especially suitable for images containing large areas of the same color. GIF format files of simple images are often smaller than the same file would be if stored in JPEG format, but GIF format does not store photographic images as well as JPEG.

Gigahertz (GHz) - A unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz (one billion cycles per second).

GPRS – General Packet Radio Service

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) - A US satellite system that lets those on the ground, on the water or in the air determine their position with extreme accuracy using GPS receivers.

GSM - Global Standard for Mobile Telephony

GSM 900/ 1800 MHz – Global System for Mobile Communications in the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands.

H

HDSL- High data rate Digital Subscriber Line one of the earliest forms of DSL services to be widely used. It is symmetrical, offering the same data rates upstream and downstream. The maximum data rate is however lower than that for ADSL.

Hertz (Hz) - A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second (cps). One kilohertz equals 1000 cps; one megahertz equals 1 million cps; one gigahertz equals 1 billion cps.

Host - Your Internet access provider’s computer. You may use one of its hard-wired terminals, if you are at an institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the Internet, or you may dial up via modem to connect with the Internet access provider’s host computer.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - The coding language used to create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web. HTML looks a lot like old-fashioned typesetting code, where you surround a block of text with codes that indicate how it should appear. The "hyper" in Hypertext comes from the fact that in HTML you can specify that a block of text, or an image, is linked to another file on the Internet. HTML files are meant to be viewed using a "Web Browser". HTML is loosely based on a more comprehensive system for markup called SGML.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - The protocol for moving hypertext files across the Internet. Requires a HTTP client program on one end, and an HTTP server program on the other end. HTTP is the most important protocol used in the World Wide Web (WWW).
Hubbing – The routing of international traffic via an intermediate third country.

Hypertext - Generally, any text that contains links to other documents - words or phrases in the document that can be chosen by a reader and which cause another document to be retrieved and displayed.

Hz (Hertz) - The frequency measurement unit equal to one cycle per second.

I

ICT – information and communications technology.

IDD -international direct dialling.

IN – Intelligent Network. A telecommunications network in which the network intelligence is centralised and separated from the switching function.

Inductive Coupling – sometimes known as magnetic coupling, it is the principle by which a coil within a hearing aid picks up audio frequencies by means of the magnetic field generated by telephone handsets, loudspeakers or other similar equipment (eg inductive loops).

Information Superhighway - A term describing a network of integrated telecommunications systems connecting people around the world to information, businesses, governments and each other.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - a network based on the existing digital PSTN which provides digital links to customers and end to end digital connectivity between them. ISDN2 provides a maximum bandwidth of 128kbit/s.

Intelligent Network – a telecommunications network in which the network intelligence is centralised and separated from switching functions. These allow more flexibility than switched based systems, customers can be given access to their own database entries to carry out changes

Interconnection – the physical and logical linking of telecommunications networks used by the same or a different organisation in order to allow the users of one organisation to communicate with users of the same or another organisation, or to access services provided by another organisation. Services may be provided by the parties involved or other parties who have access to the network.

International prefix - the combination of digits to be dialled, following access to the PSTN, by a caller making a call to a recipient in another country to obtain access to the automatic outgoing international equipment. For the UK, this prefix is "00".

International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)- circuits leased from international facilities operators, which cross one or more international boundaries.

Internet - a global network of networks, mainly narrowband, accessed by users with a computer and a modem via a service provider.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) – a service provider who provides access to Internet services.

Internet Telephony - a specific type of VoIP service that uses the public Internet to carry the IP traffic (also referred to as Voice over the Internet)
Intranet – closed data network linking a number of sites using standard internet protocols. A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but that is only for internal use.

IP - Internet Protocol - packet data protocol used for routing and carriage of messages across the internet.

IP Number (Internet Protocol Number) - Sometimes called a dotted quad. A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots, e.g. 165.113.245.2. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique IP number.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - Basically a huge multi-user live chat facility. There are a number of major IRC servers around the world which are linked to each other. Anyone can create a channel and anything that anyone types in a given channel is seen by all others in the channel. Private channels can (and are) created for multi-person conference calls.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - Switched network providing end-to-end digital connection for simultaneous transmission of voice and/or data over multiple multiplexed communication channels and employing transmission that conforms to internationally-defined standards. ISDN is considered to be the basis for a “universal network” that can support almost any type of communications device or service.

IT - Information Technology

J

Java - Java is a network-friendly programming language invented by Sun Microsystems. Java is often used to build large, complex systems that involve several different computers interacting across networks, for example transaction processing systems. Java is also becoming popular for creating programs that run in small electronic devices, such as mobile telephones. A very common use of Java is to create programs that can be safely downloaded to your computer through the Internet and immediately run without fear of viruses or other harm to your computer or files. Using small Java programs (called "Applets"), Web pages can include functions such as animations, calculators, and other fancy tricks.

JavaScript - JavaScript is a programming language that is mostly used in web pages, usually to add features that make the web page more interactive. When JavaScript is included in an HTML file it relies upon the browser to interpret the JavaScript. When JavaScript is combined with Cascading Style Sheets(CSS), and later versions of HTML (4.0 and later) the result is often called DHTML.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - JPEG is most commonly mentioned as a format for image files. JPEG format is preferred to the GIF format for photographic images as opposed to line art or simple logo art.

JV - Joint Venture

L

LEO - Low Earth Orbit

Local area networks (LANs) – A computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building. LANs allow the interconnection and intercommunication of a group of computers, primarily for the sharing of resources and exchange of information (eg e-mail)

Leased lines (also known as private circuits) a fixed unswitched communication link between two points.

Linux - A widely used Open Source Unix-like operating system. Linux was first released by its inventor Linus Torvalds in 1991. There are versions of Linux for almost every available type of computer hardware from desktop machines to IBM mainframes. The inner workings of Linux are open and available for anyone to examine and change as long as they make their changes available to the public. This has resulted in thousands of people working on various aspects of Linux and adaptation of Linux for a huge variety of purposes, from servers to TV-recording boxes.

Local loop - the access network connection between a customer's premises and the local exchange. This usually takes the form of a pair of copper wires, but may also employ fibre-optic or wireless technologies.

Local rate - the rate for calls wihin the local area, the area being defined by the telecommunications operator serving the customer.

M

Main distribution frame (MDF) - the apparatus in the local concentrator (exchange) building where the copper cables terminate and cross connection to other apparatus can be made by flexible jumpers.

MBit/s - Mega (million) bits per second. A measure of the speed of transfer of digital information.

MEO - Medium Earth Orbit

Modem (MOdulator, DEModulator) - A device that connects a computer to a phone line. A telephone for a computer. A modem allows a computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Basically, it is a device which converts digital signals from a data-transmitting terminal into modulated analogue signals which can be carried by a public telephone network.

Multimedia - The combination of various forms of media (texts, graphics, animation, audio, etc.) to communicate information. The term also refers to information products that include text, audio, and visual content.

N

Narrowband – a service or connection allowing only a limited amount of information to be conveyed, such as for telephony. This compares with broadband which allows a considerable amount of information to be conveyed.

National Numbering Scheme – a scheme for the allocation and re-allocation of numbers which is specified by ICTA and made available for public inspection.

National (significant) number - the number to be dialled following the national trunk prefix to obtain a customer in the same country but outside the same local network or numbering area.

Node - Any single computer connected to a network.

O

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model - a standard, created by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) in 1983 which classifies data transfer protocols into 7 layers, according to the function they perform, with a view to promoting compatibility between systems. The raw copper loop is below Layer 1 and is described in this document as "Layer 0".

Optical Fibre - cable made of glass fibres through which signals are transmitted as pulses of light. It is a broadband medium that can easily provide capacity for a large number of channels.

P

Packet service - a service involving the transmission of data in the form of discrete blocks (packets) of information and, if necessary, the assembly and disassembly of data in this form.

Packet Switching - The method used to move data around on a data network (e.g Internet). In packet switching, all the data coming out of a machine is broken up into chunks, each chunk has the address of where it came from and where it is going. This enables chunks of data from many different sources to co-mingle on the same lines, and be sorted and directed along different routes by special machines along the way. This way many people can use the same lines at the same time. You might think of several caravans of trucks all using the same road system. to carry materials.

Payphone – a telephone which requires prepayment for calls via coins, calling cards, phonecard, or credit/debit cards.

PC - Personal Computer

PCS (Personal Communication Services.)- In the United States, refers to digital mobile networks using the 1900 Mhz frequency. In other countries, refers to digital mobile networks using the 1800 Mhz frequency (See DCS-1800). The term Personal Communications Network (PCN) is also used.

Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) A frame relay logical link, whose endpoints and class of service are defined by network management. Analogous to an X.25 permanent virtual circuit, a PVC (often referred to as a PVC) consists of the originating frame relay network element address, originating data link control identifier, terminating frame relay network element address, and termination data link control identifier. Originating refers to the access interface from which the PVC is initiated. Terminating refers to the access interface at which the PVC stops. Many data network customers require a PVC between two points. Data terminating equipment with a need for continuous communication use PVCs. See also Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI).
PIN - Personal identification number.

Pixel - The smallest area of a television picture capable of being sampled, transmitted through a system and displayed on a monitor.

POP (Point of Presence, also Post Office Protocol) - Two commonly used meanings: Point of Presence and Post Office Protocol. A Point of Presence usually means a city or location where a network can be connected to, often with dial up phone lines. So if an Internet company says they will soon have a POP in Belgrade, it means that they will soon have a local phone number in Belgrade and/or a place where leased lines can connect to their network.
A second meaning, Post Office Protocol refers to a way that e-mail client software such as Eudora gets mail from a mail server. When you obtain an account from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) you almost always get a POP account with it, and it is this POP account that you tell your e-mail software to use to get your mail. Another protocol called IMAP is replacing POP for email.

Portal - Usually used as a marketing term to describe a Web site that is or is intended to be the first place people see when using the Web. Typically a "Portal site" has a catalog of web sites, a search engine, or both. A Portal site may also offer email and other service to entice people to use that site as their main "point of entry" (hence "portal") to the Web.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol) - The most common protocol used to connect home computers to the Internet over regular phone lines. Most well known as a protocol that allows a computer to use a regular telephone line and a modem to make TCP/IP connections and thus be really and truly on the Internet.

Proxy Server - A Proxy Server sits in between a Client and the "real" Server that a Client is trying to use. Clients are sometimes configured to use a Proxy Server, usually an HTTP server. The client makes all of its requests from the Proxy Server, which then makes requests from the "real" server and passes the result back to the Client. Sometimes the Proxy server will store the results and give a stored result instead of making a new one (to reduce use of a Network). Proxy servers are commonly established on Local Area Networks

Pre-pay package – After paying a one-off fee for the phone and connection, the user buys vouchers which enable them to use the phone.

Premium Rate Service (PRS) – services, including recorded information and live conversation, run by independent service providers. All calls to these companies are charged at a higher rate than ordinary calls to cover the companies' costs in providing the content of the call and the operator's cost for the special network facilities needed.

PRI - Primary Rate Interface
Private circuits - (also known as leased circuits) point-to-point circuits for customers exclusive use covering speech, data or image communications.

PTO - Public Telecommunications Operator - network operators providing services to the public with powers granted under the Telecommunications Act to enable them to install their systems on public and private land, property etc.

Public Switched Telephone Network - PSTN - the telecommunications networks of the major operators, on which calls can be made to all customers of all PSTNs.

R

Reverse search directory –a directory which enables searches by telephone number to find the name and address of a subscriber

Roaming – A service allowing cellular subscribers to use their handsets on networks of other operators.

Router - A special-purpose computer (or software package) that handles the connection between 2 or more Packet-Switched networks. Routers spend all their time looking at the source and destination addresses of the packets passing through them and deciding which route to send them on.

S

Scrambling - the act of encoding a signal (eg a TV programme or a telephone call) so that it can only be accessed by those customers with the necessary decoding equipment.

SDSL - Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line - one of the family of DSL services. Unlike ADSL, it offers the same data rate speeds of 2Mbit/s both upstream and downstream. It is better suited to business customers rather than to residential customers.

Search Engine - A (usually web-based) system for searching the information available on the Web. Some search engines work by automatically searching the contents of other systems and creating a database of the results, other search engines contain only material manually approved for inclusion in a database, and some combine the two approaches.

Second Generation (2G) – 2G means the spectrum within the 880–915 MHz, 925–960 MHz, 1710–1785 MHz or 1805–1880 MHz bands

Server - A computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers. The term can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server, or to the machine on which the software is running, e.g. a mail server. A single server machine can (and often does) have several different server software packages running on it, thus providing many different servers to clients on the network.

Service provider – provider of telecommunication services, or services with a telecommunication service component, to third parties whether over its own network or otherwise.

Signalling System No7 - the common channel signalling system used by almost all public networks to carry call and circuit control signals between public exchanges. Often referred to as the CCITT No7 or C7 signalling system.

SIM – Subscriber Identity Module, a small printed circuit board inserted into a GSM-based mobile phone when signing on as a subscriber. It includes subscriber details, security information and a memory for a personal directory of numbers.

SME - Small and Medium Enterprise

SMS: Short Message Service. A service available on digital networks, typically enabling messages with up to 160 characters to be sent or received via the message centre of a network operator to a subscriber’s mobile phone.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - The main protocol used to send electronic mail from server to server on the Internet. SMTP is defined in RFC 821 and modified by many later RFC's

STP – Signalling Transfer Point – A facility whereby C7 signalling messages can be passed between exchanges without requiring a discrete circuit between them.

Subscriber – A person who is party to a contract with the provider of publicly available telecommunications services for the supply of such services.

SQL (Structured Query Language) - A specialized language for sending queries to databases. Most industrial-strength and many smaller database applications can be addressed using SQL. Each specific application will have its own slightly different version of SQL implementing features unique to that application, but all SQL-capable databases support a common subset of SQL.
A example of an SQL statement is: SELECT name,email FROM people_table WHERE contry='uk'

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) – a method of telephony transmission using digital techniques where the data is packed in containers which are synchronised in time enabling relatively simple modulation and demodulation at the transmitting and receiving ends. The technique is used to carry high capacity voice circuits over long distances.

T

T-1 - A direct line connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits-per-second. At maximum theoretical capacity, a T-1 line could move a megabyte in less than 10 seconds. T-1 lines are commonly used to connect large LANs, PABXs to the Internet or to an exchange respectively.

T-3 - A direct line connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits-per-second. This is more than enough for full-screen, full-motion video.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - This is the suite of protocols that defines the Internet. Originally designed for the UNIX operating system, TCP/IP software is now included with every major kind of computer operating system. To be truly on the Internet, your computer must have TCP/IP software.

Third generation (3G) – means, for the purposes of this Condition spectrum within the 1900–1980 MHz, 2110–2170 MHz.

Third generation mobile systems – A European 3G mobile communications system will provide an enhanced range of multimedia services (eg high speed Internet access). 3G networks are expected to enter service in 2002/3 using radio spectrum in the 2GHz bands.

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) - A method of transmission which relies on providing bandwidth based on fixed time slots or channels, also called circuit switching. See also channel.

Transit– A transit service is a conveyance service provided by a network between two points of interconnection. It is, therefore, a service that links two networks that are not in themselves interconnected.

Transit network – a network through which a call passes, but which is neither the originating network nor the terminating network for that call.

U

UMTS – Universal Mobile Telecommunications System – so called 3rd generation mobile communications system which will provide enhanced range of multimedia services (eg video, high speed internet access).

Universal Service – the basic level of telecommunications services which should be available to all customers. The financial mechanism which helps compensate telephone companies or other communications entities for providing access to telecommunications services at reasonable and affordable rates throughout the country, including rural, insular and high costs areas, and to public institutions. Companies, not consumers, are required by law to contribute to this fund. The law does not prohibit companies from passing this charge on to customers.

Universal Service Obligation (USO) – A provision in ICT Act 2001 requiring the licensee to provide certain services to all specified persons.

Uplink - The signal that carries information from an earth station source up to a satellite.

Upload - To send a text file or software program via telecommunications to another computer (See Download).

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - The term URL is basically synonymous with URI. URI has replaced URL in technical specifications. (Uniform Resource Identifier). It’s an address for a resource available on the Internet. The first part of a URI is called the "scheme", the most well known scheme is http, but there are many others. Each URI scheme has its own format for how a URI should appear. Some examples of URIs using the http, telnet, and news schemes:
http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html
telnet://well.sf.ca.us
news:new.newusers.questions

V

VAS - Value Added Sevices
Very High Frequency (VHF) - The part of the radio spectrum from 30 to 300 megahertz, which includes TV Channels 2-13, the FM broadcast band and some marine, aviation and land mobile services.

Videotex - a service allowing specially adapted televisions to display text-based information retrieved from a central database via the PSTN.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - the generic name for the transport of voice traffic using Internet Protocol (IP) technology. The VoIP traffic can be carried on a private managed network or the public Internet (see Internet telephony) or a combination of both. Some organisations use the term 'IP telephony' interchangeably with 'VoIP'.

Voice mail – facility to leave a voice message which can be accessed from different locations.

Voice telephony service – a service available to the public for the commercial provision of direct transport of real-time speech via the public switched network or networks such that any user can use equipment connected to a network termination point at a fixed location to communicate with another user of equipment connected to another termination point.

VPN – Virtual Private Network these are used by a company or private group to make inter-site connections either for telephone speech or data as if there were dedicated leased lines between these sites. The equipment used is located within the public telecommunications operators’ premises and forms an integral part of the public network but is software- partitioned to allow for a genuinely private network

VSAT - Very Small Aperture Terminal, digital satellite data network with small antenna diameter

W

Walled Garden - A term to define interactive content offerings contained or walled-off from direct access to Internet users. Walled garden users may link to the Internet from walled gardens, however, but not vice versa. Certain interactive TV middleware software solutions enable cable and satellite providers to create their own walled gardens or "portals." Inside an ITV walled garden an interface allows the viewer to have access to news, sports information, one's email on TV, and other applications.

WANS - Wide area networks – a network allowing the interconnection and intercommunication of a group of computers over a long distance , typically WAN covers an area larger than a single building or campus.

WAP – WAP is an acronym for Wireless Application Protocol. It is a de facto standard for mobile communications. WAP allows mobile devices to access and retrieve information from a range of different sources, most notably from the Web.
In short, a WAP-enabled device is like a miniature web browser that can interact with any Internet-based application.

W-CDMA - Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
Wideband – an intermediate bandwidth without the fuller capacity of broadband

WML - Wireless Markup Language

World Trade Organisation (WTO) - International body that deals with the trade between countries. The WTO provides the legal framework for international commerce.