Telecommunications Terms. A Glossary For Telecommunications Terms and Acronyms

8/20/2018 Telecommunications Terms. A Glossary for Telecommunications Terms and Acronyms. | vividfuture.
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Glossary VividFuture.org.
Prior to the internet, wireless and high speed communications, "fax" and "vcr" were the
buzzwords of the day. Now terms and acronyms enter our vocabulary on a monthly (if not
daily) basis. Here is a short list of terms and acronyms that are essential lingo in today's
telecom and techno world.
If you can’t find the term you’re looking for here. Try Newton’s Telecom Dictionary or check
out an online technical dictionary called Techtionary.
Jump To: Popular Glossary Terms
A B C D E Convergence
Cloud
F G H I J Central Office (CO)
Broadband
K L M N O
Fiber / Fiber Optic Cable
P Q R S T Infrastructure
Mobile Broadband
U V W X Y Network
VIVID
Z 123
3G and 4G
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A
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
Very high speed transmission technology. ATM is a high bandwidth, low-delay,

connection-oriented, packet-like switching and multiplexing technique.
ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)
It’s not really a word, but an acronym for the Advanced Television Systems Committee.
ATSC is a committee formed to establish voluntary standards for advanced TV systems,
focusing on digital television, broadband multimedia communications standards, and
interactive systems. ATSC has 54 members including television networks, producers,
trade associations, members of the academic community, plus others.
Accredited
This is very important and can be confusing for someone new to higher education. In a
nutshell, it means that the coursework meets specific academic requirements Programs
can be regionally or nationally accredited so check with the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA) for more information. Most often, tuition assistance is available for
regionally accredited colleges and universities and coursework taken from regionally
accredited colleges and universities is more readily transferable than that taken from
schools that are not regionally accredited.
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B
Backhaul
In a hierarchical telecommunications network the backhaul portion of the network

comprises the intermediate links between the core network, or backbone, of the network
and the small sub-networks at the "edge" of the entire hierarchical network. For
example, while cell phones communicating with a single cell tower constitute a local
sub-network, the connection between the cell tower and the rest of the world begins with
a backhaul link to the core of the telephone company's network (via a point of presence).
Bandwidth
The width of a communications channel. In analog communications, bandwidth is

typically measured in Hertz. In digital communication, bandwidth is measured in bits per
second (bps).
Bluetooth
A short-range wireless connection standard. Its aim is to link a wide range of computers,
electronics and telecoms devices. The technology uses a low-power, two-way radio link,
which is built into a microchip. The Bluetooth standard is allowing for greater wireless
internet capability in the office and for consumers.
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8/20/2018 Telecommunications Terms. A Glossary for Telecommunications Terms and Acronyms. | vividfuture.org
Broadband
In telecommunications, broadband means a wide range of frequencies over which

information can be transmitted.
A simple way to compare broadband and narrowband Internet connections is to picture

a highway. Only one car can travel at a time on a one-lane highway (narrowband).
However, when a highway is six or eight lanes wide (broadband), more traffic can drive
on the road at the same time.
Think back to when you had a dial-up Internet connection. Now think about the Internet
today. You have ‘always-on’ data connections that enable you to access multiple media
sources and a wide range of information at the same time. That’s broadband.
Bundling
‘Triple-play’ and ‘quad-play’ are ways that telecom companies package (bundle) their
services. While they used to only offer home telephone service, they now provide home
phone, Internet connection, television and maybe even cell phone service.
Each telecom carrier offers different products and services so their packaging is
different. Some even establish relationships with other companies to deliver services.
For example, Century Link partners with DIRECTV to offer satellite TV services to its
customers.
Expect to see more bundling in the future. Who knows, there may even be a quint-play
on the horizon.
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C
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
CDMA is a channel access method used by different radio communication

technologies- one way to understand CDMA is to think of a party where everyone is
talking at the same time. Lots of confusion, right? CDMA assigns different codes to each
group of users, so other groups hear just noise-- and tune out.
CLEC - Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened the door to competition for local phone
service. This act mandated that the Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC) such as
Verizon, Bell South, or SBC provide the necessary interfaces so that CLECs could
provide seamless local service. For example, MegaPath is a CLEC.
CPE (Customer Provided Equipment)
Telephone equipment (key systems, PBXs, answering machines, etc.) which live on the
customer’s premises.
CSP (Communication Service Provider)
An umbrella term used to describe both traditional providers of communication services

(ie: telecom) and alternate providers such as cable TV companies and other over-the-
top providers.
CSR - Customer Service Record
A copy of how your telephone records appear in your local carriers' database. It contains
information items and charges such as: type of service, federal access charge, number
portability charge, calling blocks on the line, 911 charge, etc. It is the "snapshot" of your
entire service for each line.
Carrier
A company that is authorized by regulatory agencies to operate a telecommunications

system. Examples include AT&T, Alltell, and Verizon.
Central Office (CO)
In almost every neighborhood there is a windowless building that houses the switching
equipment that connects your telephone to your neighbor's telephone or routes your call
to another central office for long distance calls. This building is called the central office.
The central office has switching equipment that can switch calls locally or to long-
distance carrier phone offices.
Cloud
Collection of technologies through which businesses or consumers pay to use software

that lives in another company’s data center. The benefit is that server capacity can
increase or decrease in response to customer demand, freeing companies from having
to invest as much in hardware and ultimately saving them money.
This relates to telecommunications because the information in the cloud is accessed

through broadband connections. Cloud computing is driving large volumes of new traffic
across telecom networks and making businesses increasingly reliant on telecom
services.
A report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project explains further.
A wide variety of players is rushing to exploit these business opportunities in the new
evolving Cloud ecosystem. Over-the-top (OTT) providers (for example, Google and
Amazon), system integrators, pure Cloud providers and many others seem eager to
grab a slice of the Cloud pie. Also, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) have
recognized Cloud as a source of new revenues. A number of them have made offering
Cloud-based services to clients an integral part of their business strategies.
Collective Bargaining
A negotiation between an employer and a trade union.
Connectivity
In telecommunication and computing in general, a connection is the successful

completion of necessary arrangements so that two or more parties (for example, people
or programs) can communicate at a long distance. Connectivity can be tied to both
hardware and software.
Convergence
The tendency for different technological systems to evolve towards performing similar
tasks. A great example of this is smartphones. Not only can you make calls, you can
also use them as a personal computer to surf the web, send text messages and monitor
your home security system.
Credit
A value that is assigned to a class and/or degree that is often related to how often the
course meets, how much content is covered, and the number of student outcomes.
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D
DAC (Digital Analog Converter)
A device which converts digital pulses (ie: data) into analog signals so that the signal
can be used by analog devices such as phones.
DC Power Plant
Each Central Office houses an AC power plant as well as an AC/DC converter that runs
the majority of the telecommunications equipment. Some Central Office Technicians
focus on keeping these power plants running efficiently 24/7.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
The technology used between a customer’s premises and the telephone company to
support the transport of higher bandwidth digital signals on the copper twisted wire pairs
already in place as part of the telephony infrastructure. Also known as generic name
signifying the family of Digital Subscriber Line technologies including ADSL, HDSL,
VDSL, etc.
DSO, DS1 & DS3 (Digital Signal 0, 1, 3, etc)
Different levels of digital hierarchy for the amount and speed of data carried on a circuit.
The fundamental speed level is DS-0, which is a voice grade channel.
DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing)
The higher-capacity version of WDM, which is a means of increasing the capacity of

fiber-optic data transmission systems through sending many wavelengths of light down
a single strand of fiber.
Dongle
A portable mobile broadband adapter connected to a laptop or PC via a USB port.
What a weird word!
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E
Ethernet
Ethernet is a standard for using various transmission media, such as coaxial cables,
unshielded twisted pairs, and optical fibers.
*definition from TIA
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F
FIOS
This is a Verizon product. Learn about FIOS here.
FTTC, FTTH, FTTB
Think "Fiber to the ____". In the acronyms above, the ____ is Cabinet, Home and
Business and relate to optical fiber extentions. Translation? Access networks that
consist of optical fiber from the exchange to the cabinet//home/business.
Facility (facilities)
A facilities person assigns the cable or fiber pair numbers. The facilities assignment
refers to where the telephone number starts in the central office and the route it takes
from the central office to the end address (includes those boxes you see on the side of
the street).
Femtocells
Femtocells enhance coverage and capacity inside buildings which means fewer dropped
calls. This has potential to allow cell phone calls to travel over the internet.
“Femtocells. They will be everyplace. And the cheaper they are, the easier to install. the
better coverage you get.”
- Ivan Seidenberg, CEO Verizon
Fiber / Fiber Optic Cable
Transmits light signals along glass strands, permitting 10-100 times faster transmission
than traditional copper wire. What this means to the consumer, is faster, more efficient
cell phones and Internet connections.
You may hear FTTH (fiber to the home), FTTP (fiber to the premises). Those terms
simply mean – how close the fiber comes to a building, house…end user. The closer it
comes, the faster the connection.
Firewall
A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block

unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of
devices which is configured to permit or deny computer based application upon a set of
rules and other criteria.
Launch Video
Frame
A rack to which telecommunications equipment is mounted. You will see these in

Central Offices.
Frame Relay
The standard for high-speed data communications, offering users transmission speeds
of 2.048 megabits per second and higher. It allows faster speeds than the X.25 packet
switching standard because it does away with elaborate error-correction and routing
information. Its main application is interconnecting local area networks.
Functional Areas
These are different areas of a business. Most businesses consist of a number of

different departments, each of which has a specific job or task to do - these are called
'functions'. There are certainly more than what are shown here but this simple diagram
will give you an idea of some functional areas.
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H
HCS (Hierarchical Cell Structure)
Hierarchical Cell Structure: the architecture of a multi-layered cellular network where

subscribers are handed over from the macro to the micro to the pico layer, depending on
the current network capacity and the needs of the subscriber.
HD Voice
A technology that provides better audio quality by delivering at least twice the sound
range (wideband) of a traditional (narrowband) telephone call.
HDSL (High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line)
This is digital access technology typically used by businesses. It requires two copper
wire pairs (or in some cases fiber) but doesn’t require complex engineering and
installation.
HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)
Often referred to as 3.5G, this is an extension to the original 3G standard providing

significantly higher data rates. HSDPA (downlink) can provide theoretical maximum
downlink speeds of 168 Mbps. HSUPA (uplink) supports maximum uplink speeds of 22
Mbps.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language. The authoring language used to create web pages for the
World Wide Web. HTML identifies each element of information in a document using
HTML "tags" surrounded by the < and > signs. HTML also allows for links to other
webpages on the same server or somewhere else on the internet. The software
(browsers or email programs) then converts the contents to a suitable format for
viewing.
HetNet (Heterogeneous Network)
A heterogeneous network is a network connecting computers and other devices with

different operating systems and/or protocols.
*definition from Wikipedia
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I
IP Address
An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information

that is sent in packets across the Internet. When you request an HTML page or send e-
mail, the Internet Protocol includes your IP address in the message (actually, in each of
the packets if more than one is required) and sends it to the IP address that is obtained
by looking up the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in the
e-mail address you're sending a note to. At the other end, the recipient can see the IP
address of the Web page requestor or the e-mail sender and can respond by sending
another message using the IP address it received.
An IP address has two parts: the identifier of a particular network on the Internet and an
identifier of the particular device (which can be a server or a workstation) within that
network. On the Internet itself - that is, between the router that move packets from one
point to another along the route - only the network part of the address is looked at.
* definition supplied by whatis.com
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)
Digital television delivered over the Internet. It can be accessed through a closed or
public network, with a computer or a set-top box capable of processing the video
streams. This is in direct competition with traditional cable and broadcast television.
IPTV can be bundled with VoIP and Internet access for a triple play service, increasing
the competition that other television providers face.
Infrastructure
This is an incredibly important part of the communications industry. Roughly 25% of all
telecom workers are involved with telecom infrastructure – in its simplest terms,
infrastructure includes the pieces and parts that make sophisticated communications
systems work.
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L
L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standard

tunneling protocol for VPNs. ISPs use this to provide secure, node to node
communications in support of multiple, simultaneous tunnels in the core of the internet
or IP based networks.
LAN (Local Area Network)
Locally owned and administered network for data communications that provides a
relatively high bandwidth over a limited geographic area for communication between
attached devices (typically personal computers and servers). LANs are most often at a
customer site. An Ethernet is a common example of a type of LAN.
LATA - Local Access and Transport Area
Geographic area covered by one or more local telephone companies, which are legally
referred to as local exchange carriers (LECs). A connection between two local
exchanges within the LATA is referred to as intraLATA. A connection between a carrier in
one LATA to a carrier in another LATA is referred to as interLATA. InterLATA is long-
distance service. The current rules for permitting a company to provide intraLATA or
interLATA service (or both) are based on the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
LTE (Long Term Evolution)
LTE is a broadband access technology that enhances the ability of mobile users to
access larger amounts of data. LTE operates on a lower frequency of 700 MHz giving it
enhanced signal range and building/obstacle penetration. AT&T and Verizon Wireless
are building their 4G networks with LTE technology.
This is a big deal because for the most part, consumers want more and more data. In
fact, a recent IBM report shows that when people are asked what they would be least
likely to cut back on to save money - people chose mobile phones and broadband
Internet only after their homes.
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M
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
The standard in mobile messaging services, adding photos, pictures and audio to text
messages.
MUX - Mulitplex
To transmit two or more signals over a single channel. In the world of CAT5 the
explosion of choices that digital TV is bringing the multiplex means to offer subscribers a
choice of various starting times for movies and events.
Mobile Broadband
Wireless high-speed internet access through a portable modem, telephone or other

device.
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N
Network
A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which

connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks
may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in a network must have a
unique address so messages or connections can be routed to the correct one.
*Wikipedia definition
Network Operations Center (NOC)
A network operations center (or NOC, pronounced "knock") is one or more locations
from which control is exercised over a computer, television broadcast or
telecommunications network.
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O
OEM
This acronym stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Many types of technicians
need to be familiar with products from various manufacturers.
Oscilloscope
Electronic testing device that can display wave forms and other information on a TV-
screen like cathode ray tube. As basic fixture in sci-fi movies.
Outside Plant
Refers to all of the physical cabling and supporting infrastructure (such as conduit,
cabinets, tower or poles), and any associated hardware (such as repeaters) located
between a demarcation point in a switching facility to another switching facility or to a
customer premises.
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P
PBX
Private Branch Exchange Digital or analog telephone switchboard located on the

customer premises and used to connect private and public telephone networks.
PBX (Private Branch Exchange)
A private (as in owned by the telephone company) exchange (as in the Central Office).
A PBX is a small version of the phone company’s larger central switching office. In
other words, an analog telephone switchboard located on the customer premises
and used to connect private and public telephone networks.
Plant
A general term for all equipment used by a telephone company to provide

telecommunications services. In the telecom business, plant comes in two variations –
inside and outside plant. Inside is in a building. Outside is outside the building – on
poles, in the ground.
Premises
At a customer’s location/premises. This could be anything from an office to a factory to

a home.
Prior Learning Assesment (PLA)
The process by which a student's former learning, both formal and informal is tested and
evaluated for possible academic credit. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) can include:
transfer credit, school-sponsored challenge exams, standardized national exams
developed by CLEP and DANTES, ACE (American Council on Education)
recommended credit and portfolios.
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R
RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company)
There are seven (also known as Baby Bells) which own the local exchange carriers in
the US following the divestiture/breakup of AT&T ('Ma Bell') in 1984.
Regionally Accredited
The determination by one of six regional accrediting bodies in the United States that a
college or university meets a set of quality standards; the six regional agencies include:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
See the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for more information.
Remote Access
Check out this CenturyLink video to better understand Remote Access.
Reseller
Telecommunications companies that purchase network capabilities from external

sources and resell those services to private households or businesses.
Routing / Router
The process of selecting paths in a network along which to send network traffic. Routers
are the equipment used to make this happen.
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S
SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy)
SDH and SONET are essentially the same thing. Standard multiplexing protocols that
transfer multiple digital bit streams over optical fiber using lasers or light-emitting diodes
(LEDs). Lower rates can also be transferred via an electrical interface.
*definition from Wikipedia
SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)
A family of fiber optic transmission rates created to provide the flexibility needed to
transport many digital signals with different capacities and to provide a design standard
for manufacturers.
SS7 (Signaling System Number 7)
An international, standard, set of telephone signaling protocols which are used to set up
most of the world's public switched telephone network telephone calls. The main
purpose is to set up and tear down telephone calls.
Satellite
Satellite telecommunications establishments are made up mostly of government and

private organizations that transmit a variety of data through satellites, including photos of
the earth, messages to and from public safety officials, and a variety of other
information. Direct-to-home satellite TV providers, however, are classified with wired
telecommunications.
Service Management System (SMS)
A highly reliable computer system that is connected to telecommunications Network

systems.
Smartphone
A smartphone is a mobile phone on steroids. It offers more advanced computing and

connectivity than a contemporary basic ‘feature phone’. Smartphones can be thought of
as handheld computers integrated within a mobile telephone.
Splice
The joining of two or more cables together by splicing the conductors together. In
copper wire telephone cables, splicing is on a mechanical basis and pair-to-pair, with the
pairs organized by binder groups and color codes. In optical fiber cables, the splicing is
fiber-to-fiber, with the fibers organized by ribbon or colored buffer tube and color code.
Fiber optics splicing may be either mechanical splicing or fusion splicing.
Switch - switching
A device that channels incoming data from any of multiple input ports to the specific
output port that will take the data toward its intended destination. In the traditional circuit-
switched telephone network, one or more switches are used to set up a dedicated
though temporary connection or circuit for an exchange between two or more parties.
On an Ethernet local area network (LAN) a switch determines from the physical device
(Media Access Control or MAC) address in each incoming message frame which output
port to forward it to and out of. In a wide area packet-switched network such as the
Internet, a switch determines from the IP Address in each packet which output port to
use for the next part of its trip to the intended destination.
* definition from whatis.com
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T
TIRKS (Trunks Integrated Record Keeping System)
An operations support system developed by the Bell System during the late 1970s. It
was developed for inventory and order control management of interoffice trunk circuits
that interconnect telephone switches. It grew to encompass and automate many
functions required to build the ever-expanding data transport network. Supporting
circuits from POTS and 150 baud modems up through T1, DS3, SONET and DWDM, it
continues to evolve today, and unlike many software technologies today, provides
complete backward compatibility. TIRKS is in use at AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, and
Cincinnati Bell Telephone.
Telecommunications
Transmitting signals over a distance in order to communicate. The classic ‘tin can’
telephone is a very simple telecommunications system.
Emerging technologies have brought us far from that model. Today’s communication
could be via telephone, television, radio, satellite, wireless network, computer network,
telemetry, or other means.
These technologies, plus many more are converging—you can access the Internet, play
videos, or track your children's movements via global positioning system (GPS)
technology on your cell phone—so the lines between telecommunications and other
industries like computer hardware, application software, consumer electronics and
entertainment are getting blurrier all the time.
Telecommunications systems
Networks of leading-edge technologies such as fiber optic systems, satellites, wireless,

telephony, and cable, which are connected to computers that allow organizations and
individuals throughout business and industry to communicate instantaneously around
the world.
Toll
A device that receives calls and allows them to be transmitted to the next local calling
area, thus avoiding toll or access charges.
Trunk / Trunking
A communication line between two switching systems. The term switching system
typically includes equipment in a Central Office and PBXs. A tie trunk connects PBXs.
Central office trunks connect a PBX to the switching system at the Central Office.
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U
UVerse
AT&T U-verse is a VDSL service offered by AT&T in various parts of the United States. It
provides broadband internet access, TV, and phone through a fiber-to-the-node
communications network.
See a video from AT&T about their UVerse product here.
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V
VIVID
The acronym VIVID includes each component of the evolving communications industry:
Voice, Information, Video, Infrastructure & Data. Check out our Industry Overview page
to see some of the vivid components of telecom in action.
VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
Harnesses the power of broadband internet connections to allow consumers access to
telephone services over the internet. In other words, your words get converted into data
signals and travel over the internet. Once they get to their destination, they are
converted from data signals back into analog signals and transmitted.
Upgrades in technology helped combat problems with early VoIP, such as poor quality
and availability of service. Today’s VoIP is a viable competitor to traditional telephony.
As businesses continue to cut costs and limit travel budgets, expect to see the use of
VoIP increase.
VoLTE
VoLTE, or Voice Over LTE is similar to VoIP- but goes one step further. Instead of using
the hardware at the ends of the call (the phones), VoLTE offloads the heavy lifting to the
network- creating VoIP HD. Beyond a crisp and clear sound, VoLTE includes the ability
to cancel echos and background noise on the back end, not the handset itself *.
*definition taken from pocketnow.com
For more information, check out this video on Verizon's 3G and 4G network- it includes
an overview of VoIP and VoLTE
Voice
Audible communication over a traditional land-line, wireless cellular or smart phone or

even through a computer via VOIP.
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W
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A computer or communications network that covers a geographic area which is larger

than a business campus. Usually, the dividing line between a local or campus network
and an Wide Area Network is a router. On the local or campus side, the transmission
lines in a network (copper or fiber) are usually owned by the enterprise. On the WAN
side, the lines are typically owned by a carrier and leased to an enterprise.
By far, the most familiar – and largest WAN is the Internet.
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications carriers provide telephone, Internet, data, and other

services to customers through the transmission of signals over networks of radio towers.
The signals are transmitted through an antenna directly to customers, who use devices,
such as cell phones and mobile computers, to receive, interpret, and send information.
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#
3G and 4G
These terms refer to third- and fourth-generation cellular wireless capabilities. 3G and
4G networks allow mobile and smart phone users to access more information and
services on their devices faster. It’s because of these technological advances that you
can video chat, watch Internet TV, play online games, download videos and listen to
streaming music on your phone. Simply put, 3G and 4G allow you to do more.
Both 3G and 4G—now enhanced by LTE technology—are available across most of the
U.S. today. The major difference between the two is speed. In general, 4G LTE networks
are much faster than 3G LTE networks.
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Jump To: Popular Glossary Terms

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

Very high speed transmission technology. ATM is a high bandwidth, low-delay,

ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)

In a hierarchical telecommunications network the backhaul portion of the network

The width of a communications channel. In analog communications, bandwidth is

In telecommunications, broadband means a wide range of frequencies over which

A simple way to compare broadband and narrowband Internet connections is to picture

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

CDMA is a channel access method used by different radio communication

CLEC - Competitive Local Exchange Carrier

CPE (Customer Provided Equipment)

CSP (Communication Service Provider)

An umbrella term used to describe both traditional providers of communication services

CSR - Customer Service Record

A company that is authorized by regulatory agencies to operate a telecommunications

Central Office (CO)

Collection of technologies through which businesses or consumers pay to use software

This relates to telecommunications because the information in the cloud is accessed

A negotiation between an employer and a trade union.

In telecommunication and computing in general, a connection is the successful

DAC (Digital Analog Converter)

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

DSO, DS1 & DS3 (Digital Signal 0, 1, 3, etc)

DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing)

The higher-capacity version of WDM, which is a means of increasing the capacity of

A portable mobile broadband adapter connected to a laptop or PC via a USB port.

What a weird word!

*definition from TIA

This is a Verizon product. Learn about FIOS here.

FTTC, FTTH, FTTB

- Ivan Seidenberg, CEO Verizon

Fiber / Fiber Optic Cable

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block

A rack to which telecommunications equipment is mounted. You will see these in

These are different areas of a business. Most businesses consist of a number of

HCS (Hierarchical Cell Structure)

Hierarchical Cell Structure: the architecture of a multi-layered cellular network where

HDSL (High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line)

HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)

Often referred to as 3.5G, this is an extension to the original 3G standard providing

HetNet (Heterogeneous Network)

A heterogeneous network is a network connecting computers and other devices with

*definition from Wikipedia

An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information

* definition supplied by whatis.com

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)

L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standard

LAN (Local Area Network)

LATA - Local Access and Transport Area

LTE (Long Term Evolution)

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)

Wireless high-speed internet access through a portable modem, telephone or other

A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which

Network Operations Center (NOC)

Private Branch Exchange Digital or analog telephone switchboard located on the

PBX (Private Branch Exchange)

A general term for all equipment used by a telephone company to provide

At a customer’s location/premises. This could be anything from an office to a factory to