Tuesday, 02/08/2011 12:00 PM
GLOSSARY
Backbone network is a part of computer network infrastructure that interconnects various pieces of network, providing a path for the exchange of information between different LANs or sub networks. A backbone can tie together diverse networks in the same building, in different buildings in a campus environment, or over wide areas. Normally, the backbone's capacity is greater than the networks connected to it.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)-Digital subscriber line is the transmission of digital information, usually on a copper wire pair.
Ethernet is a packet based transmission protocol that is primarily used in LANs. Ethernet is the common name for the IEEE 802.3 industry specification and it is often characterized by its data transmission rate and type of transmission medium.
Fiber To The Home/Fiber To The Building (FTTH/FTTB)-A distribution system that uses fiber optic cable to connect telephone networks to nodes that are located in the homes of customers. The fiber optic transmission is used to provide broadband services beyond the central office, all the way through the drop wire to the optical node that is located in the customers home.
High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL)-An all digital transmission technology that is used on 2 or 3 pairs of copper wires that can deliver T1 or E1 data transmission speeds. HDSL is a symmetrical service.
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is an enhanced 3G mobile telephony communications protocol in the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) family, also dubbed 3.5G, 3G+ or turbo 3G, which allows networks based on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity.
High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is a mobile telephony protocol which supports increased peak data rates of up to 14 Mbit/s in the downlink and 5.8 Mbit/s in the uplink. It also reduces latency and provides up to five times more system capacity in the downlink and up to twice as much system capacity in the uplink, reducing the production cost per bit compared to original CDMA/GSM protocols. By July 2010, HSPA had been commercially deployed by over 200 operators in more than 80 countries.
Integrated Digital Loop Carrier (IDLC) are the integration of the integrated digital terminal (IDT) and remote digital terminal (RDT). The IDT is part of the local digital switch (LDS) and it acts like a concentrator to put more channels on a digital communications line. The IDLC system moves some of the switching services from the local switches into RDTs to increase the efficiency of communication lines between customers and the central office.
Internet Protocol Telephony (IP Telephony) provide voice or multimedia communication services through the use Internet protocol (IP) networks. These IP networks initiate, process, and receive voice or multimedia communications using IP protocol. These IP systems may be public IP systems (e.g. the Internet), private data systems (e.g. LAN based), or a hybrid of public and private systems.
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is the process of providing television (video and/or audio) services through the use Internet protocol (IP) networks. These IP networks initiate, process, and receive voice or multimedia communications using IP protocol. These IP systems may be public IP systems (e.g. the Internet), private data systems (e.g. LAN based), or a hybrid of public and private systems.
Internet Telephone (IP Telephone)-A telephone device that is specifically designed to communicate through the Internet without the need for a voice gateway. Internet telephones contain embedded software that allows them to initiate and receive calls through the Internet using standard protocols such as H.323 or SIP.
Last mile or "last kilometer" is the final leg of delivering connectivity from a communications provider to a customer. The actual distance of this leg may be considerably more than a mile, especially in rural areas. Because the last mile of a network to the user is also the first mile from the user to the world, the term "first mile" is sometimes used.
Leased Line-Leased lines are telecommunication lines or links that have part or all of their transmission capacity dedicated (reserved) for the exclusive use of a single customer or company. Leased lines often come with a guaranteed level of performance for connections between two points.
Long Term Evolution (LTE), is the latest standard in the mobile network technology tree that previously realized the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSxPA network technologies. It is a project of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-a process of sending voice telephone signals over the Internet or other data network. If the telephone signal is in analog form (voice or fax) the signal is first converted to a digital form. Packet routing information is then added to the digital voice signal so it can be routed through the Internet or data network.
ARPU: Average Revenue per User. The ratio of service revenues in a given period to the average number of wireless subscribers in the same period. It is presented on a monthly basis.
Capex: Capital Expenditure. Accrued capital expenditures related to the expansion of the telecommunications infrastructure.
Churn: Disconnection Rate. The ratio of wireless subscribers disconnected during a given period to the number of wireless subscribers at the beginning of that period.
EBITDA: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization.
EBITDA margin: The ratio of EBITDA to total operating revenue.
EDGE: Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution. A technology that gives GSM the capacity to handle data services for the third generation mobile telephony.
GPRS: General Packet Radio Service. Enables GSM networks to offer higher capacity, Internet-based-content and packet-based data services. It is a second generation technology.
GSM: Global System for Mobile communications. It is the world's leading and fastest growing mobile standard.
HSDPA: High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. Is a 3G mobile telephony communications protocol in the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) family, which allows networks based on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity.
Market share: A company's subscribers base divided by the total number of subscribers in that country.
MOU: Minutes of Use per subscriber. The ratio of wireless traffic in a given period to the average number of wireless subscribers in that same period. It is presented on a monthly basis.
SMS: Short Message Service.
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
Is one of the third-generation (3G) cell phone technologies, which is also being developed into a 4G technology.