Terms & Definitions

3G

The term “3G” stands for third generation cellular.  The first generations of cellular mobile included analog and digital transmission types.  The third generation, 3G, promises even higher data speeds and thus higher usage of both data transmission and other multimedia transmission.

4G

4G is the short term for fourth-generation wireless, the stage of broadband mobile communications that will supersede the third generation (3G). While neither standards bodies nor carriers have concretely defined or agreed upon what exactly 4G will be, it is expected that end-to-end IP and high-quality streaming video will be among 4G’s distinguishing features. Fourth generation networks are likely to use a combination of WiMAX and WiFi.

Technologies employed by 4G may include SDR (Software-defined radio) receivers, OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), MIMO (multiple input/multiple output) technologies, UMTS and TD-SCDMA. All of these delivery methods are typified by high rates of data transmission and packet-switched transmission protocols. 3G technologies, by contrast, are a mix of packet and circuit-switched networks.

When fully implemented, 4G is expected to enable pervasive computing, in which simultaneous connections to multiple high-speed networks provide seamless handoffs throughout a geographical area. Network operators may employ technologies such as cognitive radio and wireless mesh networks to ensure connectivity and efficiently distribute both network traffic and spectrum.

The high speeds offered by 4G will create new markets and opportunities for both traditional and startup telecommunications companies. 4G networks, when coupled with cellular phones equipped with higher quality digital cameras and even HD capabilities, will enable vlogs to go mobile, as has already occurred with text-based moblogs. New models for collaborative citizen journalism are likely to emerge as well in areas with 4G connectivity.

A Japanese company, NTT DoCoMo, is testing 4G communication at 100 Mbps for mobile users and up to 1 Gbps while stationary. NTT DoCoMo plans on releasing their first commercial network in 2010. Other telecommunications companies, however, are moving into the area even faster. In August of 2006, Sprint Nextel announced plans to develop and deploy a 4G broadband mobile network nationwide in the United States using WiMAX. The United Kingdom’s chancellor of the exchequer announced a plan to auction 4G frequencies in fall of 2006.

4G technologies are sometimes referred to by the acronym “MAGIC,” which stands for Mobile multimedia, Anytime/any-where, Global mobility support, Integrated wirelessand Customized personal service.

802.11b and 802.11g

802.11 is a wireless specification that is specified by IEEE – the institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.  However, most of us just think of it as the most common wireless computer connection that is currently in usage. It allows the transmission of data mostly to laptop and other computers.  If you have a wireless internet and networking connection at home or at work, the chances are good that it is an 802.11 network.    802.11b was the original specification.  It operates at the 2.4 Ghz frequency band and up to 11 Mbps (million bits of data per second). 802.11g operates also at 2.4 Ghz, but offers even higher data speeds, up to 54 MBps.

AFFILIATE

As defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a person or entity that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls a telecommunications company, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another person or entity.

AGENT

A person or entity who acts on behalf of another person or entity with the principal’s authorization.

ANSI

See American National Standards Institute.

BACKBONE

High-capacity network infrastructure; the part that carries the heaviest traffic. The backbone is also that part of the network that joins LANs together – either inside a building or across a country. LANs are connected to the backbone by bridges and/or routers; the backbone serves as a communications highway for LAN-to-LAN traffic.

BANDWIDTH

The common measure of transmission capacity. For analog transmission, it is measured in cycles per second; for digital transmission, it is measured in bits per second.

BASE STATION

A Base Station is the fixed electronics system on land that transmits to mobile wireless products.  For example, a cellular phone can move around or even be in a vehicle.  That cellular phone, however, will be transmitting to the nearest wireless base station at a fixed location that is able to receive the signal A cellular base station often has many transmitters and receivers – and is therefore the equivalent of many cellular phones in one location.  However, base stations also have the needed electronics to combine and control all of these phone conversations and cellular data, and to send that combined information back to a centralized telephone switch where calls can be routed via wire lines anywhere in the world.  The method of connecting the base station to the cellular phone is wireless.  However, the method connecting the base station to the telephone switch is called backhaul and might use either wired or wireless means.

BIT

The smallest unit of information in the binary system of notation.

BIT RATE

The speed at which digital signals are transmitted, usually expressed in bits per second (bps).

BLACKBERRY

Blackberry is a consumer product that has a number of capabilities at one time.  It is a combination cell phone, PDA (personal Data Assistant), and a convenient product to receive emails on when away from your office.

BLOCKING

Blocking is en electronics / wireless term whereby one radio receiver can be “blocked” by the presence of a strong transmitter nearby – even if that other transmitter is operating on a different frequency. Frequently receivers will allow a band (number) of frequencies to be input into its circuitry.  However, there are limits to how much dynamic range that real electronic parts such as transistors can handle.  If a signal is strong enough – even if it is not the exact signal the receiver is looking for – the strong signal may take over the first transistor stages in a radio, overwhelming them, and not allowing any movement for the correct signal.

BLUE TOOTH

Blue tooth is named after a Scandinavian King, 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand.   However, the term blue tooth is really a wireless frequency specification at about 2.4 GHz.  Since blue tooth is a wireless specification operating at 2.4 GHz, one might consider it similar to 802.11b and 802.11g, wireless specifications for wireless internet handling.  But there are some important differences.  Blue tooth has a different control and data handling format and is meant for only short distances – unlike 802.11b which might transmit for 1000 feet or so if walls do not block it. Blue tooth is named after a Scandinavian King, 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand.   However, the term blue tooth is really a wireless frequency specification at about 2.4 GHz.  Since blue tooth is a wireless specification operating at 2.4 GHz, one might consider it similar to 802.11b and 802.11g, wireless specifications for wireless internet handling.  But there are some important differences.  Blue tooth has a different control and data handling format and is meant for only short distances – unlike 802.11b which might transmit for 1000 feet or so if walls do not block it. Since blue tooth is only meant for short distances, it is more of a technique to eliminate wires used for interconnecting nearby electronic items.  For example, blue tooth is a great way to eliminate the normal wire used for cellular headsets – leaving the user wireless with not wires to trip over while walking or get in the way while driving.  Blue tooth can also be used for wireless computer keyboards and wireless computer mice.  There is no question that we will see more uses of blue tooth in the future, for short wireless transmission usages and the elimination of wires.

BROADBAND

A data-transmission scheme in which multiple signals share the bandwidth of a medium such as fiber-optic cable. This allows the transmission of voice, data and video signals over a single medium; for example, cable television uses broadband to deliver dozens of channel signals over a single cable.

CAT 5

Cat 5 refers to an 8 wire cable that can be used to carry networking information.  The 8 wires are really four pairs of twisted wire-pairs.  This cable is often called “Ethernet” since it is often used to connect computers, or connect computer to the internet as part of a networking system. It should be noted that cat 5 cables are finding other uses nowadays also – other than computer networking.  Such cables often find themselves in house or store or work building walls and are also used to telephone wires.  In this case, the telephone companies just view the cat 5 cable as being 4 pairs of twisted wires.  Since there are four pairs of wires, one could use a cat 5 wire to connect up to 4 separate phone lines in that house or building.

CDMA

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access.  If this seems confusing, let us break it down. Multiple Access implies a means where many people can be talking at once – many conversations at one time

D = Division asks the question how to keep all of those conversations separate

C stands for code.  This means that the method we will use to allow many conversations in cellular at once, yet keep them separate, is to assign each a code.

So, CDMA is a form of digital cellular where each cellular conversation is given a digital code that is combined with that conversation.  And at the receive end, the receiver – likely a base station – will use the same code in order to retrieve the conversation from that same person and only that person without interference. CDMA was really not a new invention, but the adaptation of an electronics military usage that once was called “spread spectrum” technology.  Combining a code with voice tends to not only make the voice hard to retrieve – and hence make it very private, it also tends to make the transmitter seem odd since the frequencies are so spread out.  Therefore, if one were to look for the transmitter electronically, it would be hard to find.  It is perhaps with all of this stealth that it is not surprising that the first application of “spread specturm”  was for Military applications.

However, CDMA also has capabilities for (a) putting many customers on the air at one time without interference and (b) capabilities for very high data transfer.  For this reason, Qualcomm Corporation in San Diego California developed patents for using spread spectrum technology within Cellular service – calling it CDMA.

CELL

Portable telephones even though wireless do not always transmit all conversations totally wireless.  For many long distance telephone calls, and especially if the call is to a wired land line phone, the phone call will actually be sent most of its distance via wires.  The way this system operates is that when a customer uses their portable phone, the cell phone will transmit wirelessly to the nearest cellular base station.  This base station is in a fixed location and there will often be several base stations in this same geographic location.  The location itself is called a cell site.  Once the call has been received at the cell site, the call is often routed into the main telephone system by a means of backhaul – which often can mean that the conversation will now go down a specific type of wire – called a T1, T3, or E1 line to the telephone central office and then to be sent onwards to its destination from there.

CHURN

Churn refers to customer leaving one cellular service network in order to give their business to a competitor.  Of course, all cellular service networks try very hard for customer satisfaction in order prevent customers leaving for another service.

CIRCUIT

Churn refers to customer leaving one cellular service network in order to give their business to a competitor.  Of course, all cellular service networks try very hard for customer satisfaction in order prevent customers leaving for another service.

CIRCUIT

A two-way communication path.

CLLI

See Common Language Location Identifier.

CLLI CODE

11-character code that identifies the wire center from which a call originated.

COAXIALE CABLE

A transmission line in which one conductor is a wire at the center of the cable; the other conductor surrounds the center wire with a layer of insulating material between them. Coaxial cable can transmit greater bandwidth than twisted pair (TP) wires.

COLLOCATION

An arrangement whereby the facilities of one party (the Collocating Party) are terminated with the equipment necessary to provide interconnection or access to the network elements offered by the second Party. This equipment is installed and maintained at the premises of the second Party (the Housing Party). All such services and facilities used for Collocated Interconnection are for carriage of non-switched interstate traffic. For purposes of Collocation, the premises of a Housing Party are described as a Housing Party Wire Center, other mutually agreed-upon locations of the Housing Party, or any other location for which Collocation has been ordered by the FCC or the state Commission.

COW

Ah, and you probably thought a cow was a farm animal?  Not in cellular or wireless.  A COW stands for “Cellular on Wheels”.  When cellular phones talk wirelessly, the wireless portion is only a few miles or less through the air till the call is received by a land line base station in a cell site.  The call may then be routed onward by more normal phone lines after that point. The need for “COWs” is when the fixed portion of the cellular system – the cell sites and base stations – are either damaged or cannot handle the traffic for a large event.  In this case, portable cell sites, about the size of a small truck, can be driven to an area of a city to either take over for a damaged cell site or to help it for a large event.  Large sporting events – certainly Olympic Games – might easily be a reason for needing a few COWs to handle the added cellular traffic.

DARK FIBER

A Wholesale solution offered to customers that provides an unlit, continuous fiber optic strand within an existing, in-place a fiber optic cable sheath without fiber optic transmission equipment or intermediate repeaters. Learn more.

dBm

A unit used to express power level in decibels relative to one milliwatt.

DECIBEL (dB)

The logarithmic unit of signal power ratio most commonly used in telephony. It is used to express the relationship between two signal powers, usually between two acoustic, electric, or optical signals.

DIGITAL SIGNAL 0 (DS0)

A Special Access Service offering a 64 Kbps high-bandwidth dedicated circuit, that delivers quality that typically can’t be duplicated with unconditioned analog circuits. Learn more.

DIGITAL SIGNAL 1 (DS1)

A Special Access Service that provides virtually error-free voice, video and data transmission at speeds up to 1.544 Mbps. Learn more.

DIGITAL SIGNAL 3 (DS3)

A Special Access Service comparable to having 672 voice-grade channels capable of handling multiple data streams in high volume at speeds up to 44.736 Mbps (commonly referred to as a 45 Megabit channel).

DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE (DSL)

A generic name for a group of enhanced speed digital services provided by telephone service providers. DSL services run on twisted-pair wires; they carry both voice and data.

E-911 SERVICE

An emergency call service that routes 911 calls to a Public Safety Answering Point.

EDGE

(Enhanced Data GSM Environment) is a faster version the Global System for Mobile (GSM) wireless service designed to deliver data at rates up to 384 Kbps and enable the delivery of multimedia and other broadband applications to mobile phone and computer users. The EDGE standard is built on the existing GSM standard, using the same time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame structure and existing cell arrangements. Ericsson notes that its base stations can be updated with software.

EDGE became commercially available in 2001. It is regarded as an evolutionary standard on the way to Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS).

ETHERNET

A 100-Mbps technology based on the 10BASE-T Ethernet CSMA/CD network access method to accommodate the operation of local area networks (LANs).

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

A federal government agency authorized by the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate interstate and international telecommunications originating in the United States. The FCC plays a role in implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

FIBER OPTICS

Communications technology that uses thin filaments of glass or other transparent materials. Fiber optic technology offers extremely high transmission speeds, allowing for data-intensive services such as video on demand.

FIELD TECHNICIAN

The employee responsible for installation, repair and maintenance of the outside of the  network.

FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP)

A file sharing protocol used as follows:

1. In LAN technology for user authentication, file transfer, list directories of the foreign host, etc.
2. As an Internet tool for accessing file archives from around the world that are linked to the Internet.

FOOTPRINT

The area in which a specific transmission can be received. Some footprints, such as those of satellite or cell systems

FREQUENCY

Frequency is the rate of change of something or how often it occurs.  In the case of wireless, frequency refers to how many times a second an electronics signal varies its amplitude up and down.  Consider first AC voltage that you might use within your house. In some locations, such as in the US or part of Japan and a few other locations, AC voltage will oscillate at 60 cycles a second.  This means that its value will go from maximum voltage to zero to negative voltage and back to zero and then back to maximum voltage 60 times a second. In much of the rest of the world, AC voltage is often 50 cycles a second.

GPRS

GPRS is the data wireless application of GSM cellular networks.  GSM itself is perhaps the most widely used digital cellular network popular in Europe, Asia, and now also in America. Nextel iDEN networks operate really very similar to GSM also.  Of course with such wide usage of GSM cellular voice phones, it is not surprising that these cellular systems would wish a data application that can also run on their cellular networks.

GPRS at times of low traffic may in fact be capable of high data traffic.  The reason for this is that the GPRS application does allow for multiple GSM channels to be used for high data movement – assuming of course that those GSM channels are available and are not in usage for voice.  The more channels that are available the more data can be moved per unit of time, and hence the data will be seen as much higher speed than one might expect from just one channel.

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI)

Computer interface that lets users access programs and enter data by using a mouse; considered to be user-friendly.

GSM

GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications”.  Also, GSM is currently the most popular digital cellular type of network in the world, being used almost always in Europe, often in Asia and now at least partially in the Americas.  It should also be stated the Nextel iDen network in the Americas is also very similar in structure to GSM.

GSM is a version of TDMA – a time division multiplex cellular system.  For GSM, what this means is that

8 channels – which means 8 different cellular communication paths – timeshare a single cellular frequency for transmission.  How do they time share?  Picture  8 people standing in a circle.  Every 10 seconds, pretend that a beach ball is passed around the circle, always in the same direction, and always to the person adjacent.  TDMA works very similarly.  For that cellular channel, the data for each conversation or data is given one eighth of the time slot.  How does the voice sound continuous and not broken up at the other end?  The voice is transmitted digitally.  When the voice is recovered from the TDMA GSM data at the receiving end, it is converted into analog audio, and to the listener, appears very smooth and continuous

HANDOFF

Since cellular phones are portable, they of course can move with their user.  And if the user is in a car or other fast vehicle, the cell phone and the user can be moving rapidly.

At one time in the cellular service industry, the average cellular phone call was handed off 3.4 times on the average for a call.  That means that on the average, often 3 or 4 different base stations were used to handle the cellular call.  Cellular services and equipment providers of course try to ensure that handoffs occur gently and are not noticed by the customers.

HOTSPOTS

Hotspots in dating life might mean a new night club.  In wireless though, hotspots often refer to a business area or airport area or similar that offers wireless internet.  In such places, wireless internet customers can take their lap top computers with their 802.11b wireless receiver PCMCIA cards (plug in cards) and receive internet in these areas.  Of course this is often a sold service, as someone must maintain these wireless systems.

Hotspots are becoming more common in airports and hotels and other places.

Coffee shops such as Starbucks sometimes will have an internet hotspot for the convenience of their customers.  Hotspots are most commonly 802.11b wireless types or 802.11g – since those would be the most common form of internet wireless and therefore would attract the most customers.

INTERFERENCE

Interference in the world of wireless means any unwanted signal that interferes with receiving the desired signal or hurts the quality of its reception.  Interference becomes a complex subject since most wireless products do not simply transmit on a single frequency, but also generate some unwanted frequency products at lower power levels that can also do harm and create interference.

These unwanted frequencies often are at multiples (times 2, times 3, and so on) of the fundamental transmit frequency.

On example of this type of interference is with CB (citizens band) radio in the US.  Some CB channels

were approximately at 27 MHz in frequency.  However, these products also would have some frequencies – though lower in power – at unwanted frequencies that were multiples of the basic transmit frequency.  A CB radio operating at 27MHz also has some energy at twice at frequency – at 54 MHz.  And this frequency at times in the US can be seen to interfere with a lower television channel if the CB radio is operated nearby.  While this example has been seen in practice, this is certainly not the only case of interference, just one example of it. Some products such as digital products such as computers can generate multiple interference frequencies.  However, often this interference is very low in power level and often does not interfere with radio products – even if nearby.  Of greater concern for engineers are digital circuits operating near radio circuits within the same product.  A product of course can also interfere with itself and

engineers must ensure that that does not happen for each consumer product.

INTERMODULATION

Intermodulation is often considered interference in the wireless world.  That means that

Intermodulation can create unwanted frequencies that can interfere with desired radio or cellular reception. Intermodulation means non-linear mixing, and these two signals are likely to mix at certain electronic components within the product.  When that happens, not only will there be presence nearby of the first two signals:  450 MHz and 20 MHz, but also a series of other frequencies made up of their sum and differences due to non-linear mixing.  Some of those sum and difference products now created would be: 470 MHz ( 450 + 20), 430 MHz (450 – 20), 920 MHz (450 times 2 + 20) and 880 MHz (2 times 450 MHz – 20 MHz).  As you can see, the list of frequency products that can be

made is endless.  While these new frequencies will be lower in power than the original signal, they may be high enough in power to interfere with a desired radio signal nearby.

INTERNET

An international network of networks, originally started for military purposes, that connects millions of users

INTERNET ACCESS

The connection which allows you to get on the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

INTERNET ADDRESS

Also called an IP (Internet Protocol) address; a 32-bit address assigned to hosts using TCP/IP .

INTERNET PROTOCOL

Part of the TCP/IP family of protocols that tracks the outgoing address of nodes, routes outgoing messages.

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER

A vendor that provides direct access to the Internet, and services such as email. The user accesses the ISP.

IP ADDRESS

Internet Protocol address; a 32-bit address assigned to hosts using TCP/IP. The address is written as four octets.

ISP

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.  While the internet is world wide, computers or servers must have a direct tie in to the internet to take advantage of it.  Most consumers do not have direct tie in to the internet, and therefore connect either via a phone line, DSL, cable or similar connection to a service that does connect their personal computer to the internet.  The organization providing this service for each consumer, is called its Internet Service Provider or ISP.

JAVA

Java is a software language that is becoming very popular for internet web pages and also more recently for mobile phones.  Java bears some similarity to the software language called “Basic” in that it is a script with recognizable words and having similar functions as if statements, subroutines and the like.  The writing of java also bears some similarity to C language in that parenthesis are often used to control the start and stop sections of small items of coding. The importance of java for web pages is that it allows more control and more features that can be added.  For mobile phones, java allows an endless amount of applications that can be accomplished

on cell phones including (but not limited to) productivity items such as calculators, games, and even more complex items such as GPS location and traffic directions.  Many Nextel phones are java ready and can handle many java applications.

KILOBIT (K)

A measure, representing 1,000 bits, generally used to express the speed per second of telecommunications.

KILOBITS PER SECOND (Kbps or Kbs)

A measurement for data transmission. One kilobit per second is one thousand bits per second.

KBPS

Kbps means “thousands of bits per second”.  The K of course implies that the number would be in the thousands.  “Bits per second”, bps, refers to the speed at which data can be sent.  The higher the “bps” the more data that can be sent rapidly.  So 25 Kbps then would mean a data rate of 25,000 bits per second.  Note that there is also a term of Mbps that can refer to millions of bits per second that can be transmitted.  For example, some phone lines using a standard modem may transmit at 28 Kbps.  While that is

seen as an acceptable data speed for some, web pages may load slowly at that data rate, and so many consumers switch from standard telephone modems to DSL or high speed cable internet to speed up their internet experience. In general, the higher the bps, or Kbps, or Mbps, the more data that can be sent rapidly.  So, “more” is often better in this case.

KILOHERTZ (Khz)

Equals 1,000 hertz (1,000 cycles per second).

LANDLINE

A telephone circuit that travels over land-based circuits (as opposed to wireless).

LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)

A short-distance data communications network. LANs are typically within a building or campus, and to link together computers and peripherals under a standard protocol. The network provides high-bandwidth communications over coaxial cable, twisted-pair, fiber, or microwave media. LANs are usually owned by the user.

LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY

The process by which an end user can retain the same telephone number regardless of which local service provide

MBPS

Mbps means “millions of bits per second”.  It tells us the data rate by which data such as text, voice, video or other data may be transferred.  For data transfer, more is often better, and hence Mbps refers to a very high speed connection.  3 Mbps for example would mean 3 million bits per second of data transfer rate.

MEGABYTES

A measure, representing 1,000,000 bytes generally used to express the storage capacity of digital A components.

MODEM

Contradiction of modulator-demodulator. A device that converts signals transmitted over communication facilities; for example, converts analog voice signals to digital signals.

OPTICAL CARRIER LEVEL

A SONET term. A range of bandwidths as specified in a Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore) document and associated ANSI standards. For example: Optical Carrier Level 1 (OC-1)–The optical signal that results from an STS-1 signal conversion. Optical Carrier level 3 (OC-3)–An optical carrier with three 51.84M bps multiplexed OC-1 circuit streams on an underlying SONET/SDH circuit. Optical Carrier Level 3-c (OC-3c)–An OC-3 circuit with the three OC-1 lines concatenated into a 155.52M bps circuit; used in ATM transmission. See ATM and OQS (Open Query System).

PACKET SWITCHED

A form of data transmission in which data is broken into small packets that are transmitted independently and reassembled at the destination. This is in contrast with circuit-switching, traditionally used for voice telephony, in which the transmission occurs over a dedicated circuit.

POINT OF PRESENCE (POP)

The physical place within a LATA where a long distance carrier or a cellular provider interfaces with the network of the local exchange carrier.

PORT

1. The physical or electrical interface through which a device gains access to a network or computer.
2. Network access point for data entry or exit.

PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE (POTS)

The basic single line switched access service offered by local exchange carriers to residential and business end users, using loop-start signaling.

SERVER

A networked computer that stores information and makes it available upon request to client programs that may be located on other computers. “Client-server” computing is the basis of virtually all local area networks and the World Wide Web.

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO (S/N Ratio)

The ratio of the signal power to the noise power at a point in a system (usually expressed in decibels).

SIGNNALING

The transmission of address and other switching information between end users and central offices, and between central offices.

“SLAMMING”

Changing an end user’s primary local exchange carrier or Interexchange Carrier without the end user’s authorization. Slamming is unlawful.

SS7 INTERCONNECTION AND TRANSPORT

A Wholesale service that offers Inter-exchange providers the ability to interconnect to the operator’s Signaling System 7 Network at one or more signal transfer points.

SWITCH

A device that can be controlled to interconnect two circuits.

In the context of Frame or LAN switching, this refers to a device that filters, forwards and floods frames based on the frame destination address. The switch learns the addresses associated with each switch port and builds tables based on this information to be used for the switching decision. Some switches are high speed implementations of bridges where switching decisions are made by computer chips, usually an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

T-1 CIRCUIT

A digital circuit that uses the DS-1 signaling format to transmit information over the telephone network at 1.544 megabits per second. Can carry up to 24 uncompressed voice channels.

TANDEM

The connection of networks or circuits in series; that is, the connection of the output of one circuit to the input of another.

TANDEM POINT

An intermediate location in a tandem architecture. The tandem point passes a call to the next destination.

TANDEM SWITCH

Tandem is a telephony term meaning “to connect in series.” Thus, a tandem switch connects one trunk to another. A tandem switch is an intermediate switch or connection between an originating telephone call or location and the final destination of the call.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

As defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, transmission between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received. Any transmission, emission, or reception of signs, signals, writings, images, and sounds or intelligence by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

Public Law 104-104, enacted February 8, 1996, provided comprehensive reform of the 1934 Communications Act. The Act was designed to foster competition among local telephone, long distance telephone, cable and other communications companies.

TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL/INTERNET PROTOCOL (TCP/IP)

A widely used network protocol that supports communication across interconnected networks; and between computers with diverse hardware architectures and various operating systems.

TRUNK

A communications path connecting two switching systems in a network, used to establish an end-to-end connection.

UMTS

(Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) is a third-generation (3G) broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitized voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps). UMTS offers a consistent set of services to mobile computer and phone users, no matter where they are located in the world. UMTS is based on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication standard. It is also endorsed by major standards bodies and manufacturers as the planned standard for mobile users around the world. Once UMTS is fully available, computer and phone users can be constantly attached to the Internet wherever they travel and, as they roam, will have the same set of capabilities. Users will have access through a combination of terrestrial wireless and satellite transmissions. Until UMTS is fully implemented, users can use multi-mode devices that switch to the currently available technology (such as GSM 900 and 1800) where UMTS is not yet available.

Previous cellular telephone systems were mainly circuit-switched, meaning connections were always dependent on circuit availability. A packet-switched connection uses the Internet Protocol (IP), meaning that a virtual connection is always available to any other end point in the network. UMTS also makes it possible to provide new services like alternative billing methods or calling plans. For instance, users can choose to pay-per-bit, pay-per-session, flat rate, or asymmetric bandwidth options. The higher bandwidth of UMTS also enables other new services like video conferencing or IPTV. UMTS may allow the Virtual Home Environment (VHE) to fully develop, where a roaming user can have the same services to either at home, in the office or in the field through a combination of transparent terrestrial and satellite connections.

The electromagnetic radiation spectrum for UMTS has been identified as frequency bands 1885-2025 MHz for future IMT-2000 systems, and 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz for the satellite portion of UMTS systems.

UNIVERSAL RESOURCE LOCATOR

An address on the World Wide Web. Known as URL

VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK

Virtual private networks are secured private network connections, built on top of publicly-accessible infrastructure, such as the Internet or the public telephone network.

VOICE FREQUENCY

An audio frequency in the range necessary for transmission of speech.

VOICE GRADE

Private Line services offered through Wholesale that provide fast, clear and reliable analog transmission of the voice and low-speed data communications.

VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VoIP)

An industry transmission standard which supports voice communications over packet networks, such as the Internet.

VOICE MAIL

A service that allows a subscriber to receive messages via a voice mailbox system when an unanswered call is received on their phone or cell phone

VOICE RECOGNITION

Machine recognition of a specific human voice.

WAVELENGTH

The length of one complete wave of an alternating or vibrating phenomenon, generally measured from crest to crest or from trough to trough of successive waves.

WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

Provides a way of increasing the data carrying capacity of an optical fiber by simultaneously operating at more than one wavelength.

WEB SITE

A collection of files on the World Wide Web that are arranged under a common address that allows for retrieval via hypertext-based software

WiMax

(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless industry coalition dedicated to the advancement of IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) networks.

WiMAX supports mobile, nomadic and fixed wireless applications. A mobile user, in this context, is someone in transit, such as a commuter on a train. A nomadic user is one that connects on a portable device but does so only while stationary — for example, connecting to an office network from a hotel room and then again from a coffee shop. Fixed wireless typically refers to wireless connectivity among non-mobile devices in homes or businesses.

According to the WiMAX forum, the group’s aim is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of devices based on the 802.16 specification, and to develop such devices for the marketplace. WiMAX is expected to provide about 10 megabits per second of upload and download, at a distance of 10 kilometers from a base station. The Forum says that over 455 WiMAX networks have been deployed in over 135 countries.

In May of 2008, Sprint and Clearwire announced that they would be combining their WiMAX businesses. Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks combined to invest $3.2 billion in Clearwire. The company has begun deployment of a planned nationwide 4G network in the United States as Clear WiMax wireless broadband services. Comcast and Time Warner Cable have announced that they will resell the service in areas where they have cable coverage. WiMAX is competing with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)’s Long-Term Evolution (LTE) in the 4G market.

WIRELESS

Refers to mobile or cellular telecommunications, for which part of the communications pathway includes transmission through radio links to land-based networks. Wireless communications products and services include cellular phones and pagers.

Z-END

The secondary or end-user end of a special access (non-switched) telephone connection.