Jargon Buster A-F

The field of communications and IT is littered by an ever growing number of technical terms and confusing jargon. At Connexis we try and talk to our customers in a practical way that helps you understand the benefits of implementing new technologies. We hope that our Jargon Buster helps if you have trouble with the terms or acronyms that you may come across.

We will do our best to update this area on a regular basis, but if there is anything you still don't understand or need help with, please do not hesitate to call us on 01952 528000 or contact us by email at jargon@connexis.co.uk.

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AC15 - an analogue signalling system used to connect two pieces of telecommunications equipment (e.g. two telephone systems) over a distance.

ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) - allows all incoming calls to be distributed equally amongst a group of agents. Typically used in a call centre where agents log in to make or receive calls. ACD systems provide facilities for monitoring agents’ performance and the performance of the Call Centre as a whole.

ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) - an xDSL technology used for the high-speed transmission of data. This technology transforms a telephone line consisting of a twisted pair of copper wires (local loop) into a high-speed, always-on, internet connection capable of simultaneously carrying voice and data. It is termed 'asymmetric' because data moves in one direction faster than in the other i.e. data is transmitted faster from the local telephone exchange to the broadband user or subscriber (download), than from the end-user premises to the exchange (upload).

ADSL 2 - an evolution of the ADSL technology that allows a higher rate of data transmission. It can provide download speeds of up to 12Mbps over a single copper pair up to 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) from the telephone exchange, or 24Mbps up to 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) using 2 copper pairs bonded together.

ADSL 2+ (Extended bandwidth ADSL) – an evolution of the ADSL 2 technology which allows a higher rate of data transmission. It can provide download connection speeds of 26Mbps within 0.6 miles (1 kilometre) of the telephone exchange, falling to around 12.5Mbps at a range of 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres). The higher bandwidth allows users to access multiple high bandwidth applications, including broadband television, concurrently. Bandwidth deteriorates rapidly with line distance beyond 1.6 miles (2.5 kilometres) from the exchange, and at a range of 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometres) it does not offer any speed advantage over ADSL. ADSL 2+ uses a signal of 2.2MHz.

Alpha Tagging - the assignment of an alpha-numeric name to a facility. For example when called by an extension your phone can display the name of the caller rather than the extension number. When an incoming DDI call is received a name can be shown which relates to the number that was dialled, enabling one person to answer calls in a variety of different ways, e.g. in the names of different companies.

Analogue Device - devices that can be attached to an ordinary analogue telephone line, such as a telephone, fax machine, cordless phone, answering machine, modem etc.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) - a high-speed switching technology capable of supporting voice, video and data communications. It is unique in that each piece of information is addressed and is of the same length allowing very high speed communications.

ARS (Automatic Route Selection) - a technique where the telephone system looks at the digits being dialled to make an outside call and automatically routes the call via an alternate (normally cheaper) route.

Auto-Attendant - a voicemail feature that allows callers to be automatically transferred to extensions or departments by dialling digits.

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Backbone - the part of a network that handles the major traffic. It employs the highest - speed transmission paths in the network and may also run the longest distances. Smaller networks are attached to the backbone. A backbone can span a geographic area of any size from a single building to an entire campus, or even an entire country.

Backhaul - the transmission links between cell sites and the system operator's switching centre. In general, transmitting data from remote locations over the network "backbone" to a point from which it can be distributed over the network.

Bandwidth – the capacity of a telephone line. It determines the amount of data (in bits) that can be transmitted over a line per second.

Basic Rate - an ISDN circuit providing 2 x 64 kbit/sec bearer channels for use by data or speech and one 16 kbit/sec control channel. Two independent calls can be carried at the same time on one BRI circuit.

Battery Back-up - provides continuous power source to the telephone system in the event of a mains power fail.

BLF (Busy Lamp Field) - visual indication of the status of lines or extensions through LEDs.

Bluetooth - Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol enabling links over a short distance for devices such as computers, mobile phones, and portable handheld devices to communicate.

BRI (Basic Rate Interface) - an interface to Basic Rate ISDN circuits.

Broadband - a term generally used for an always-on, high-bandwidth network connection using one of a variety of technologies. Broadband refers to telecommunication in which a wide band of frequencies is used to transmit data. The wide band allows data to be sent on many different frequencies within the band concurrently, allowing a greater amount of data to be sent in a given amount of time.

Broadband over Powerline (BPL) - a technology that allows data to be transmitted over utility power lines. BPL works by modulating high-frequency radio waves with the digital signals from the internet. The radio waves are then fed into the utility grid at certain points, travelling along the power lines and passing through the utility transformers to subscriber's homes and businesses. A subscriber installs a modem that plugs into an ordinary power socket to receive broadband services.

Bulletin Board - an electronic version of a notice board. Users can access the bulletin board to obtain information.

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Cable – the cable broadband technology uses the same hybrid fibre and coaxial cable network that carry cable TV signals. The term hybrid signifies that fibre is used to carry signals from a serving location to a suburb whilst a coaxial cable is used to carry the TV and broadband signals from the suburb to the end users premises. Download rates of up to 50Mbps are possible through cable broadband with 10Mbps services expected to be made available in 2005. Meanwhile 150 kbps to 4Mbps services are offered by UK cable operators today.

Call Barring - the prevention of calls to certain destinations, such as calls to premium rate number or overseas.

Call Forwarding - also known as call diversion. By dialling a code an extension user can divert incoming calls to another destination such as another extension, a group of extensions, the operator, or an external number, for example a mobile phone. Different types of diversion are usually possible for example all calls, on busy, or no reply.

Call Logging - data recorded about calls made or received through a telephone system. This data can then be used to run reports.

Call Management - the use of specialist software to analyse and report on call records which are output from a telephone system and recorded on computer disk. The results can identify misuse, allocate costs to departments and verify the adequacy of resources.

Carrier - telephone service provider for example BT, Cable and Wireless, Thus etc.

Cat 5 (Category 5) - this is a specification for the transmission performance of a data cable but is commonly used to describe a building cabling system that allows the user to easily route voice and data circuits to any wall socket.

CCU (Central Control Unit) - the box or cabinet housing the central equipment that controls the telephone system.

Centrex - a generic name for a service offered by network operators where the customer’s telephone system is managed within their network. Can be thought of as a virtual telephone system.

CLI (Calling Line Identity) - a number representing the originator of a call. There are two types of CLI. A network CLI is used by network operators to identify the source of the call and it is available whether or not the caller is ex-directory but is never passed on to the called party. The user CLI is passed on to the called party, providing that the caller has not withheld it. By default it is the same as the network CLI but can be changed by the caller's equipment.

CLIP (Calling Line Identity Presentation) - a service that provides a called party with the Calling Line Identity of the caller.

CLIR (Calling Line Identification Restriction) - a service that stops a CLI being presented to the called party.

COLP (Connected Line Presentation) - a service which provides the caller with the identity of the connected party. For example you may dial one number but that number may be diverted to another, and this provides the caller with the identity of the party they have actually connected to. The identity is typically the telephone number of the connected party.

Conferencing - the joining together of more than two telephone users in a single call. Typically a call will be established between two parties, one will then hold the call, call a third party and then press a button to join all three parties in one call.

Contact Centre - a progression of the call centre merging customer calls with other media such as internet and email in conjunction with CRM applications. A unified approach to customer contact improving customer service levels leading to increased customer acquisition, satisfaction and retention.

Convergence - the merging of voice and data hardware solutions such as the server based PBX and Voice switched over IP.

CPS (Carrier Pre Selection) - Carrier pre-selection uses network access technology, so voice traffic originating from your site will be routed directly to your chosen network with no need for prefix codes. The "selection" of the preferred provider is done automatically at point of entry (the local exchange) to the public voice network.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) - a software application to deliver a single view of the customer.

CTI (Computer and Telephony Integration) - the exchange of information between computers and telephone systems e.g. when a call comes in the telephone could pass to the computer the telephone number of the person calling. This can deliver "Screen Popping" - the presentation of database information based on an incoming caller's CLI. Information is commonly passed between telephone and computer systems using an Application Program Interface (API) of which the two most common are TAPI (Telephony API) and TSAPI (Telephony System API). CTI is commonly divided into First Party CTI, where a telephone and a computer are directly connected, and Third Party CTI, where the telephone system and the computer network communicate through a telephony server, with no direct physical connection between the telephone and the user's computer.

Custom Service Mode - used in voicemail to indicate a service where the caller hears a menu of choices selected by pressing buttons on the phone. These choices might transfer the caller to an extension, group of extensions, or the operator, enable them to leave a message, listen to information, or may offer further menus.

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DC5 - a signalling system used to communicate between two adjacent pieces of telecommunications equipment, for example between a telephone system and a router or multiplexer or between two co-located telephone systems.

DDI (Direct Dialling Inwards) - enabling outside callers to call directly to a specific extension such as an extension user, fax machine, department or group of extensions.

DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony) - a technology that provides greater clarity and smaller handsets for cordless phones. There is a common standard called GAP (General Access Protocol) that allows handsets and base stations from different manufacturers to work together.

Delayed Ringing - a feature often used to provide an overflow if the switchboard operator is busy or absent. Incoming calls are sent to the operator but other extensions have delayed ringing, so they will start ringing if the call is not answered after a pre-set time.

Dial up - a communications link that connects a terminal and a computer via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Dial-up (Narrowband) – this refers to the use of a telephone line and a modem to access an internet service. A narrowband modem supports a maximum download rate of 56kbps, and a maximum upload rate of 33.6kbps.

Download - an end-user receiving data from the main public telecommunications network (e.g. getting a webpage from the internet), the reverse process of upload.

DPNSS (Digital Private Network Signalling System) - developed in the early 1980s, a protocol to support connection between telecom equipment from different vendors digital equipment. See also QSIG.

DSL - similar to ADSL, but allows the same amount of bandwidth in both directions.

DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) - a piece of equipment installed in a telephone exchange, that transforms a telephone line into an xDSL broadband connection.

DSS (Direct Station Selector) - a unit that fits alongside a telephone acting as an operator which typically has a large number of programmable buttons that can be used to call and to indicate the status of extension users (the stations).

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Ethernet - the IEEE's 802.3 standard for local area networking (LAN), which allows computers to communicate with each other over a wired network. Ethernet usually uses a coaxial or twisted pair cable, although fibre and wireless versions are also available.

There are four main types of Ethernet:
10Mbps Ethernet - the original development of Ethernet which provides up to 10Mbps data transfer rates
Faster Ethernet - provides up to 100Mbps data transfer rates
Gigabit Ethernet - provides up to 1Gbps data transfer rates
10 Gigabit Ethernet - the latest standard. Provides up to 10Gbps data transfer rates

E+M - another name for DC5.

Extranet – an intranet that is accessible 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 website.

Extension Lock - a facility to prevent unauthorised phone use. An extension can be locked by entering a code and unlocked by entering a password. When locked the phone is subject to call barring, perhaps restricting it to internal and emergency service calls only.

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Fibre – an optical fibre line consists of an extremely thin glass cylinder core surrounded by a concentric layer of glass sheath. Data is transmitted along fibre lines in the form of modulated pulses of light. Potentially the bandwidth that can be passed through fibre can be as high as 2.5Gbps.

Fibre has traditionally been used by public telecoms operators in their core telecoms networks and sold as 'dedicated leased lines' to corporate and public sector customers for use in their private wide area networks.

There are a variety of different forms of fibre broadband (FTTx) including Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), Fibre to the Building (FTTB) and Fibre to the Home (FTTH).

Fibrespeed - a term used to describe symmetrical broadband services with rates of 10Mbps and over.

Firewall - a security system designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from a private network.

First Generation Broadband - a term used to describe broadband services with asymmetric download speeds of 512kbps to 2Mbps and upload speeds of 256kbps to 512kbps.

FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) - a point-to-point radio wave or microwave link to the home or the office from a cell site or base station. Fixed wireless can be used for cellular backhaul, private WANs and for 'last mile' connectivity to buildings.

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