Basic Telecommunications Networking Terms

Asynchronous Transfer Mode - ATM

An international ISDN high-speed, high-volume, packet-switching transmission protocol standard. ATM
uses short, uniform, 53-byte cells to divide data into efficient, manageable packets for ultrafast switching
through a high-performance communications network. The 53-byte cells contain 5-byte destination
address headers and 48 data bytes. ATM is the first packet-switched technology designed from the
ground up to support integrated voice, video, and data communication applications. It is well-suited to
high-speed WAN transmission bursts. ATM currently accommodates transmission speeds from 64 Kbps
to 10 Gbps (gigabits per second).
Bandwidth
A measure of the communication capacity or data transmission rate of a Circuit. The total frequency
spectrum (in Hertz - cycles per second) that is allocated or available to a channel, or the amount of data
that can be carried (in bits per second) by a channel.
Bit
The smallest amount of information that can be transmitted. In binary digital transmission, a bit has one of
two values: high or low. A combination of bits can indicate an alphabetic character, a numeric digit, or
perform a signaling, switching or other function.
bps
bps - bits per second (upper/lower case is significant)
BPS
Bps - (8-bits) bytes per second
Bridge
A LAN internetworking device that filters and passes data between LANs based on Layer 2 (MAC layer)
information. Bridges do not use any routing algorithms. (Compare Router. Contrast Gateway - dissimilar
protocols)
Broadband
A high-capacity communications Circuit/path. It usually implies a speed greater than 1.544Mbps.
(Contrast with Wideband and Narrowband)

Central Office - CO
One local Class 5 Switch with lines to customer locations. (Usually less than 100,000 telephone lines per
Central Office.) COs are usually owned and operated by LECs or BOCs. COs have connections to
Tandem (Class 4 Toll Offices) and often connect directly to other COs and IECs like WorldCom, AT&T,
MCI, Sprint, etc. A CO is a major equipment center designed to serve the communications traffic of a
specific geographic area. CO coordinates are used in mileage calculations for local and interexchange
service rates. A Non-Conforming CO is one that does not (yet) support Equal Access.
Centrex
A service that is functionally similar to a customer-premise PBX, but provided by means of equipment
located in a Central Office.
Circuit
A switched or dedicated communications path with a specified bandwidth (transmission speed/capacity).
Circuit Switching
A switching method where a dedicated path is set up between the transmitter and receiver. The
connection is transparent, meaning that the switches do not try to interpret the data.
Computer Telephony Integration - CTI
The integration of telephony function with computer applications.

Data Circuits
Communication links that are optimized for digital transmission of computer information.
Digital
A device or method that uses discrete variations in voltage, frequency, amplitude, location, etc. to
encode, process, or carry binary (zero or one) signals for sound, video, computer data or other
information. For example, a digital clock displays the time as discrete numeric values, rather than angular
displacement of analog hands. Digital communications technology generally permits higher speeds of
transmission with a lower error rate than can be achieved with analog technology. When analog signals
are received and amplified at each repeater station, any noise is also amplified. A digital signal, however,
is detected and regenerated (not amplified). Unlike amplification, any noise (less than a valid signal) is
eliminated by digital regeneration.
DS - Digital System
DS-0 (Facility)
The base unit of digital transmission capacity. 1 communication channel = 1 simultaneous voice grade
equivalent with a communication capacity of 64 thousand bits per second (64Kbps).
DS-1 (Facility)
T1- The equivalent of 24 multiplexed voice grade channels (DS-0s). 1.544 million bits per second
(1.5Mbps).
DS-2 (Facility)
T2 - The equivalent of 4 multiplexed T1 channels. 6.312 million bits per second (6.3Mbps).
DS-3 (Facility)
T3 - The equivalent of 28 multiplexed T1 channels. 44.736 million bits per second (45Mbps).
DS-4 (Facility)
T4 - The equivalent of 6 multiplexed T-3 channels. 274.176 million bits per second (274Mbps).
Ethernet
A LAN and data-link protocol based on a packet frame. Usually operating at 10Mbps, multiple devices
can share access to the link.
Frame Relay
A wideband (64Kbps to 1.544Mbps) packet-based data interface standard that transmits bursts of data
over WANs. Frame-relay packets vary in length from 7 to 1024 bytes. Data oriented, it is not usually used
for voice or video.
Full Duplex
Simultaneous two-way communication path.
Gateway Protocol Converter
An application-specific node that connects otherwise incompatible networks. Converts data codes and
transmission protocols to enable interoperability. (Contrast Bridge)
HOP
A network connection between two distant nodes.
Hub
A group of circuits connected at one point on a network. Enables traffic concentration and economies of
scale. Hubs are located in larger cities throughout a network for concentration and routing of calls from
cities with lower traffic demands.
In Band Signalling
A method of sending signals over the same channel bandwidth as service being provided to a customer.
(Contrast with Out Of Band Signaling)

Internet
Large international communication network that connects government agencies, technical universities
and commercial customers.
LAN - Local Area Network
A network of multiple interconnected data terminals or devices within a local area to facilitate data
transfer. Most notable of LAN topologies are ethernet, token ring, and FDDI.
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
LANs interconnected within roughly a 50 mile radius. MANs typically use fiber optic cable to connect
various wire LANS. Transmission speeds may vary from 2 to 100 Mbps.
Media
Information storage techniques (e.g. magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disc, print, etc.)
Narrowband - Voice Grade
A low-capacity communications Circuit / path. It usually implies a speed of 56Kbps or less. (Contrast with
Wideband and Broadband)
Network
A system of interrelated elements that are interconnected in a dedicated or switched linkage to provide
local or remote communication (of voice, video, data, etc.) and to facilitate the exchange of information
between end users with common interests. The set of switches, circuits, trunks and software that make up
a telecommunications facility.
Node
Generic term used to refer to an entity that accesses a network. Also used to refer to switching or routing
devices in a network.
Out-Of-Band Signalling
The use of transmission facilities other than the primary channel bandwidth for simple transmission
control pulses. (Contrast with In Band Signalling)
Packet Switching
A transmission protocol where data is divided into small blocks with destinations so various routes can be
efficiently taken, to avoid overloading a single facility. Paths are temporary and dynamic. Allows facility
sharing by many users. Requires PAD.
PBX - Private Branch Exchange
A Customer Premise Communication Switch used to connect customer telephones (and related
equipment) to LEC central office lines (trunks), and to switch internal calls within the customer's telephone
system. Modern PBXs offer numerous software-controlled features such as call forwarding and call
pickup. A PBX uses technology similar to that used by a central office switch (on a smaller scale). (The
acronym PBX originally stood for "Plug Board Exchange".)
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
Protocol
Very specific rules/standards for information transmission. A formal set of conventions governing the
format and control of inputs and outputs between two communicating entities.
Protocol Converter
An application-specific node that connects otherwise-incompatible networks. Converts data codes and
transmission protocols to enable interoperability. (Contrast Bridge)
Queue
A facility that stores transactions or event-oriented messages and activates them for processing in a
specific sequence such as "first in first out", "priority", "event type", etc.
Repeater
A device that propagates electrical signals.

Router
A system that controls message distribution between multiple optional paths in a network. Routers use
routing protocols to gain information about the network, routing metrics and algorithms to select the "best
route".
Signal
An event-oriented change in state (e.g. a tone, frequency shift, binary value, alarm, message, etc.)
Switch
A device that responds to originator signals and dynamically connects the caller to the desired
communication destination.
Telephone
An instrument or system used for voice communication. The process or act of communicating via such a
system.
Transmission Mode
Classification based on: (a) data flow (simplex, half duplex, full duplex), (b) Physical connection (parallel,
serial), and (c) timing (asynchronous, synchronous).
Transmission System
The foundation of communication capacity between two points. It is governed by the equipment type
generating the (optical) signals. The capacity of a single fiber can be increased by installing higher-speed
(higher-cost) transmission systems (end-to-end).
Trunk
A (high-capacity) connection between switches. From a customer perspective, trunk may refer to an
external (carrier) line connected to CPE/PBX, including local exchange lines, WATS lines and dedicated
private lines. Customer trunks may be outgoing only, incoming only or two-way.
Trunk Group
A group of circuits of a common type that originate from the same location.
Twisted Pair
A circuit comprised of two copper wires that are twisted to cancel their own radio frequency interference,
and thus reduce noise that might otherwise be induced into adjacent circuits.
VPN - Virtual Private Network
Switched network with special services like abbreviated dialing. A customer can call between offices in
different area codes without having to dial all eleven digits.
WAN - Wide Area Network
Remote computer communications system. WANs allow file sharing among geographically distributed
workgroups (typically at higher cost and slower speed than LANs or MANs). WANs typically use common
carriers' circuits and networks. WANs may serve as a customized communication "backbone" that
interconnects all of an organization's local networks with communications trunks that are designed to be
appropriate for anticipated communication rates and volumes between nodes.
Wideband
A medium-capacity communications Circuit/path. It usually implies a speed from 64Kbps to 1.544Mbps.
(Contrast with Broadband and Narrowband)
World Wide Web (WWW)
Internet system for world-wide hypertext linking of multimedia documents, making the relationship of
information that is common between documents easily accessible and completely independent of
physical location.