Telecom Glossary

An access point is a type of hardware, such as a wireless router, that acts as a connection portal for other devices in the network. Another definition pertains to an access point as a standalone device that serves as a link between routers and local area networks (LANs) to enable device connections.

Think of an access point as an airport. An airport houses the branches of global airlines that fly their passengers to several locations around the world. In other words, the airport serves as a gateway for people to reach other destination countries.

Bandwidth management or bandwidth control is the process of regulating the amount of data on a network by setting allocations to every data-consuming application and device on the network. It helps alleviate network congestion or bottlenecks and ensures enough bandwidth for critical applications within an organization.

The concept behind bandwidth management is similar to rationing. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, some countries had to set a fixed number of commodities like paper towels, rubbing alcohol, and canned goods, for every consumer.

Rationing ensures that everyone gets what they need, and any supply shortage will not have detrimental effects on consumers. In bandwidth management, bandwidth is “rationed” to each device or application.

A beam splitter refers to any device that can split light beams in two different directions. Beam splitters are usually made of glass, which is formed into a cube. Half of the beam goes through the glass when light is shone onto the cube, while the other half is reflected.

Beam splitters have been used in physics experiments, such as those that involve measuring the speed of light. One of its real-world applications is in the field of fiber optic telecommunications. Your broadband Internet connection might be problematic without a beam splitter. Beam splitters are also present in optical equipment, such as microscopes, binoculars, cameras, and telescopes.

COMINT or Communications Intelligence refers to any intelligence gleaned by intercepting channels, such as text messaging, telephone, email, instant messaging, and other online and electronic means of communication. Armed forces used it in World War II and continue to do so as part of national security protection.

COMINT is part of a larger type of intelligence called “Signals Intelligence (SIGINT),” which is intelligence gathered through the interception of signals. Aside from COMINT, SIGINT also includes Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), a type of intelligence gained from intercepting electronic signals that are not necessarily used in communication.

CTI is a communication technology that allows users to perform and manage call functions through their computers. Instead of a physical telephone handset, people can use an on-screen panel to perform call functions, such as answering calls, putting callers on hold, and disconnecting calls. What does “CTI” stand for? “CTI” is an acronym for “computer telephony integration.”

CTI is typically used in call centers to enable businesses to have more control over calls. With CTI, they can route, monitor, and record calls. They can also analyze call center agents’ performance. CTI’s signature on-screen popup helps track customer data, improving customer experience and client relationships.

The data plane is a part of the telecommunications infrastructure that carries user traffic. It is a critical network layer that enables data transmission. Because of its core function, the data plane is also called the “forwarding plane,” “user plane,” or “carrier plane.”

The data plane works the same way as a mail or postal carrier whose job is to carry parcels from one place to another. Postal workers don’t have to know what the packages contain. Similarly, the data plane forwards traffic from one device to another without caring about what the traffic is all about.

The Business Process Framework (eTOM) is a catalog of processes required to run a service-focused business. The processes need to be performed one after another, depending on their importance, to be effective.

eTOM has three components that pertain to critical focus areas of typical organizations—strategy, infrastructure, and product (SIP); operations; and enterprise management.

Fibre Channel is a high-speed data transfer protocol that delivers raw data blocks from computers, mainframes, and supercomputers to storage devices. Commercial data centers primarily use it for storage area networks (SANs).

First used in 1988, Fibre Channel was standardized through the T11 Technical Committee of the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS).

Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) is a technology that allows manufacturers to wirelessly upgrade and update device firmware. FOTA-capable devices download upgrades and updates directly from the service provider, usually taking 3–10 minutes, depending on the user’s connection speed and the file’s size.

A device’s firmware is the software that gives basic machine instructions to enable the hardware to function and communicate with other software (typically apps) running on the device. It thus performs low-level hardware control, meaning the device won’t work without it.

Forward error correction (FEC) is a technique used in data transmission that enables the recipient to correct common errors without asking the sender to resend the affected message. This error correction technique is commonly used when transmitting data over unreliable communication channels where data errors are expected to occur.

When using FEC, the sender encodes redundant data so the receiver can still make sense of the message despite the noise. The sender does not have to retransmit the message.

FEC is similar to ordering furniture online. The store would include extra bolts, screws, and nuts so you can assemble the piece even when a bolt is accidentally lost during shipment. You do not need to wait for a replacement because there are extra bolts in the package.

The Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) is a data signal transmission method where data signals rapidly “hop” between frequencies to avoid interference and interception. The changes in frequency are determined by an algorithm only the transmitter and receiver know, making the pattern difficult to discern and the data signals resistant to eavesdropping.

The military uses FHSS in some of its radios. It is also used in consumer products, such as radio-controlled model drones and cars.

Headphone virtualization is a sound-processing technique where a user gets a surround sound experience despite utilizing standard stereo headphones by embedding a digital signal processing (DSP)-based chip or sound card on his/her computer. The user then enables the surround sound capability through the computer’s operating system (OS) or sound card firmware or driver.

In headphone virtualization, therefore, standard stereo headphones are made surround sound-capable without physically changing it. The feature addition is done on the system it’s connected to instead.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a framework for delivering IP multimedia services. It integrates different communication technologies seamlessly, forming the backbone of high-speed multimedia communication in today’s interconnected digital world.

Think of IMS as a toolbox containing different communication methods—text messages, voice chats, and video calls. IMS organizes these communication types so they can work together, regardless of device used—a phone, computer, or smart TV.

IP PBX, short for “Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange,” is a telephony system that uses IP technology to manage and route calls within an organization or a company. It enables using IP networks instead of traditional analog or digital phone lines for voice communication.

An IP PBX system consists of a server, IP phones or softphones, and a network switch. The server manages call routing, queuing, voicemail, conferencing, and other telephony features. Employees use IP phones or softphones to make and receive calls. The network switch connects the IP phones to the server.

IP PBX is a cost-effective solution for businesses, as it eliminates the need for traditional phone lines and reduces long-distance and international call charges. It also provides advanced features like voicemail-to-email, call recording, call reporting, and integration with other business applications.

The leaky bucket algorithm is an algorithm that works on the premise that even a bucket with a hole will overflow if the amount of water poured into it is greater than that leaked out. It is used to determine how to control a sequence of events to match the container’s limit without overflowing. In simple terms, it regulates the traffic that goes to a system for processing. 

That seems complicated. Think of it this way instead. You have a plant that should be watered at a specific rate; otherwise, it will die. You drill a hole in a bucket to control the amount of water it gets. You then put the bucket with a hole over it and fill it with water. So long as the bucket with a hole doesn’t spill water onto your plant when it overflows, the plant will never get more water than it needs and end up dying.

A network bottleneck is a condition wherein data flows experience delays due to limitations in computer resources. It typically occurs when a system’s bandwidth is not enough to support the volume of data relayed at the speed at which it should be received.

Imagine a highway with four lanes that merge into one eventually. As more vehicles approach the merged road, the traffic flow slows down because its size can’t accommodate the volume of cars passing through it.

An NFC tag is a smart tag that lets users pay for goods or services by simply tapping a nearfield communication (NFC)-capable device to it.

NFC doesn’t differ much from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in that it is a wireless radio technology communication standard. It is based on radio frequency identification (RFID), which sellers typically use for inventory monitoring and companies to manage the comings and goings of employees.

NVOD, short for “near video-on-demand,” is a means of delivering videos that lets viewers choose from restricted or subscription-based broadcast video channels. Pay-per-view service providers use NVOD channels to allow subscribers to watch videos following a designated schedule. They typically broadcast videos at staggered intervals (e.g., 20 minutes) on specific channels to let viewers choose the most suitable start time.

You can thus compare NVOD to the way movies are scheduled for showing in theaters. You can choose the start time that works best for you because each film is offered in several theaters at different slots.

An optical carrier is the standard unit used to measure the transmission bandwidth rate for the data carried by Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) fiber-optic networks. Simply put, it’s a fiber-optic network speed abbreviated as “OCx,” where “x” represents a multiplier with a base rate of 51.85Mbps. So, an OC-3 fiber-optic network has a transmission rate of 155.52Mbps. That said, the higher the fiber-optic network rating, the faster it transmits data.

PBX network stands for “Private Branch Exchange network,” an internal telephone system that allows users within an organization to have their own phone lines. However, these phone lines are connected to the PBX network, not directly to a phone company’s network. In contrast to home phones that telecommunications companies manage, an enterprise operates a PBX network.

In the past, calling a company that uses a PBX network would direct you to an operator who then connects you to the department or person you’re calling. These days, a PBX network can be attached to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, such as that you encounter when calling customer service hotlines, to automate call routing.

Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) uses the Internet Protocol (IP) standard in transmitting radio communications. In the past, radio users communicated through microwave equipment or leased telephone lines. But with the widespread adoption of IP technology, it made sense for radio communications to ride the tide, too.

Radio over Internet Protocol systems is helpful for users who are spread over a large geographical area. Instead of telephone calls that rely on network providers, some organizations opt to use RoIP. For example, the U.S. military convoys deployed in broad geographical areas use the technology to communicate and protect one another.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol between mobile carriers and phone companies that aim to replace traditional text messaging services. It allows users to send and receive pictures and videos, create group chats, and see if the other person is typing or has seen their message.

You may already know these features since we enjoy them in WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and other communication platforms. However, RCS will make them available on Android and other phones without needing a separate application.

Telemetry refers to the process of collecting, transmitting, and analyzing data from remote or inaccessible sources, such as sensors, instruments, or vehicles. It uses wireless communication technologies to enable real-time monitoring and control of various parameters, such as temperature, pressure, or location.

Telemetry is critical for informed decision-making and optimizing system performance across various applications. For example, it plays a crucial role in space missions. It monitors and transmits data from the spacecraft and satellites to ground stations on Earth. It helps scientists and engineers keep track of the spacecraft's health, position, speed, and other critical data.

VoIP, short for “voice over Internet Protocol,” is a technology that lets users place phone calls over an Internet connection. It came alive with the rise of broadband to become the top way individuals and companies communicate over the phone.

VoIP calling doesn’t differ much from using the analog phones of yesteryears to talk to people across long distances. The only difference is the lines that connect one phone to another, giving VoIP phones more features than standard ones.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security protocol. It is part of the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) 802.11b standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE, of course, is the largest professional association of electronic and electrical engineers headquartered in New York City. It operates primarily from New Jersey. Wi-Fi 802.11b, meanwhile, provides a wireless local area network (WLAN) a certain level of security and privacy that is comparable to that of a wired LAN.

WEP encrypts data transmitted over a WLAN. Its data encryption feature protects vulnerable wireless links between devices and access points. It makes LAN security mechanisms like password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private network (VPN) use, and authentication possible on WLANs to ensure privacy.