ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line)

ADSL technology uses the existing copper telephone wires, from the telephone company's central office to the customer's premises, in order to send high speed communications. ADSL theoretically allows data transmission speeds of up to 8 Mb/s downstream and 640 Kb/s upstream.

 

Average revenue per user.

 

The part of the communications network that carries the heaviest traffic or primary path of a high-capacity network that collects and sends on traffic to lower capacity peripheral loop networks.

 

A transmission method that makes use of wide spectrum frequencies over a single support medium – usually fibre optics, although wireless and metal cable may also be used. Broadband transmission technology allows very high information flow rates.

 

A telecommunications company that provides communications circuits for carrying and distributing voice and data.

 

Indicates the direction of transmission flow from the network to the customer.

 

A point of interface between a number of subscribers' premises and the carrier network providing services on xDSL technology.

 

DWDM (Dense Wave Length Division Multiplexing)

DWDM is the latest generation technology allowing data compression and transmission over fiber-optic cable networks.

 

The technology on which Local Area Networks (LAN) is based.

 

The IP technology-based, private corporate network linking the various branches of a company in different geographical locations.

 

FTTB (Fiber to the Building)

FTTB is the fiber-optic technology linking customers in a given building to the network.

 

FTTH (Fiber to the Home)

FTTH is the fiber-optic technology linking residential customers to the network.

 

A gateway indicates a network node, comprising both software and hardware, that translates information allowing transmission between networks that use different protocols.

 

A company's internal communications network based on Internet technologies (TCP/IP protocols).

 

IP (Internet Protocol)

A universal communications protocol enabling packets of data to be routed over the Internet.

 

IRU (Indefeasible Right of Use)

A term used in the undersea cable and fiber optic carrier business meaning the unchallengeable right to use a cable, fibre or wavelength.

 

A local loop is a telephone line going from the switching center of the former monopoly operator to the end-user.

 

The process that allows various telecom companies to have separate access to the Local Loop.

 

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

The fiber-optic network covering a metropolitan area.

 

Mb/s (Megabits per second)

A unit of measurement of the speed of information transmission.

 

PoP (Point of Presence)

A physical site containing both hardware and software forming a network access node.

 

In data communications, a functional unit used to route traffic through the network according to special routing tables carried on the headers of data packets.

 

SDH  (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy)

The standard that enables high speed data transmission over a fiber-optic cable.

 

SGU (Stadio di Gruppo Urbano)

The name of the urban telephone traffic switching center of the Italian incumbent, Telecom Italia.

 

SoHo (Small Office Home Office)

A group of customers with professional practices or small businesses (2-3 employees).

 

STB (Set Top Box)

The appliance required to receive and decode digital information, usually through a television set.

 

Streaming (audio and video)

Data downloading technology enabling customer PCs real time access to audio and/or video files on the web.

 

In communications systems, a traffic node component, usually connecting different servers. In a standard telephone network, a switch is a device permitting connection with other telephone operators (i.e. switching centers).

 

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A virtually private communications network on a shared network offering the appearance and functionality of a dedicated private network at lower costs.

 

The software and hardware used for hosting and managing sites and information on the Web.

 

The activity whereby customer websites are hosted, maintained and managed.

 

Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi)

Wireless broadband data transmission technology that operates according to the IEEE802x Protocol.

 

Xdsl (x Digital Subscriber Line)