Glossary
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - traditional network technology used to carry and integrate voice, video and data traffic over either optic fibre or copper wires between corporate sites.
Backbone - a larger transmission line that carries data gathered from smaller lines that interconnect with it. A backbone is usually the longest part of a network and, as most of the traffic travels along the backbone, it employs the highest speed transmission paths in the network.
Bandwidth - generally refers to how much information can be carried in a given time period (usually a second) over a wired or wireless communications link.
Bit - the smallest unit of digital information utilised by electronic or optical information processing, storage, or transmission systems. Bit is short for binary digit.
Bit rate - the number of bits that are transmitted in a period of time, usually a second.
Broadband - refers to the ability of a single access line (or wireless or satellite), connected to a telecommunications network, to provide support for fast, always-on access to digital content, applications and a range of services, some or all of which can occur simultaneously.
Dark Fibre - fibre optic cable, dedicated to a single customer and where the customer is responsible for attaching the telecommunications equipment and lasers to "light" the fibre. This equipment is normally installed by the carrier and forms part of the carrier's infrastructure.
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) - the transmission of many signals through a single optical fibre using different wavelengths, each of which carries a separate, independent signal.
Disaster Recovery - the procedures in place to enable a company to restore its systems and retrieve its data in the case of a disaster such as a virus in its computer systems or a fire. Disaster recovery procedures will include maintaining backups of information at an offsite location.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) - a technology used in the home or office that significantly increases the digital capacity of ordinary copper telephone lines.
Ethernet - the most commonly used access methods for local area networks (LAN), Ethernet extends the reach of LANs between buildings across the country. Data can be transmitted between at speeds of 10 Mbps up to 1 Gbps. Also see Gigabit Ethernet.
Fibre Optic - a technology that uses glass (or plastic) fibres to transmit data. A fibre optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves. Fibre optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry more data.
Firewall - a security program that protects an organisation's computer systems from external users gaining unauthorised access (hacking) to data.
Gigabit Ethernet - a transmission technology based on Ethernet, which transmits data at a rate of up to one gigabit per second.
Gigabit per second (Gbps) - information is transmitted across a fibre at one billion bits per second. A gigabit is 1,000 times faster than a megabit.
Internet - the Internet is a system of computer networks which enables users in anywhere in the world to gain access to information on any subject by accessing websites created anywhere in the world.
Local Area Network (LAN) - a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building).
Megabit per second (Mbps) - the speed by which information is transmitted across a fibre. A megabit is one million bits per second.
Point of Presence (POP) - an access point where a network can be connected to the Internet.
Redundant Network - the ability of systems to continue non-stop where there is a hardware failure or a break in the network (as sometimes happens on building sites where digging results in a cut in the cable).
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) - a standard technology for highly reliable synchronous data transmission on optical or copper media. In digital data transmission, 'synchronous' means the bits transmitted into the SDH network can be traced back to a single clock or timing source.
Telecommunications Service Provider - a company that enters into an arrangement enabling it to provide access to its customers using another company's fibre network. Often telecommunication service providers will "bundle" a service provider by another company with some of its own services to enable it to offer a broader range of options to its customers. For instance, a company might enter into an agreement with Uecomm to gain access to our network to enable it to offer an Internet product to small business customers.
