Johannesburg, 21 Oct 2004
To help you decipher the ever-evolving language of technology.
ADSL - Asymmetric digital subscriber line. A technology that allows more data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines.
Bandwidth - A range within a band of frequencies or wavelengths.
B-ISDN - Broadband integrated services digital network. An evolving CCITT international standard for the second generation of integrated services digital networks. Broadband ISDN services will be carried on fiber-optic networks that employ packet switching in a standardised fashion to integrate voice, data, monochrome, and color facsimile images and one-way and two-way monochrome and colour video for local and long distance transmission.
Broadband - A type of data transmission in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. Cable TV, for example, uses broadband transmission. In contrast, baseband transmission allows only one signal at a time.
CAM - cost allocation manual that takes into account all costs that telecoms companies incur to deliver services to ensure fair pricing.
CCITT - Consultative Committee on International Telegraph and Telephone. The principle international standards-writing body for digital telecom networks (ISDN).
COA - chart of accounts.
Convergence - refers to the trend whereby voice, data, and media, including movies, are increasingly carried by the same digital technologies Convergence Bill - partly that Icasa could retain a percentage of the billion rands in licence fees that it collects every year to fund its expanding activities.
Erlang - a measurement of telephone traffic. One erlang equals one full hour of use.
Ethernet - a local area network used for connecting computers, printers, workstations etc
Exchange - refers to a telephone switching centre
Extension - an additional telephone connected to a line
Fibre optic - Fibre optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry more data. Fiber optic cables are less susceptible than metal cables to interference. Fiber optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires. Data can be transmitted digitally (the natural form for computer data) rather than analogically.
Fixed line - Hardware circuit connecting two devices.
GSM - Short for Global System for Mobile Communications, one of the leading digital cellular systems.
Icasa - Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Its vision is to be a strong, service-oriented and responsive communications regulator in South Africa and its mission is to increase access to communication services through the promotion of a competitive and socially responsive communications industry.
ICT - Information communications technology
ICT BEE Charter - The black economic empowerment charter for South Africa`s information and communications technology (ICT) sector is to come into effect in March 2005. The final draft, which takes into account extensive input from the country`s ICT community, includes the much-anticipated targets for black economic empowerment (BEE) in the sector. The third draft proposed that at least 25% of a company`s equity be in black hands by 2009.
IP telephony - Enables voice, data and video to be routed via a single cable over a LAN, WAN or Internet
ISDN - (Integrated Services Digital Network) An international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines or normal telephone wires. ISDN supports data transfer
ISO - The International Standards Organisation, the body responsible for setting world technical standards. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. ISP - Internet service provider
ITU - International Telecommunications Union. It estimates by 2010 that global telecommunications industry will no longer distinguish between voice and data networks as Internet Protocol is growing in use.
IVR - Interactive Voice Response. A generic term for transaction systems allowing phone callers to use an ordinary telephone to interact with a computer through speech or dialed instructions. Each response by the caller triggers another recorded message until the transaction is completed.
LCR - Least cost router. Diverts calls to the cheapest package.
On hook - When the phone is resting on its cradle
Packet Switching - Refers to protocols in which messages are divided into packets before they are sent. Each packet is then transmitted individually and can even follow different routes to its destination. Once all the packets forming a message arrive at the destination, they are recompiled into the original message.
Packet - A group of binary digits switched as a whole - for instance, a file transfer over a packet switched network would require many steps. These steps are: 1) the data file would be broken down into smaller `packets` of information 2) each packet of information is assigned a code that enables it to be sent to the correct location and, once at that location, for the network to reassemble the packets of information into their original form.
Packet Switched Network - A digital data transmission network that uses packet switching technology.
POTS Lines - Plain Old Telephone Service Lines.
Protocol - A format or set of rules and conventions that control the format and relative timing of message transmission between two points on a computer network.
PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network. This is the regular phone lines that just about everybody uses.
Public Switched Network - A switching system that provides switching and transmission facilities to many customers.
SAT 3 cable - The Telkom underwater cable linking South Africa to the UK SNO - Second network operator. Currently, domestic shareholdings in have been assigned to Nexus Connexion, Transtel and Esi-Tel: Nexus Connexion is a holding company that represents BEE investors; Transtel is the telecom arm of Transnet, the state-owned railways, ports and airline company; and ESI-Tel is the telecom arm of Eskom, the state-owned electricity utility. An international strategic equity partner is being sought.
Switched Line - A circuit which is routed through a circuit switched network.
Switching - Connecting the caller to the called party.
TCP/IP - (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Programme)
Telecommunications - Process of converting sounds and data into electrical impulses that can be transmitted.
Trunk - The line of communication between switching systems.
VANS - Value added network services.
VOIP - Voice over internet provider. Allows you to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol
VPN - Virtual private network. A network that is dedicated to your organisation but may be part of a bigger network or someone else`s network. Can be used for voice, data, video or a combination thereof.
WAP - The Wireless Application Protocol is a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators.
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