3G

the generic term, 3G, is used to denote the next generation of mobile systems designed to support high-speed data transmission (144 Kbps and higher) and Internet Protocol (IP)-based services in fixed, portable and mobile environments. As envisaged by the ITU, the 3G system will integrate different service coverage zones and be a global platform and the necessary infrastructure for the distribution of converged service, whether mobile or fixed, voice or data, telecommunications, content or computing. 3G networks trials started in Japan in 2001. 3G networks became operational in Europe and part of Asia/Pacific in 2002, and later in the US and South Africa. 3G supports bandwidth-hungry applications such as full-motion video, video-conferencing and full Internet access;

4G

International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (TMT Advanced), better known as 4G, 4th Generation or Beyond 3G, is the next technological strategy in the field of wireless communications. A 4G system will provide a comprehensive and secure IP based solution where facilities such as voice, data and streamed multimedia will be provided to users on an "Anytime, Anywhere" basis and at much higher data rates compared to previous generations.

ADSL

Is a broadband access standard which uses existing copper lines to offer high speed digital connections over the local loop. ADSL transmits data asymmetrically, meaning that the bandwidth usage is much higher in one direction than the other. ADSL provides greater bandwidth from the exchange to the customer (i.e. downloading) than from the customer to the exchange (i.e. sending).

ARPU

Is calculated by dividing the average monthly revenue (recurring mobile) by the average monthly total reported customer base during the period. ARPU excludes revenues from equipment sales and other sales and services.

ATM

Is a high-speed Wide Area Network (WAN), connection-oriented, packet switching data communications protocol that allows voice, data and video to be delivered across existing local and Wide Area Networks. ATM divides data into cells and can handle data traffic in bursts. It is asynchronous, in that the stream of cells from one particular user is not necessarily continuous.

Bandwith

Is a measure of the quantity of signals that can travel over a transmission medium such as copper or a glass fibre strand. It is the space available to carry a signal. The greater the bandwidth, the greater the information carrying capacity. Bandwidth is measured in bits per second.

Broadband

Is a method of measuring the capacity of different types of transmission. Digital bandwidth is measured in the rate of bits transmitted per second (bps). For example, an individual ISDN channel has a bandwidth of 64 kilobits per second (Kbps), meaning that it transmits 64 000 bits (digital signals) every second.

The Motorola (MU BPL) "Multi Unit Broadband over Power Lines" is the latest technological solution, which enables us to quickly, economically and easily bring high-speed broadband access to all business and residential customers in multi-unit buildings, high-rise offices, complexes, flats, hostels, hotels, lodges, townships, cities and municipalities, by transforming an existing electrical supply system/grid into a powerful broadband communications network(s). Each and every electrical outlet serviced by this connection, effectively becomes an access point for our services. MU BPL - enables us to create and transform these revenue streams by reaching customers that could not be quickly, easily, economically and profitably, reached before.

Fibre optics

Is where messages or signals are sent via light rather than electrical signals down a very thin strand of glass. Light transmission enables much higher data rates than conventional wire, coaxial cable and many forms of radio. Signals travel at the speed of light and do not generate nor are subject to interference.

Fibre rings

Have come to be used in many fibre networks as they provide more network resiliency: if there is a failure along a route and a ring is broken, the direction of the traffic can be reversed and the traffic will still reach its final destination.

FWA

Fixed Wireless Access, which is an emerging terrestrial system for radio access in the 4GHz and 25GHz bands. It is the use of wireless technology to replace copper to connect subscribers to the telephone network and Internet; GSM Global System for Mobile Communication. A European digital standard for mobile or cellular telephony;

GPRS

(General Packet is a packet data rather than a circuit-based data technology. GPRS allows for Radio Service) faster data transmission speed to both GSM networks. GPRS is a packet-switched technology that overlays the circuit-switched GSM network.

GSM

(Global System for Mobile) is a second generation digital mobile cellular technology using a combination of frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA). GSM operates in several frequency bands: 900 MHz and 1800 MHz On the TDMA side, there are eight timeslots or channels carrying calls, which operate on the same frequency. GSM provides a high degree of security by using customer identity module (SIM) cards and GSM encryption.

HSDPA

High Speed Downlink Packet Access.

HSPA

High Speed Packet Access. High-Speed

HSUPA

Uplink Packet Access. Internet

IP

Internet protocol.

ISDN

(Integrated Services is a data communications standard used to transmit digital signals over Digital Network) ordinary copper telephone cables. This is one technology for improving the last mile of copper cables from the local exchange to the customer's premises, which has proved a bottleneck for Internet access, for example. ISDN allows carrying voice and data simultaneously, in each of at least two channels capable of carrying 64 Kbps. It provides up to 128 Kbps and a total capacity of 144 Kbps exists.

IT

Information Technology;

LAN

(Local Area Network) is a group of devices that communicate with each other within a limited geographic area, such as an office.

Local loop

Is the final connection between the exchange and the home or office. It is also known as the last mile

Mbps

Megabits per second.

Mesh networking

Is a way to route data, voice and instructions between nodes. It allows for continuous connections and reconfiguration around broken or blocked paths by "hopping" fromnode to node until the destination is reached. A mesh network whose nodes are all connected to each other is a fully connected network. Mesh networks differ from other networks in that the component parts can all connect to each other via multiple hops, and they generally are not mobile. Mesh networks can be seen as one type of ad hoc network. Mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) and mesh networks are therefore closely related, but MANET also have to deal with the problems introduced by the mobility of the nodes.
Mesh networks are self-healing: the network can still operate even when a node breaks down or a connection goes bad. As a result, this network is very reliable. This concept is applicable to wireless networks, wired networks, and software interaction. The animation at the right illustrates how wireless mesh networks can self form and self heal. For more animations see History of Wireless Mesh Networking.
Wireless mesh networks are the most topical application of mesh architectures. Wireless mesh was originally developed for military applications but has undergone significant evolution in the past decade. As the cost of radios plummeted, single radio products evolved to support more radios per mesh node with the additional radios providing specific functions- such as client access, backhaul service or scanning radios for high speed handover in mobility applications.

MNO

Mobile network operator.

Nodes

If the network in question is a distributed system, the nodes are clients, servers or peers. In a peer-to-peer or overlay network, nodes that actively route data for the other networked devices as well as themselves are called super nodes.

PC

Personal Computer;

RF

Radio Frequency;

SABS

South African Bureau of Standards;

SIM

Customer identity module.

Switch

Is a computer that acts as a conduit and director of traffic. It is a means of sharing resources on a network.

Telco

A telephone company (or provides telecommunications services such as telephony and data communications. Most of the largest Telco's, whatever their origins are or were at one time nationalized or state-regulated monopolies. Telco's are also known as common carriers and in the United States as local exchange carriers. With the advent of cellular telephony, Telco's now include wireless carriers, or network operators.

VANS

Value Added Network Service

VAT

Value-added Tax. Tax as defined in the Value-Added Tax Act (Act 89 of 1991), as amended;

VoIP

(Voice over Internet Protocol) is a protocol enabling voice calls to be made over the Internet. Rather than a dedicated circuit being set up between the caller and receiver, as with ordinary phone calls, the voice conversation is digitized and transmitted over Internet Protocol using packet-switched data networks.

VPN

A virtual private network is a computer network in which some or all of the links between nodes are carried by virtual circuits instead of physical wires.

VSAT

A very small aperture terminal, an earthbound station used in satellite communications
of data, voice and video signals, excluding broadcast television. A VSAT consist of two parts, a transceiver that is placed outdoors in direct line of sight to the satellite and a device that is placed indoors to interface the transceiver with the end user's communications device, such as a PC;

Wi-Fi

an abbreviation of 'wireless fidelity', which is a term describing certain types of
wireless local area networks (WLAN) that use specifications conforming to IEEE 802.lib. Wi-Fi has gained acceptance in many environments as an alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels, and other services offer public access to Wi-Fi networks to enable people to log onto the Internet and receive emails on the move. These locations are known as hotspots; and WLL Wireless Local Loop;

Wimax

Is a standard for extending broadband wireless access to new locations and over longer
distances. The technology is expected to enable multimedia applications with wireless connectivity. It is a standard for fixed wireless access with substantially higher bandwidth capabilities than cellular networks. The emergence of further enhancements to the standard will enable nomadic data communications across an entire metropolitan area network linking homes and businesses to the core telecommunications network.