Glossary

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
is designed to deliver more bandwidth downstream (from the PoP to the customer site) than upstream. Downstream rates are up to 8Mbps, while upstream rates are up to 1Mbps, depending on line length and line condition. ADSL transmissions work at distances of up to 5km over a single copper twisted pair.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode
An International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardisation Sector (ITU-T) standard for cell relay wherein information for multiple service types, such as voice, video or data, is conveyed in small, fixed size (53-byte) cells. ATM is connection orientated.

Bandwidth
The capacity and speed of information a communications channel can carry, or a range of frequencies a broadcast signal occupies.

Byte
A fixed number of bits, usually eight.

Backbone
A network that interconnects other networks, employing high-speed transmission paths and often spanning a large geographic area.

Bps bits Per Second
A standard for measuring the rate of information transfer. 5 Bps - 5 bits per second 5 Kbps - 5 kilobits per second (5,000 Bps) 5 Mbps - 5 megabits per second (5,000,000 Bps) 5 Gbps - 5 gigabits per second (5,000,000,000 Bps) 5 Tbps - 5 terabits per second (5,000,000,000,000 Bps)

CHAP - Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol
Is an authentication protocol used for remote logon, usually between a client and server or web browser and web server.

CPE - Customer Premises Equipment
the device that terminates the DSL line at the customer end.

DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
Enables individual devices on an IP network to request IP configurations from a DHCP server or device. The overall purpose is to reduce the work necessary to administer a large IP network.

Dark Fibre
Dark fibre is optical fibre infrastructure that is currently in place but is not being used. Optical fibre conveys information in the form of light pulses so the 'dark' means no light pulses are being sent. Dark fibre can refer to infrastructure that is in place but not yet ready to use.

Data Transmission
The transmission of data, such as between computers, over a telecommunications network.

DNS - Domain Name Servers
A TCP/IP service that enables you to specify a symbolic name instead of an IP address. A symbolic name consists of a user name and a domain name in the format user name@domain name. The user name corresponds to the host number in the IP address. The domain name corresponds to the network number in the IP address. A symbolic name might be steve@crocker.com or joanne@cal.edu. The domain identifier is the last part of the domain name, and identifies the type of organization to which the host belongs.

Dark Fibre
Dark fibre is optical fibre infrastructure that is currently in place but is not being used. Optical fibre conveys information in the form of light pulses so the 'dark' means no light pulses are being sent. Dark fibre can refer to infrastructure that is in place but not yet ready to use.

DSL - Digital Subscriber Line
DSL is an acronym for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL refers to the technology implemented between a customer's premise and a telephone company's exchange over conventional copper wires. DSL provides much higher speeds over existing copper lines

DSLAM - Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
The device that takes the signal from the copper phone lines and aggregates it across a WAN medium.

Ethernet
The most common Local Area Network protocol in use. Ethernet was originally a definition for a layer 2 link protocol, but is also often used as a term to describe the physical equipment

Filters
A filter is a device that selectively sorts signals and passes through a desired range of signals while suppressing the others. This kind of filter is used to suppress noise or to separate signals into bandwidth channels.

FNN - Full National Number
A number assigned to a copper pair by Telstra to uniquely identify the pair

Firewall
A set of programs designed to prevent unauthorised users access to or from a private network.

Frame Relay
A high-speed transmission method, switching packets of data through its network to their destination.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol
Is an Internet file transfer service that operates on the Internet and over TCP/IP networks

Gateway
A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network. On the internet, a node or stopping point can be either a gateway node or a host (end-point) node. Both the computers of internet users and the computers that serve pages to users are host nodes. The computers that control traffic within your company's network or at your local ISP are gateway nodes. In the network for an enterprise, a computer server acting as a gateway node is often also acting as a proxy server and a firewall server. A gateway is often associated with both a router, which knows where to direct a given packet of data that arrives at the gateway, and a switch, which furnishes the actual path in and out of the gateway for a given packet.

IP - Internet Protocol
Specifies the format of packets, also called datagrams, and the addressing scheme. Most networks combine IP with a higher-level protocol called Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which establishes a virtual connection between a destination and a source.  Although IP is referred to as Internet Protocol, the data that is transmitted over IP networks does not necessarily transit the internet because the same protocol is used to transit NGNs.

Also on this site, please do not confuse the acronym IP with IP as it refers to our holding company the IP Group Pty. Ltd. as IP in this instance stands for IntraPower or IP as a reference to our Intellectual Property (IP) Visiibility.X

ISP - Internet Partner
A company that provides Internet access to other companies & Individuals

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network
Is an all-digital telephone system which extends the telephone company’s digital network into the local loop all the way to the subscriber. ISDN is based on 64-kbit/sec channels

IULL - In Use Unconditioned Local Loop
A ULL which is being used by Telstra or another Carriage Partner for the provision of telecommunication services to the end user.

Jitter
Noise on a communications line that is based on phase hits, causing potential phase distortions and bit errors.

Kbps – Kilobits Per Second
A standard for measuring the rate of information transfer. 5 Bps - 5 bits per second 5 Kbps - 5 kilobits per second (5,000 Bps) 5 Mbps - 5 megabits per second (5,000,000 Bps) 5 Gbps - 5 gigabits per second (5,000,000,000 Bps) 5 Tbps - 5 terabits per second (5,000,000,000,000 Bps)

LATA - Local Access and Transport Area
In the US this refers to an area covered by one or more telephone companies.

Layer
A protocol that interacts with other protocols as part of an overall transmission system.

L2TP - Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol
a method of delivering PPP (point-to-point protocol) sessions across an IP -based link Partner Information Kit Page 8/81

LAN - Local Area Network
is a shared communication system confined to a geographically small area. Generally a LAN is defined by the use of higher speed media

Leased Line
Leased Line services are services in which a carrier leases to a customer some of its transmission capacity along a particular route in the carrier's network.

Local Exchange
The exchange to which a customer is directly connected, usually the closest exchange to the customer.

LAN Switch
A network device that cross connects stations or LAN segments. LAN switches are available for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI. A LAN switch is also known as a frame switch. Network switches are increasingly replacing shared media hubs in order to increase bandwidth.

Local Loop
Wireline telephone connection from a telephone company's central office to home or business locations.

Line Sharing
Line Sharing allows the use of the non-voice frequency of an existing phone line for provision of ADSL, allowing both voice and ADSL to be provided over the same copper pair. Line Sharing is used on all Extended Network services and selected On-net services.

MPLS - Multi Protocol Label Switching
The new technology, Multi-protocol Label Switching, adds extra addressing information, known as a 'header' to the IP packets that travel across the core of global IP network.

MDF - Main Distribution Frame
rack provided by a Telecommunications Partner i.e. Telstra This is where cables to a building are run so that they can be distributed throughout the building.

Multiplexing
A technique enabling transmission of multiple signals or voice channels simultaneously along a single transmission medium. Cable systems use frequency division multiplexing in which many signals at different frequencies are combined in one signal path.

Network
A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together. Networks can be broadly classified as using either peer-to-peer or client/server architecture. Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers. There are many types of computer networks including; Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs).

NODE
A network junction such as a switch or a routing centre.

NAT - Network Address Translation
is a method of translating multiple host IP addresses or services through a single IP address. Most commonly used to connect a network of devices to the Internet with a single public IP address.

NIC - Network Interface Card
A network interface card provides a full time connection to a network and is installed in a computer in the form of a computer circuit board or card.

NGN - Next Generation Network
Unlike a VPN an NGN is a private IP network which does not transit the internet.  All traffic is routed point to point from the source location to the destination location by the fastest possible route (not necessarily the shortest).  An NGN uses Multi Protocol Label Switching technology (MPLS). This allows the engineering of traffic and the methods of how data is transmitted to provide quality of service (QOS) and low latency meaning the time that it takes for data to be transmitted from source to destination. Latency is measured in milliseconds.  IntraPower guarantees a latency of maximum 150ms on its NGN

Off-Net
Utilises parts of Telstra’s DSL network to provide Services. Off- Net use existing telephone lines to enable connectivity. These services implement a splitter at the customer premises to ensure the telephony and data services remain separate

On-Net
On-Net Network that is wholly operated, maintained and managed by IntraPower in order to provide IntraPower Services. On-Net services make use of Unconditioned Local Loop as well as Line Sharing on selected On-Net exchanges

On Ramp
In 1997 Telstra launched a new ISDN network based on the popular European ETSI standards. This network provides the new range of OnRamp® services. The move to the ETSI standards will help Telstra reduce charges, increase the availability of ISDN throughout Australia and makes Telstra's ISDN network compatible with the latest advances in ISDN hardware. Telstra's older ISDN network supports the Macrolink and Microlink services. These services will be phased out by the end of year 2001. OnRamp services come in two sizes: basic rate, with 2 digital lines, and primary rate, with 10, 20 or 30 digital lines. Telstra's basic rate OnRamp services offer to smaller businesses and individual users in an economical way the benefits of ISDN desktop PC solutions, small phone systems, LAN interconnections, remote access to networks and video conferencing.

PAT - Port Address Translation
Creates a mapping through the CPE so that incoming traffic arriving on a particular port/protocol is always delivered to a specified device on the end customer’s network.

POA - Point of Aggregation
a point in the network where the traffic from DSLAMs is aggregated

POI - Point of Interconnect
Point where the ULL copper wires terminate within a Telstra exchange.

PVC - Permanent Virtual Circuit
Provides the ATM path between the CPE and the Termination Equipment. In the network the PVC will traverse the DSLAM and at least one ATM switch. Note that there may be more than one PVC to allow carriage of more than one service

PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network
Also known as Packet Switched Network. International telephone network of copper wires, originally designed to carry analogue voice data.

Packet
A packet is the unit of data that is routed between an origin and a destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network. When any file is sent from one place to another it is divided into 'Packets' of an efficient size for routing. Each of these packets is separately numbered and includes the address of the destination. When they have all arrived, they are reassembled into the original file.

PoP - Point of Presence
A site where there exists a collection of communications equipment, usually within the end-user's local exchange area. Normally includes a DSLAM

POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
Is the analogue telephone service that runs over twisted-pair wires and is based on the original Bell telephone system

PPPoA - Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM
enables a high-capacity central site router with an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) interface to terminate multiple remote Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connections

PABX - Private Automatic Branch Exchange
Automated version of a private branch exchange which automates a telephone switching system within an enterprise and allows users to share a number of outside lines for making external calls.

PPPoE - Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet
PPPoE relies on two other standards: PPP and Ethernet. This is the type of connection used by Bigpond ADSL.

PoP3 - Post Office Protocol 3
Used to receive e-mail from a remote server.

PRI - Primary Rate Interface
A set of international standards for telephone transmission. ISDN provides an end-to-end digital network, out-of-band signaling, and greater bandwidth than older telephone services. The two standard levels of ISDN are Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

QoS - Quality of Service
An indicator of the performance of a transmission system on the Internet and other networks. QoS is measured in transmission rate, error rates, latency, and other characteristics, and can to some extent be guaranteed to a customer in advance. Asynchronous Transfer Mode technology supports QoS levels as do Lucent's new PacketStar® IP Switch.

RADIUS - Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service
An authorisation system used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which requires users to enter a username and password, subsequently passed on to a server for authentication.

RIM - Remote Integrated Multiplexer
A device that Telstra uses to provision telephone service in areas where there is no existing copper, or the existing copper in the ground cannot support the demand for services in the area.

Router
A router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and decides which way to send each information packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to. A router is located at any gateway (where one network meets another), including each internet point-of-presence (POP).

SHSDSL - Symmetric High Speed Digital Subscriber Line
supports symmetric data rates of up to 2.320Mbps across greater distances than other technologies, particularly HDSL, HDSL2 and SDSL

SLA - Service Level Agreement
An agreement between a supplier and a customer that sets expectation on a range of quality and performance variables in the supply, operation and maintenance of a service

Soft Switches
Soft switches (or software switches) is a generic term for software used to bridge the gap between the PSTN, PBXs and IP Telephony.

Sub Net - Sub Network
Found in larger networks, these smaller networks are used to simplify addressing between numerous computers. Subnets connect to the central network through a router, hub or gateway. Each individual wireless LAN will probably use the same subnet for all the local computers it talks to.

Switching
Uses a network device called a switch to filter data between LAN segments and forward it to its next destination.

SNMP
Is an application-layer protocol that facilitates the exchange of management information between network devices. It is part of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite.

Switch
Performs the switching function necessary to establish a connection between two telephones.

Switches
A switch is a network device that selects a path or circuit for sending a unit of data to its next destination. A switch may also include the function of the router, a device or program that can determine the route and specifically what adjacent network point the data should be sent to. In general, a switch is a simpler and faster mechanism than a router, which requires knowledge about the network and how to determine the route.

Switching System
A system which allows the temporary connection of the telephone of the calling party with the telephone of any other party selected by the calling party.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
refers to only 2 of the protocols in the Internet Protocol suite. TCP/IP is often misused to refer to the whole of the IP protocol suite.

TCP - Transmission Control Protocol
A communication method used in conjunction with IP to send data between computers over the Internet. While IP handles the delivery, TCP tracks the units of data called packets, which are divided for efficient routing through the Internet.

TMS - Telecommunications Managed Services
IntraPower is not a Telecommunications company or a Carrier. We utilise the spare capacity of all Carriers to carry data over our own network.  We do however manage all services and product delivery on the network using our in house developed management system Visibility.X which we also make available to Virtual Telecommunications Providers who can also then provide TMS to their customers.

ULL - Unconditional Local Loop
unconditioned communication wire between the boundary of the telecommunications network at an end user's premises and the ULL Point of Interconnection (i.e. Telstra exchange).

UBR - Unspecified Bit Rate
Description of an ATM PVC with the lowest quality of service level available

UDP
Is a communications protocol used with IP, and is an alternative to TCP. UDP is acknowledgement oriented.

VPN - Virtual Private Network
an IP-based network that provides connectivity between two or more sites enabling enterprises to share information and applications privately. A VPN is established by creating a "tunnel" through the Internet on which private data (traffic) is carried. This requires, however, a high level of data encryption and firewalls to prevent hackers from interfering with the private data transit. VPNs can be very slow because they are subjected to a number of "hops" over the internet depending on how the traffic is routed due to congestion.

VoDSL - Voice over Digital Subscriber Line
Sending voice over a DSL line. Using compression, a large number of voice channels can be placed on DSL channels, which makes the technology very attractive. For example, up to 150 voice channels can be transmitted over a 1.5 Mbps DSL line. DSL signals at the customer side are delivered into an integrated access device (IAD), which forwards them over twisted pair to the carrier. The signals go to the carrier's DSLAM and then to an access switch that forwards voice to a voice gateway and then the PSTN and data to the appropriate data network.

VULL - Vacant Unconditioned Local Loop
A ULL which is not being used by Telstra or another Carriage Partner for the provision of telecommunication services to the end user.

VBR - Variable Bit Rate
Description of ATM PVCs, generally given a high precedence of transmission through the network

VRF - Virtual Router Framework

Voice Mail
This enables a caller to leave a recorded message when the called party's telephone is engaged or does not answer.

VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol
A facility which enables the sending of real-time voice data in digital form, over the internet or other networks.

WAN - Wide Area Network
Is generally an extension of an internal network into the wide area using private circuits

xDSL - Either Asymmetrical or Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line
The term xDSL used in this document refers to either ADSL or SHDSL technology.

XYXV
A line type used within On-Net (XYZed) where a vacant ULL is utilised to provision DSL service