Information and Communications Industry Terminology

API (Application Programming Interface)

A defined set of rules and formats that lets software components or services communicate and share data securely and reliably.

- Our carrier exposes a REST API for number provisioning and call detail record retrieval. - The messaging API handles two-way SMS for OTP verification. - Partners integrate via our GraphQL API to query subscriber metadata.

ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)

A key financial metric showing the average monthly or periodic revenue generated per subscriber or account.

- Postpaid ARPU rose 6% after we adjusted our pricing tiers. - Bundling broadband and TV lifted household ARPU. - We segment offers by ARPU to optimize lifetime value.

Augmented Reality (AR)

An interactive experience that overlays digital information onto the real world through devices like smartphones or smart glasses.

- 5G’s low latency enables real-time AR assistance for field technicians. - The retailer launched an AR app to preview home Wi‑Fi router placement. - AR overlays guide tower climbers during maintenance.

Backhaul

The intermediate network link connecting access nodes (e.g., cell sites) to the core network or internet.

- We upgraded microwave backhaul to fiber to support 5G traffic. - Backhaul congestion caused evening slowdowns. - The new small cells share an Ethernet backhaul ring.

Bandwidth

The maximum capacity of a link or channel to carry data, typically measured in bits per second; distinct from throughput (actual rate).

- The 10 Gbps backhaul bandwidth is underutilized off-peak. - We bought more spectrum to increase radio bandwidth per sector. - Video streams adapt to available bandwidth using ABR.

Base Station

A fixed radio node (eNodeB in 4G, gNodeB in 5G) that connects mobile devices to the network via the RAN.

- The rural base station was upgraded to add 700 MHz coverage. - Each base station handles scheduling, power control, and handovers. - We densified the network with additional small-cell base stations.

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)

The internet’s interdomain routing protocol used to exchange reachability information between autonomous systems (ASes).

- We established BGP peering with two IXPs to improve latency. - A route leak propagated due to misconfigured BGP filters. - Traffic engineering tweaks local-pref to steer BGP paths.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A geographically distributed system of caches that stores and serves content closer to end users to reduce latency and offload origin traffic.

- We onboarded the video CDN to our edge PoPs. - Caching popular titles in the CDN cut transit costs. - The CDN purged stale objects after a security patch.

Churn

The rate at which customers cancel service over a period; the opposite of retention.

- Prepaid churn spiked after the competitor’s promo. - We cut churn by improving fiber install SLAs. - Analytics flagged at-risk accounts for save offers.

Cloud Computing

On-demand access to shared compute, storage, and networking resources with elastic scaling and pay-as-you-go pricing.

- The BSS was replatformed to a cloud-native architecture. - We use multi-cloud for redundancy and data sovereignty. - Edge workloads burst to the cloud during peak events.

Cybersecurity

Practices and technologies that protect systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or damage.

- We adopted a zero-trust cybersecurity model for remote admins. - The SOC detected a DDoS attack on our DNS infrastructure. - Regular patching and MFA are table stakes in cybersecurity.

Data Center

A facility housing compute, storage, and networking equipment with power, cooling, physical security, and connectivity.

- Our new edge data center shortens round-trip latency for IoT. - The colocation data center provides redundant power feeds. - We track PUE to improve data center efficiency.

DNS (Domain Name System)

The hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses and supports essential internet services.

- Enabling DNSSEC mitigates cache poisoning risks. - We run recursive DNS resolvers within each region. - A misconfigured DNS record broke email delivery.

Edge Computing

Placing compute and storage closer to users or devices to reduce latency, save bandwidth, and enable real-time applications.

- The MEC platform hosts low-latency AR services at cell sites. - We process video analytics at the edge to avoid backhaul costs. - CDN edge functions personalize content per region.

Fiber to the Home (FTTH)

A last-mile broadband architecture that uses optical fiber directly to residences for high-speed, low-latency access.

- Our FTTH rollout targets 2 million additional homes passed. - XGS-PON upgrades boost FTTH speeds to 10 Gbps. - FTTH reduces truck rolls versus copper as lines are more reliable.

Fifth-Generation Wireless (5G)

The latest 3GPP cellular standard offering enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive IoT.

- We launched standalone 5G cores to enable network slicing. - mmWave 5G delivers multi-gig speeds in dense venues. - The 5G upgrade path includes 4x4 MIMO and carrier aggregation.

Firewall

A network security device or software that monitors and controls traffic based on defined policies; may include deep inspection and application awareness.

- The NGFW blocks known malicious C2 traffic. - We segment the RAN and core behind separate firewalls. - A firewall ruleset change caused an outage on the IMS subnet.

Handover (Handoff)

The process of transferring an active session from one radio cell or access point to another without dropping the connection.

- Poor handover parameters caused call drops at the sector edge. - Wi‑Fi to cellular handoff is seamless with VoWiFi. - We optimized intra-frequency handovers for commuters.

IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)

A core architecture for delivering IP-based multimedia services, including VoLTE and VoWiFi, using standardized control and service layers.

- The IMS core handles SIP signaling for VoLTE calls. - We migrated legacy voice to IMS to support 4G/5G. - New value-added services are deployed as IMS application servers.

Internet of Things (IoT)

A network of physical devices embedded with sensors and connectivity to collect and exchange data for monitoring, automation, and analytics.

- We provision NB-IoT for smart metering deployments. - The IoT platform manages device firmware updates over the air. - Private 5G supports industrial IoT in factories.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)

The next-generation IP addressing scheme using 128-bit addresses to overcome IPv4 exhaustion and simplify routing.

- Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 is enabled across our backbone. - We advertise IPv6 prefixes via BGP at all IXPs. - Some CPE required firmware updates for IPv6 DNS.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

An organization that provides internet connectivity to consumers, businesses, or other networks via various access technologies.

- As a regional ISP, we peer locally to cut transit spend. - The ISP’s SLA guarantees 99.9% uptime for enterprise circuits. - Our ISP bundle includes fixed broadband and mobile.

Jitter

The variability in packet delay over time, which can degrade real-time applications like voice and video.

- High jitter caused choppy audio on the VoIP calls. - QoS buffers help smooth jitter on congested links. - We monitor jitter along with latency and packet loss.

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

A quantifiable metric used to evaluate performance against objectives in operations, networks, or business outcomes.

- Our network KPIs include RAN availability and call setup success rate. - The care team’s KPIs improved after IVR redesign. - ARPU and churn are board-level KPIs.

Latency

The time it takes for data to travel from source to destination, often measured as round-trip time in milliseconds.

- Edge caching trimmed latency by 20 ms for streaming users. - URLLC targets sub-10 ms latency for control loops. - We track p95 latency for page loads.

LTE (Long-Term Evolution)

A 4G mobile broadband standard that uses OFDMA and MIMO to deliver high data rates; foundation for VoLTE and a stepping stone to 5G.

- LTE carrier aggregation boosts user throughput at the cell edge. - We’re refarming 3G spectrum to expand LTE capacity. - VoLTE moved voice traffic off legacy CS networks.

MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output)

A wireless technique using multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver to increase capacity and reliability via spatial multiplexing or diversity.

- Massive MIMO on 5G boosts spectral efficiency in hotspots. - Our 4x4 MIMO upgrade improved indoor coverage. - Beamforming is part of advanced MIMO implementations.

MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator)

A service provider that offers mobile services without owning radio access infrastructure, leasing capacity from MNOs.

- The MVNO negotiated better wholesale rates for 5G. - As a full MVNO, we run our own core network. - Niche MVNOs target low-ARPU segments with digital-only plans.

Net Neutrality

The principle that ISPs should treat all lawful internet traffic equally without blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization.

- Policy shifts on net neutrality affect traffic management options. - We avoid application-specific throttling to align with net neutrality. - Regulators are revisiting net neutrality rules this year.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

An approach that virtualizes network functions (e.g., firewall, EPC) on commodity hardware or cloud platforms, increasing agility and reducing costs.

- We onboarded a virtual EPC as a VNF under NFV MANO. - NFV lets us scale firewalls elastically during DDoS events. - CNF migration moves VNFs to Kubernetes for agility.

Network Slicing

A method to partition a physical network into multiple virtual end-to-end slices, each with tailored performance and SLAs.

- We provisioned a low-latency slice for industrial automation. - MVNOs can lease dedicated slices with guaranteed throughput. - Slice orchestration automates RAN, transport, and core.

NOC (Network Operations Center)

The centralized team and facility that monitors, manages, and troubleshoots network infrastructure and services 24/7.

- The NOC escalated a fiber cut to field ops. - NOC dashboards track alarms, KPIs, and ticket volumes. - We run a follow-the-sun NOC model for global coverage.

Open RAN (O-RAN)

An open and disaggregated approach to the radio access network that defines interoperable interfaces between RAN components.

- We mix RU, DU, and CU vendors thanks to O-RAN specs. - The near-real-time RIC enables xApps for optimization. - Open RAN lowers vendor lock-in but adds integration work.

OSS/BSS (Operations Support Systems / Business Support Systems)

Back-office systems used by service providers to design, provision, assure, bill, and monetize services.

- Order-to-activate flows span multiple OSS/BSS components. - Usage mediation feeds the BSS rating engine for invoicing. - We’re modernizing OSS/BSS to a microservices architecture.

OTT (Over-the-Top)

Services delivered over the public internet that bypass traditional operator-controlled distribution (e.g., streaming, messaging).

- OTT video is displacing linear TV consumption. - Our SMS revenue declined as OTT messaging grew. - We partner with OTT apps for zero-rating promotions (where allowed).

Packet Switching

A data networking method that transmits information in discrete packets routed independently across shared networks.

- LTE and 5G use all-IP packet switching for voice via VoLTE. - QoS policies prioritize real-time packets over bulk transfers. - Packet loss triggered retransmissions and lower throughput.

Peering and Transit

Commercial and technical arrangements for interconnecting networks: peering (often settlement-free) and paid transit for broader reachability.

- We prefer local peering to reduce latency to major CDNs. - Transit costs drop as traffic shifts to IX peering. - The peering policy requires minimum traffic ratios.

QoS (Quality of Service)

Techniques that manage traffic to meet performance requirements (e.g., latency, jitter, loss) through prioritization, shaping, and policing.

- We used DiffServ QoS to prioritize VoIP over bulk downloads. - The enterprise VPN has a gold QoS class for video conferencing. - Misconfigured QoS queues caused bufferbloat.

RAN (Radio Access Network)

The portion of a mobile network that connects user devices to the core, consisting of radios, baseband units, and antennas.

- We modernized the RAN to support DSS between LTE and 5G. - RAN sharing agreements reduce capex in rural areas. - Energy savings features power down RAN carriers overnight.

Roaming

The ability of a subscriber to use mobile services on a visited network outside their home operator’s coverage via inter-operator agreements.

- We enabled data roaming on partner networks in 50 countries. - Roaming charges were reduced under new regulations. - Steering policies prefer lower-cost roaming partners.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A software delivery model where applications are hosted by a provider and accessed over the internet on a subscription basis.

- Our contact center runs on a SaaS platform. - SaaS billing scales with seats and usage. - The SaaS vendor meets our data residency requirements.

SDN (Software-Defined Networking)

An approach that separates the control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized, programmable network management.

- The SDN controller automates L3VPN provisioning. - Intent-based SDN reduces manual changes and errors. - We used SDN APIs to spin up test segments on demand.

SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)

A secure element that stores subscriber credentials (e.g., IMSI, keys) used to authenticate devices on mobile networks.

- eUICC allows remote provisioning of SIM profiles. - The SIM toolkit enables value-added services on feature phones. - Lost SIMs are blocked to prevent fraud.

SLA (Service Level Agreement)

A contract that defines measurable service commitments (e.g., uptime, latency), reporting, and remedies for non-compliance.

- The DIA SLA guarantees 99.99% availability and <20 ms latency. - Credits applied after we breached the monthly SLA. - Monitoring and reporting are aligned to the SLA metrics.

Spectrum

The range of radio frequencies used for wireless communications; may be licensed, shared, or unlicensed.

- We acquired mid-band spectrum to boost 5G capacity. - Unlicensed 6 GHz enables Wi‑Fi 6E/7 deployments. - Refarming 900 MHz spectrum improved indoor coverage.

Throughput

The actual data transfer rate achieved over a network, influenced by protocol overhead, congestion, and signal quality.

- User throughput increased after optimizing scheduler parameters. - TCP tuning improved long-haul throughput. - Average throughput fell during peak streaming hours.

VoIP (Voice over IP)

Technology for delivering voice communications over IP networks using protocols like SIP and RTP.

- The SBC secures our VoIP interconnects. - QoS is essential to maintain VoIP call quality. - We migrated PBX users to a cloud VoIP solution.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A telecommunications network that spans large geographic areas, connecting sites and users over public or private links.

- We’re replacing MPLS with SD-WAN for flexibility. - The WAN backbone uses redundant fiber paths. - Application-aware routing optimizes WAN performance.

Wi‑Fi

A family of IEEE 802.11 standards for local wireless networking in unlicensed bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz).

- We upgraded to Wi‑Fi 6E to leverage 6 GHz spectrum. - Carrier Wi‑Fi offload reduces mobile core congestion. - WPA3 improves Wi‑Fi security on public hotspots.

Zero-Trust

A security model that assumes no implicit trust, enforcing continuous verification, least-privilege access, and microsegmentation.

- We implemented zero-trust access for network engineers. - Microsegmentation limits blast radius within the core. - Zero-trust principles guide our 5G control plane security.