Glossary of Terms

3G- 3rd Generation wireless format. This high-efficiency data and voice format follows 1G (analog service) and 2G (digital service).

3GPP- 3rd Generation Partnership Project. A cooperation of standards organizations (ARIB, CWTS, ETSI, T1, TTA and TTC) that develops the technical specifications for IMT-2000, or 3G. 3GPP manages the W-CDMA technology, and 3GPP2 manages the CDMA2000 technology, all of which increase data rates for 3G wireless communications. See IMT-2000.

A

ARPU - Average Revenue Per User. A key business performance metric in the wireless industry.

Air Interface - The system for encoding radio signals in a wireless network. For example, TDMA, CDMA, AMPS.

AMPS - Analog cellular service. The original cellular mobile phone air interface, which uses conventional radio frequency modulation, and has no digital compression. Although call quality is inferior, battery life suffers, and few value-added services are compatible, AMPS still is used widely in rural and developing areas, due to the high-range of signals, and the low cost of maintaining existing systems.

B

C

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A digital method for simultaneously transmitting signals over a shared portion of the spectrum by encoding each distinct signal with a code chip. Terminals receive the aggregated signal from the tower, and use specific codes to unbundled the signals. CDMA devices are noted for their excellent connection quality and long battery life.

CPE - Customer Premises Equipment. Required equipment that is located on the customer's premises.

D

DSL - Digital Subscriber Line. A technology that dramatically increases the digital capacity of ordinary telephone lines (the local loops) into the home or office. A common delivery mechanism for broadband Internet to individual homes and businesses.

E

EDGE - Enhanced Data GPRS Evolution. EDGE is a software upgrade that improves GPRS throughput to a theoretical 200Kbps. Some GSM carriers in the US and EU are planning to offer EDGE networks as an improvement of their data networks before they upgrade to UMTS.

F

FDD - Frequency Division Duplexing. A transmission method that separates the transmitting and receiving channels with a guard band (some amount of spectrum that acts as a buffer or insulator). Allows two-way data transmission by, in effect, opening two distinct radio links. Contrast with TDD.

Flash OFDM - Flash Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

FWA - 3.4GHz Fixed Wireless Access

G

GGSN - Gateway GPRS Serving/Support Node

GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications (formerly Groupe Speciale Mobile). A digital cellular phone technology based on TDMA that is the predominant system in Europe, but is also used widely around the world. Developed in the 1980s, GSM was first deployed in seven European countries in 1992. Operating in the 900MHz and 1.8GHz bands in Europe and the 1.9GHz PCS band in the U.S., GSM defines the entire cellular system, not just the air interface.

GPRS - General Packet Radio Service. An enhancement to the GSM mobile communications system that supports data packets. GPRS enables continuous flows of IP data packets over the system for such applications as Web browsing and file transfer. GPRS differs from GSM's short messaging service (GSM-SMS) which is limited to messages of 160 bytes in length.

H

Handoff - Handoff refers to the transfer of a communication link from one POP to another, while the subscriber is moving through the network. Handoffs are by their nature automatic, but not necessarily undetectable. Some handoffs may impart a noticeable delay or temporary disconnection, while a seamless handoff means that the subscriber can remain completely unaware that any change has occurred.

HLR - Home Location Register. The HLR and VLR are the integral components that enable cellular roaming. Each HLR is a carrier's database containing authorization data on all the subscribers a particular local or home service area. When a subscriber roams to a new service area, the system does not recognize the subscriber, and requests roamer data from the appropriate HLR. In a seamless process, the roamer's authorization data is transferred via SS7 to the VLR (Visitor Location Register) in the new area, and the roamer's current location is transferred to the HLR.

HSDPA - High Speed Downlink Packet Access. An enhancement to the W-CDMA 3G technology that increases the downlink speed by applying different modulation and coding techniques as well as multiple antennae.

I

IMT-2000 - A framework from the ITU for third-generation (3G) wireless phone standards throughout the world that deliver high-speed multimedia data as well as voice. Formerly known as the Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications System (FPLMTS), IMT-2000 supports various technologies that increase data rates such as W-CDMA and CDMA2000. Technical specifications for IMT-2000 are developed by 3GPP. INC -Integrated Network Controller from IP Wireless

IP - Internet Protocol. The network layer protocol in the TCP/IP communications protocol suite (the "IP" in TCP/IP). IP contains a network address and allows messages to be routed to a different network or subnet. IP does not ensure delivery of a complete message, but the TCP transport layer is used to provide that guarantee. IP networks are error-resilient, and have multi-path redundancy. Digitally compressed packets of data are routed to their destination address whichever route is most appropriate at any given instant, such that different packets travel different routes. This is significantly different to POTS circuit-switched data, which holds a complete circuit open direct between source and destination.

IP Telephony - The two-way transmission of audio over a packet-switched IP network (TCP/IP network). When used in a private intranet or WAN, it is generally known as "voice over IP," or "VoIP." When the transport is the public Internet or the Internet backbone from a major carrier, it is generally called "IP telephony" or "Internet telephony." However, the terms IP telephony, Internet telephony and VoIP are used interchangeably.

ISP - Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the Internet.

ITFS - Instructional Television Fixed Service.

ITU - International Telephony Union. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU is an international organization founded in 1865, now part of the United Nations, which sets communications standards for global telecom networks. The ITU represents more than 185 member countries. www.itu.ch

J

K

L

L2TP - Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol. A protocol from the IETF that allows a PPP session to run over the Internet or an ATM or frame relay network. L2TP defaults to using IPsec encryption in order to provide security for a virtual private network (VPN) connection from the remote user to the corporate LAN.

LAC - L2TP Access Concentrator.

LAN - Local Area Network. A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system and a communications link.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) - A rechargeable battery technology that provides about a 10-15% improvement in charge per pound over nickel metal hydride. Since introduction in 1993, lithium ion has become the most popular battery technology for notebooks, and it is widely used in cellphones and other handheld devices.

LMDS - Local Multipoint Distribution Service. A digital wireless transmission system that works in the 28GHz range in the U.S. and 24-40GHz overseas. It requires line of sight between transmitter and receiving antenna, which can be from one to four miles apart depending on weather conditions. LMDS provides bandwidth in the OC-1 to OC-12 range, which is considerably greater than other broadband wireless services.

LNS - L2TP Network Server. Terminates L2TP tunnels & provides PPP and network termination. LoS - (line of sight). An unobstructed view from transmitter to receiver. Satellite, infrared (IR) and microwave transmissions require line of sight between nodes, whereas portable phones, cellphones and wireless LANs (802.11b) do not. Often, LoS requires difficult installation processes where technicians must install and aim outdoor directional antennae.

M

MMDS - Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service or Microwave Multipoint Distribution Service. A digital wireless transmission system that works in the 2.2-2.4GHz range. It requires line of sight between transmitter and receiver, which can be 30 or more miles apart. It was designed initially as a one-way service for bringing cable TV to subscribers in remote areas or in locations that are difficult to install cable. MMDS supports approximately 33 analog channels and more than 100 digital channels of TV. In late 1998, the FCC opened up the technology for two-way transmission, enabling MMDS to provide data and Internet services to subscribers.

Mobile Broadband -

Mobility - Mobility and mobile data access refer to the ability to access connectivity services while at a home location, at multiple other locations, and while moving at up to highway speeds within the coverage area. Mobility also implies in-building coverage. Mobility is distinctly different from "portability", which does not allow for access while moving.

Multipath - Refers to a radio signal that arrives at its destination having taken two or more paths because the signal was reflected off buildings or other obstructions. Although multipath is a problem with all kinds of radio transmission, ghosts on a TV channel are an example of multipath that you can see with your own eyes.

N

NLOS - Non-Line of Sight. These radio systems can be used much more flexibly than LoS systems. They use RF penetration, and even take advantage of multipath to receive signals from obstructed transmitters.

O

OFDM - Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing. OFDM's spread spectrum technique distributes the data over a large number of carriers that are spaced apart at precise frequencies. This spacing provides the "orthogonality" in this technique, which prevents the demodulators from seeing other frequencies than their own. OFDM is not a standard way of providing 3G data, so solutions using this technology are usually proprietary.

P

PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. An international standards body and trade association that was founded in 1989 to establish a standard for connecting peripherals to portable computers. PCMCIA created the PC Card.

Plug-and-play - Plug and play refers to ease of installation. Plug and play installation means that the user does not have to manage and configure hardware settings, and that installation of the device is simple and automated.

POP - Point of Presence. A POP is a local connection point where people or systems can access a Wide Area Network. Examples are modem pools for an ISP, a Wi-Fi Hotspot, or a cellular tower and base station. This is not to be confused with POP3, which is the email Post Office Protocol.

POPs - Population size that a network can theoretically reach and service.

Portability - Portability and portable data access refer to the ability to access connectivity services while at a home location, at multiple other locations. Portability does not typically allow for access while moving a significant distance, and generally does not include roaming or handoff.

Q

QoS - Quality of Service. The ability to define a level of performance in a data communications system. For example, ATM networks specify modes of service that ensure optimum performance for traffic such as realtime voice and video. QoS has become a major issue on the Internet as well as in enterprise networks, because voice and video are increasingly traveling over IP-based data networks that were not designed for continuous speech or video. A high QoS would ensure that the packets of data all arrive in time for undetectable re-assembly.

R

ROI - Return on Investment. The monetary benefits derived from having invested in developing or revising a system. The ROI of a money market mutual fund is about 4%, but business ventures target projects in the 15% range. The superior returns are earned by assuming greater risk.

RNC - Radio Network Controller

RNS - Radio Network Subsystem (GPRS)

S

SGSN - Serving GPRS Support Node

Spectral Efficiency - The more data or voice calls an air interface can compress into a given bandwidth, the greater the spectral efficiency. CDMA has greater SE than GSM, which is in turn greater than AMPS.

T

UMTS TD-CDMA - Time Division - Code Division Multiple Access. An air interface that uses both of the leading compression schemes, and derives some of the benefits of both.

TDD - Time Division Duplexing. A transmission method that uses only one channel for transmitting and receiving, separating them by different time slots. No guard band is used. This increases spectral efficiency by eliminating the buffer band, but also increases flexibility in asynchronous applications. For example, if less traffic travels upstream, the time slice for that direction can be reduced, and reallocated to downstream traffic.

U

UE - User Equipment. Similar to CPE.

UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. The ITU standard for 3G wireless phone systems. UMTS, which is part of IMT-2000, provides service in the 2GHz band and offers global roaming and personalized features. Designed as an evolutionary system for GSM network operators which will marry the benefits of CDMA with the interoperability benefits of GSM, multimedia data rates up to 2 Mbps are expected. There are three branches of the UMTS standard: TD-SCDMA, UMTS TD-CDMA, and W-CDMA. CDMA2000 is not UMTS.

USB - Universal Serial Bus. A hardware interface standard for low-speed peripherals including modem devices. It is Plug and play, attachable with power on, and is capable of providing a power supply to the associated device.

UTRAN - UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

V

VLR - Visitor Location Register. A database in a cellular system that contains all the subscribers that are currently visiting within a cellular service area. See HLR.

VoIP - Voice Over IP. See IP telephony.

VPN - Virtual Private Network. A private network that is configured to exist as a protected "tunnel" within a public network. VPNs enjoy the security of a private network via access control and encryption, while taking advantage of the economies of scale and built-in management facilities of large public networks.

W

W-CDMA - Wideband-CDMA. A 3G technology that increases data transmission rates in GSM systems, and integrates the benefits of the CDMA air interface. In the ITU's IMT-2000 3G specification, W-CDMA has become known as the Direct Sequence (DS) mode.

WAN - Wide Area Network. A communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as state or country. A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex, and a MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb.

WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network

WWAN - Wireless Wide Area Network

X

Y

Z

HOME TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PARTNERS COMPANY NEWS CONTACT US