Within Telecoms and IT there are many abbreviated words or jargon used to describe products or services. Here are a few current key terms explained to make life a little easier.
ACD – Automatic Call Distribution
Ans: The system used to distribute calls through to those responsible for answering.
ADSL– Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Ans: Another name for broadband with different upload and download speeds.
BRA – Basic Rate Access
Ans: Another name for ISDN2 Digital phone lines.
CCU- Central Control Unit
Ans: The box on the wall that runs your phone system.
CLI – Calling Line Identity
Ans: Your phone number.
CPS – Carrier Pre Selection
Ans: A service where you can pre select who carries your phone calls on your BT line.
CTI– Computer Telephony Integration
Ans: Linking your PC and phone together.
DASS – Digital Access Signalling System
Ans: An old type of signalling used on phone lines now replaced with a Euro version.
DDI – Direct Dial Inwards
Ans: Used so people from outside can dial straight through to your phone and bypass the switchboard.
DPNSS – Digital Private Network Signalling System
Ans: A name given to signals used between 2 phone systems.
DTMF – Dual Tone Multi Frequency
Ans: The tones you hear when you make a phone call.
FPS – Fax Preference Service
Ans: Stop unwanted faxes (Junk Fax) coming in.
FTTP – Fibre to the premises
Ans: Installation of optical fibre from the carrier directly into the home or office.
FTTC – Fibre to the cabinet
Ans: Fibre cable runs from a BT exchange to a street cabinet.
ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network
Ans: A name for digital phone lines.
ISP – Internet Service Provider
Ans: Who bills you for your broadband is your ISP.
ICSTIS – Independent Committee for the Supervision of Telephone Information Services
LLU – Local Loop Unbundling
Ans: The ability for other operators to use the cables between the phone exchange and your premises.
NGN – Non Geographic Numbers
Ans: Numbers not tied to an area such as 0800 Freephone.
OCB – Outgoing Calls Barred
Ans: Stops you dialling out when it is applied to your phones.
PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network
Ans: The phone network.
PABX – Private Automatic Branch Exchange
Ans: A name for a telephone system.
PMBX – Private Manual Branch Exchange
Ans: Another name for a telephone system.
SDSL – Synchronous Digital Subscriber Line
Ans: Another name for broadband with the same upload and download speeds.
SIP – Session Initiation Protocol –
Ans: Name for signalling when making phone/data calls.
UPS – Uninterrupted Power Supply –
Ans: Will keep phones working when there is a power cut.
VDSL – Very high bandwidth DSL –
Ans: A very fast internet connection.
VOIP – Voice Over Internet Protocol –
Ans: Making phone calls over the internet instead of over the phone line.
WAN – Wide Area Network –
Ans: Computers from different buildings linked together.
