Telecom glossary
Plain-language definitions for the technologies, measurements and network concepts used throughout the site.
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How to use this glossary
These definitions are written for everyday reading. They provide a useful starting point for understanding an offer or discussing a project, while the precise meaning may still depend on the supplier, country and contract.
When comparing services, do not look at one technical term in isolation. Capacity, latency, coverage, equipment, support and price work together, and the best balance depends on the location and intended use.
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- 5G
- The fifth generation of mobile networks. It can provide higher capacity and lower latency than earlier generations, but performance depends on spectrum, coverage, device and network load.
- Bandwidth
- The theoretical or provisioned capacity of a connection, usually expressed in bits per second. It is not the same as the speed observed by every application.
- Latency
- The time required for data to travel to a destination and back. Low latency matters for calls, gaming, remote control and interactive cloud services.
- Fibre optic
- A physical medium that transmits data as light. Fibre can deliver high capacity and low latency, subject to local infrastructure and equipment.
- eSIM
- A downloadable mobile subscription profile stored in a compatible device, replacing or complementing a removable SIM card.
- Roaming
- Use of a mobile service on a visited network outside the home network. Countries, allowances and charges depend on the agreement and plan.
- Wi-Fi
- A local wireless network connecting devices to a router or access point. Wi-Fi quality is distinct from the quality of the Internet line.
- SD-WAN
- Software-defined wide-area networking that applies central policies to traffic across one or more access links.
- VPN
- An encrypted logical tunnel between a device or site and another network. A VPN protects traffic in transit but does not make every endpoint trustworthy.
- IoT
- The Internet of Things: connected sensors, meters, vehicles and equipment that exchange data with applications.
- SLA
- A service-level agreement defining measurable targets such as availability or response time, together with scope and exclusions.
- Failover
- Automatic or manual transfer of traffic from a failed or degraded link to another available path.
- Access point
- A device that provides Wi-Fi service to nearby devices. Its position, radio settings, wired uplink and number of simultaneous users all affect the result.
- Bandwidth symmetry
- The relationship between download and upload capacity. Symmetric access is especially useful for cloud backups, video meetings, uploads and remote work.
- DNS
- The naming service that translates a domain name into an IP address. A connection can be online while a DNS fault still prevents websites or applications from being reached.
- Ethernet
- A wired local-network standard used to connect routers, switches, access points and devices. It is usually more predictable than Wi-Fi for fixed equipment.
- FTTH
- Fibre to the Home: optical fibre delivered to a home or premises. Final availability and installation remain dependent on the address and building conditions.
- IPv6
- The newer Internet addressing protocol, designed to provide a much larger address space than IPv4. Compatibility depends on the access provider, router and applications.
- Jitter
- Variation in packet delay over time. High jitter can affect calls, video meetings and other real-time services even when headline speed looks sufficient.
- Packet loss
- Packets that do not reach their destination. It can cause stuttering calls, slow transfers and unstable applications; the cause may be local or upstream.
- PoE
- Power over Ethernet: a method that carries electrical power and network data over the same Ethernet cable, often for access points, cameras and phones.
- QoS
- Quality of Service: traffic rules that prioritise selected flows, such as voice or critical applications, when link capacity is under pressure.
- Router
- Equipment that directs traffic between networks, commonly between a local network and an Internet access service. It differs from a Wi-Fi access point or a simple switch.
- SSID
- The visible name of a Wi-Fi network. Separate SSIDs can help distinguish employee, guest and connected-device access when the underlying network is properly segmented.
- VoIP
- Voice over Internet Protocol: calls carried over IP networks. Call quality relies on capacity, latency, jitter, packet loss, equipment and sensible prioritisation.
- Zero trust
- A security approach that verifies identity, device posture and permissions for each access request instead of trusting a network simply because it is internal.
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