Statistical Terms Glossary

A service that enables access to telecommunications services by allowing personal mobility. It enables each user to participate in a user-defined set of subscribed services as well as to initiate and receive calls on the basis of a unique, personal, network-independent number. It can be used across multiple networks at any fixed, movable, or mobile terminal regardless of geographical location.

The omnipresence of computer power and associated sensors and controls in daily life.

In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging,[1] and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. Even when using server authentication, it may require tremendous skill to detect that the website is fake. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users,[2] and exploits the poor usability of current web security technologies.[3] Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical security measures.

Producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy (especially light).

Refers to several practices which involve the unauthorized copying of computer software. Copyright infringement of this kind is extremely common. Most countries have copyright laws which apply to software, but the degree of enforcement varies.

The combination of a particular computer and a particular operating system.

Is a technology used in telecommunications networks to transport large quantities of data over digital transport equipment such as fibre optic and microwave radio systems. The term plesiochronous is derived from Greek plesio, meaning near, and chronos, time, and refers to the fact that PDH networks run in a state where different parts of the network are nearly, but not quite perfectly, synchronised.

The geographical location where two networks interconnect and exchange traffic.

A point representing one or several distributed service networking (DSN) nodes, which support DSN users to access services directly without having intermediate DSN nodes.

Electronic data communication by direct connection, not using the Internet.

Is a network protocol for encapsulating Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frames inside Ethernet frames. It is used mainly with DSL services where individual users connect to the DSL modem over Ethernet and in plain Metro Ethernet networks.

An online discussion group where users, usually with common interests, can exchange open messages: Policy-based fora, i.e. organised around themes/issues that relate directly to a draft policy that is meant to address these, and where discussion threads are intended to solicit responses from those affected. Participants might be encouraged to submit alternative ideas and suggestions but the format implies that what is being sought is an indication of how far the participants agree (or not) with the proposals, and why.

Presents information from diverse sources in a unified way. Apart from the standard search engine feature, web portals offer other services such as e-mail, news, stock prices, information, databases and entertainment. Portals provide a way for enterprises to provide a consistent look and feel with access control and procedures for multiple applications and databases, which otherwise would have been different entities altogether.

A method to transfer data or tangible materials to be distributed and delivered to certain locations around the world such as letters, documents, boxes or parcels.

Is computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.

A system allowing subscribers to pay in advance for wireless service.

Is a telecommunications standard for carrying multiple DS0 voice and data transmissions between a network and a user. All data and voice channels are ISDN and operate at 64 kbit/s.

The service of providing permanent transmission connection between two customer premises for the exclusive use by a customer. This service may be provided over facilities owned or operated by an operator or over transmission capacity sold or leased by a non-facilities-based telecommunications provider, or reseller, and may use terrestrial or satellite facilities. It generally does not involve central office switching operations.
Also called a private leased line.

A service that provides for the provision of a permanent transport connection between two customer headquarters that is placed exclusively at the customer's service. This service may be provided through facilities owned or operated by the operator, or through a transmission capacity sold or leased by an unofficial telecommunications service provider or any reseller, and it may also use ground or satellite installations. It does not usually include central switching operations. It is also called a private leased line.

A set of rules and formats that determines the communication behaviour of layer entities in the performance of the layer functions.

This functional element is functionally similar to the user agent server, except it is not expected to retain significant call control state. In essence, the proxy server is comprised of both a SIP client and a SIP server.

Is a network established and operated by a telecommunications administration, or a recognized private operating agency, for the specific purpose of providing data transmission services for the public.

A public Internet access centre (PIAC) is a site, location, centre of instruction at which Internet access is made available to the public, on a full-time or part-time basis. This may include digital community centres, Internet cafés, libraries, education centres and other similar establishments, whenever they offer Internet access to the general public. All such centres should have at least one public computer for Internet access. It is very useful to classify centres by type, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 1. A further breakdown into private and governmental establishments is also necessary.

A country's telephone system, including local loops, exchanges, trunks, and international links for providing telephone service to the general public.

Describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies.PPP involves a contract between a public sector authority and a private party, in which the private party provides a public service or project and assumes substantial financial, technical and operational risk in the project. In some types of PPP, the cost of using the service is borne exclusively by the users of the service and not by the taxpayer.

Is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks, in much the same way that the Internet is the network of the world's public IP-based packet-switched networks. Originally a network of fixed-line analog telephone systems, the PSTN is now almost entirely digital and includes mobile as well as fixed (POTS) telephones.