ActiveX. Files that include the programme code necessary to teach an ActiveX - capable browser how to display them.

Address Book. A feature in some email programmes that stores your contact's email addresses and other information for reference and to make addressing an email message easier.

ADSL Short for Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, ADSL is a technology for bringing high bandwidth or 'broadband' information over ordinary telephone lines without interfering with voice signals. Speed is the main advantage and you can talk over the phone at the same time as being online. ADSL provides an internet connection that is always on but you do require a special device on your computer. ADSL is available to about 50% of the population and strictly speaking, is only one of a range of Digital Subscriber Line or 'XDSL' technologies.

Alias. A short and quick nickname to refer to something else with a longer name, e.g. if you create an alias for an email address, just type Danielle instead of the full address.

Anonymous FTP. Logging on to a server anonymously allows access to download files in the public domain. Most FTP sites support anonymous access.

Application. A computer programme that fulfils a specific task. Also called apps or simply programmes. Some common Internet applications include FTP, email and Telnet.

Attachment. A computer file (graphics, text, programme or any other type) sent with an email message.

Authentication. The process of entering your username and password. You prove or authenticate who you are when you enter your password.

Authoring. The process of writing a Web page.

ATM Short for automatic teller machine, this is a 'hole in the wall' system for accessing cash by way of electronic transactions to debit your bank account.

ATM Short for asynchronous transfer mode is also a transmission switching technology used by many organisations for secure, fast and accurate communication, e.g. BT uses it to deliver ADSL.

Avatar. A graphical image of a user such as used in graphical real-time Chat applications or a graphical personification of a computer or a computer process intended to make the computing or network environment a more friendly place.

Backbone. The backbone of a network is it's means of linking its major nodes so that all its leaf nodes feed into backbone nodes with a high-speed uninterrupted flow. The backbone is the part of a network that carries the bulk of the traffic. The backbone may interconnect multiple locations in a large geographical area or a number of smaller networks in a single location. When a number of networks are joined in a single device, such as a router, this capability is referred to as a collapsed backbone.

Bandwidth. Bandwidth is the amount of data, measured usually in bits per second, that can be sent through a dedicated (leased) transmission circuit. Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transferred through a computer's communication channel in a given time. The speed of data transmission over a network measured in bits per second (1 Kbps = 1,000 bits, 1 Mbps = 1,000 kilobits, 1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps).

Baud rate. The number of signal events per second occurring on a communications channel. Although not technically accurate, baud rate is commonly used to mean bit rate.

Bit. A bit is the primary unit of digital data and is the smallest unit of information in the binary system of notation for storing and transferring data. In the United States, 8 bits make up 1 byte (see Byte).

BCC (blind carbon copy). When emailing, it is a way to send a copy of an email message without letting the other recipients know you are sending a copy.

Bits Per Second (bps). The transmission rate for digital information expressed as the number of bits (zeroes or ones) sent or received per second.

Bookmark. Netscape Navigator's method for letting a user create a shortcut back to a Web page the user will want to revisit. Internet Explorer also does the same thing.

Boolean operators. These operators are designed to put conditions on a search. The most common Boolean operators are AND, OR and NOT also <, >, =, etc.

Broadband. A data-transmission scheme in which multiple signals share the bandwidth of a medium. Generally used to describe technologies with transfer rates greater than 2 Mbps which are powerful enough to allow the transmission of voice data and video signals over a single medium.

Browse. To wander around a portion of the Internet, screen by screen, looking for items of interest. Also known as surfing or cruising.

Browser. A specialist software package through which users can explore the World Wide Web. The most popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Byte. A unit of measure equal to 8 bits which can store one character of data.

Cable Internet. A new way to get very fast Internet service (in limited areas) through the same cable through which you receive cable TV.

Cache. The area of memory on your computer where most browsers store files of Web pages that you have viewed recently. This speeds up viewing time but does take up space on your hard drive.

CAD. Abbreviation for Computer Aided Design. Software package which helps designers and draughts people to create their designs.

CAM. Abbreviation for Computer Aided Manufacture. Term which refers to the automation of manufacturing processes on the shop floor.

Capacity. Capacity is the information-carrying ability of a telecommunications facility. What the facility is determines the measurement. We might measure a line's capacity in bits per second or in the maximum number of calls it can switch in one hour or the maximum number of calls it can simultaneously keep in conversation.

CC (Carbon Copy). A copy of an email message, sent to someone other than the principal recipient.

CD-ROM. The CD-Rom is one of the most popular formats for storing large amounts of electronic information.
One CD-Rom can store 400 times as much information as the standard floppy disk, DVDs (see below) could well replace these in time.

Cellular Modem. Used most often in portable computers, a modem that communicates without connection to a phone line just as a cellular phone does. Can be used to access the Internet from places where no phone line is available.

CO (Central Office). CO is an incumbent facility where subscriber lines are joined to an incumbent switch. This is the entry point to the communications network for most customers (generally serving 10,000 telephone lines). In the UK this is known as the local telephone exchange.

Certificate. A file used in secure connections to authenticiate the server to a client.

Chat. An Internet resource, sometimes also known as Internet Relay Chat (IRC) that allows 2 or more Internet users to participate in a live conversation through typing messages.

Chat Client. The programme required for participating in a chat.

Circuit. Circuit refers to a logical stream of data set up to flow through two or more network nodes. A single physical link between these nodes may have several virtual circuits flowing through it.

Client. A software tool for using a particular type of Internet resource. A client interacts with a server on which the resource is located.

Co-location. Placing a competitor's communications equipment in one's own facilities to allow efficient interconnection of different networks.

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC). A competitive local and other communications service provider that competes with the incumbent telecommunications.

Common Gateway Interference (CGI). The protocol that allows a Web page to run a programme on a Web Server. Forms, counters and guest books are common examples of CGI programmes.

Compression. The process of making a computer file smaller so that it can be copied more quickly between computers. Compressed files, sometimes called zip files must be decompressed on the receiving computer before they can be used.

Connect time. The length of time a user is connected to the Internet.

Cookie. A collection of information that a Web server can pass down to your computer for later access.

Counter. A means of checking the number of visitors a page receives.

Cross-posting. A method by which you can post a single article to multiple newsgroups.

Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). The equipment at the customer's premises that connects with a carrier's communication network, such as terminals, inside wiring, or a radio transceiver.

Cyberspace. A broad expression used to describe the activity, communication and culture happening on the Internet and other computer networks.

Database. A collection of information structured for easy retrieval and analysis, usually in the form of a hierarchy of files, records and fields.

Dark Fibre. Fibre-optic cable provided by a carrier directly to an end-user or other carrier. The end-user or other carrier has the obligation of supplying the electronics necessary to light up (or generate a telecoms signal over) the fibre.

Data Centre. Secured, environmentally controlled facilities where the servers that deliver content and applications for Internet operations are housed and maintained.

Data Conferencing. Gives individuals the ability to work collaboratively on documents, images and other electronic files without the need to be in the same place.

Decryption. Decoding data encrypted (often for security purposes) to its original.

Dial-up account. An Internet account, accessed through a modem and telephone line that offers complete access to the Internet through TCP/IP communications best connection speeds are usually 56kbps.

Digital. A signal carrying intelligence consisting of a stream of bits of zeros and ones for sound, video, computer or other information.

Digital Camera. A camera in which the picture information is stored digitally rather than on photographic film and can be view on a computer with the appropriate software.

Digital TV. Television broadcasts using digital technology. The advantages of digital over traditional (analogue) TV include the potential for hundreds of new channels, better quality pictures and sound and many kinds of interactive services. Digital TV can be broadcast in three different ways: by terrestrial radio transmitters (using the airwaves); satellite; through cable.

Direct Connection. A permanent, 24 hour link between a computer and the Internet. A computer with a direct connection can use the Internet at any time.

Discrete Multitone (DMT). DMT line coding technology is based on the concept of utilizing multiple carriers or sub-channels, located between 26 kHz and 1.1 MHz. The spectrum from 0 kHz to 4 kHz (voice band) is designated for POTS. Downstream, the spectrum from 26 kHz to 1.1 MHz is further divided into 256 discrete channels. Upstream, the spectrum above the POTS band consists of 25 channels between 26 kHz and 138 kHz. Echo-canceling between the downstream and upstream signals permits reuse of these sub-channels. Sub-carrier spacing is 4.3125 kHz. With the exception of carriers used for timing, each carrier is capable of carrying data. However, only those carriers with sufficient SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) are allocated payload for transmission. Each transmitting carrier is allotted a bit count and transmit power, based on the characteristics of the sub-channel. This results in an optimised data transfer rate for the current line conditions.

Dissemination. The spreading or sharing of information.

Domain. The most detailed subdivision of The Internet which is usually by country (e.g. .uk for United Kingdom; .au for Australia; .fr for France) or type of entity (e.g. .gov for government or .com for commercial).

Download. Transferring a file from a host computer to your computer.

Driver. A programme that controls a piece of hardware such as a printer, modem or terminal.

E-1 Circuit. An E-1 Circuit (2 Mbps) is the European equivalent (roughly speaking) of an American T-1 (1.5 Mbps).

E-3 Circuit. An E-3 Circuit is a European circuit that operates with an effective data rate of 34 Mbps.

Electronic Bonding (EB). The ability to forge an interface between the operations support systems of the local and long-distance service providers, thereby enabling the seamless exchange of information concerning network needs and customer orders.

E-business. Ways of doing business electronically - from e fax to email, to transfer of stock information and online transactions over the Internet.

E-cash. Short for electronic cash. Can be held on a smart card (see below).

E-commerce. A term that describes how businesses are using information gathered electronically to improve their business processes and relationships with suppliers and consumers. This potentially covers all business areas such as design, production, operations and customer service as well as buying and selling.

E Fax. The transmission of documents directly from one computer to another or to a fax machine.

E-mail. Short for electronic mail. A service that enables users to send and receive messages electronically.

E-mail Address. The word based Internet address of a user, typically made up of a user name, an @ sign and a domain name.

Emoticons. Short for emotional icons, these character combinations are a way to express emotion in typed messages such as email and newsgroup messages, :-) is a smile.

Encryption. A method of scrambling sensitive messages or data so that it cannot be read without a password or key.

Ethernet. Ethernet is a local area network transport protocol that first appeared in the 1970s. It offers a 10 megabit per second speed for data throughput. However, because hosts on an Ethernet may transmit at random times, without any technology to deter data collision, the actual data throughput, depending on how heavily the Ethernet is being used in a given situation, may be much closer to the three to six megabit per-second range.
To complicate things still more 100 megabit per-second Ethernet technology has been matured and gigabit per-second Ethernet recently introduced.

Extranet. The part of a company or an organisation internal computer network which uses the public internet as its transmission system, but requires passwords to gain access.

FAQ File. Short for frequently asked questions file. A computer file containing the answers to frequently asked questions about a particular topic.

Favourite. Internet Explorer's method for letting a user create a shortcut back to a Web page the user will want to revisit.

Fibre Optics. Fibre optics is a method for the transmission of information (sound, pictures, data). Light is modulated and transmitted over high-purity, hair-thin fibres of glass. The bandwidth capacity of fibre-optic cable is much greater than that of conventional cable or copper wire.

Fibre-Optic Cable. Fibre-optic cable is a transmission medium that uses glass or plastic fibres, rather than copper wire, to transport data or voice signals. The signal is imposed on the fibre via pulses (modulation) of light from a laser or a light-emitting diode (LED). Because of its high bandwidth and lack of susceptibility to interference, fibre-optic cable is used in long-haul or noisy applications.

Filter. A system for automatically organising and deleting selected email messages.

Firewall. A mechanism that protects parts of the network which is connected to The Internet from being accessed by unauthorized users.

Flame. Hostile messages, often sent through email or posted in newsgroups from Internet users in reaction to breaches of netiquette.

Form. A part of a Web page in which users can type entries or make selections.

Frame. A discrete part or "pane" in a Web page in which the screen area has been divided up into multiple, independent panes each of which contains a separate document.

Frame Relay. A packet-switched method of data communication (similar to, but more efficient than, the original X.25 WAN protocol) provided by telecommunications carriers and internet service providers. Frame relay can provide guaranteed bandwidth at no additional charge if the lines are open during periods of low traffic.
Frame relay can run at speeds of 36 Kbps to 2 Mbps. It is currently enjoying high popularity as a reasonably priced alternative to leased-line service.

Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA). A multiplexing and multiple access technique for sharing of a spectrum band where each user is assigned a single transmission channel.

Freeware. Software made available free to users over The Internet.

Front page Express. The WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) HTML (web page) editor built in to Internet Explorer.

FTP. Short for File Transfer Protocol. The basic method for copying a file from one computer to another through the Internet.

Gateway. A gateway is an intersection between two networks running different protocols. A gateway router strips incoming packets of the protocol of the incoming network and encapsulates them in "envelopes" of the protocol of the outgoing network.Gbps (Gigabits per Second). Gbps equal a billion of bits per second. A measure of transmission speed.

GIF. A form of image file, using the file extension .GIF. commonly used for inline images in Web pages.

Gopher. A system of menus layered on top of existing resources that makes locating information and using services easier.

GPS. Abbreviation for Global Positioning System. An inexpensive satellite based location system useful for tracking the location of goods in transit.

Guest. When you connect to or log onto a remote computer on which you do not have your own account, you are referred to as a guest or visitor. The other computer is the host.

Hacker. An unauthorized user who explores other people's computer systems and networks.

Hard disk/drive. Normally situated inside a computer, the hard disk or drive stores permanent data.

Hardware. A term for physical parts of the computer system, including the main computer unit itself (the processor or disk drive), the keyboard, screen (or monitor), the mouse, printer, loudspeakers and communications equipment such as the modem.

Header. Information at the beginning of IP Packets that describes the packet's contents and routing data.

Helper Programme. Programmes that run or show files that are not part of a Web page and do not appear as part of the Web browser.

Home page. The 'entry' or 'main' page of a web site.

Host. Any computer system or device attached to The Internet.

HTML. Acronym for Hyper Text Markup Language, the scripting language used to create web documents. File names have .htm as an extension and some have .html.

Hypertext. A concept for organising information where keywords or phrases can be used to reference resources and to serve as links to these resources. When viewing documents, hypertext anchors are displayed as underlined text. Clicking on this text establishes a network connection to another file (or place within the same file) and so the browser displays this information.

Java/JavaScript. Two of the programming languages used for enabling some advanced capabilities in Web pages.

JPEG. Abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group - a standard (compressed) format for colour images, common on the Internet. JPEGs tend to be smaller files than GIFs.

Kbps (Kilobits per Second). Kbps equal one thousand bits per second.

Keywords. A selection of words used with META tags or placed on search engines to make it easy to find a site.

Main Distribution Frame (MDF). A unit that connects between outside plant cables and internal lines or line equipment in the local exchange.

Mailing List. An online discussion group in which members share news and information through broad cast email messages.

Mbps (Megabits per Second). Mbps equals a digital transmission speed of millions of bits per second.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). A communications network that covers a large portion of a city or a large campus through which two or more LANs interconnect.

META Tags. Tags placed at the beginning of an HTML file including the title, keywords and short description of content, to be read by search engine spiders which makes a page easier to search.

Modem (modulation-demodulation). A device that allows one computer to talk to another computer using a phone line and digital information.

Mouse. A device that is rolled around a flat surface to send signals to move a cursor on the monitor. The cursor is used to control the actions of a programme.

Multimedia. A description for systems capable of displaying or playing text, pictures, sound, video and animation or a way of describing that material.

MPEG. A format for a series of compressed images to be played as a movie.

National Regulatory Authority (NRA). For the countries that are the subject of this report the NRAs are OFTEL in the United Kingdom, RegTP in Germany and ART in France.

Navigator. The name of the popular browser from Netscape Communications Corp. Available by itself or within the Communicator suite. And Often referred to as "Netscape" after its creator. May be downloaded free from the Internet.

The Net. Common term for The Internet.

Network. Two or more computers linked together by cable, radio or light.

Network Operations Centre (NOC). The nerve centre for a service carrier where a seven day a week, 24 hour a day staff is on duty to monitor equipment and correct problems. Equipment at POPS with no humans on duty can often be fixed remotely by some one at a NOC.

Network Topology. A diagrammatic representation of the physical layout of the network. It includes a description of the hardware at the nodes and the structure adopted that will enable those links to talk to each other.

Netiquette. The code of proper conduct (etiquette) on The Internet.

Net Meeting. A voice/video conferencing client included in the Internet Explorer suite.

Netnews. A collection of electronic bulletin boards on a huge variety of topics available on the Internet.

Newsgroup. An Internet resource through which people post and read messages related to a specific topic.

Newsreader. A client programme for reading and posting messages on newsgroups.

Offline. The State of being disconnected from a network.

Oftel. Office of Telecommunications regulation. (UK Government Statutory Body).

Online. The state of being connected to a network.

Online Service. A company such as America Online or Compuserve that offers its subscribers both Internet access and unique content available only on the service.

Operating System. The software supplied with the computer, that manages its basic functions. The most common systems are Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS and Linux.

Operations Support System (OSS). A system that processes telecommunications information which supports various management functions such as network management, inventory control, maintenance, trouble ticket reporting, surveillance and service provisioning.

Outbox. A term used in some email programmes to describe a folder where outgoing messages are sorted temporarily until the user is ready to send them.

Packet. A group of bits switched as a unit block of data used for transmission in a packet-switched network.

Packet Switched. A connectionless data network. Data are inserted in packets, which are the equivalent of software envelopes with addresses on them. These addresses can be read by routers, which by reference to internally contained routing tables can decide what network path to send the data on to ensure that it gets to its destination. The paths chosen by the routers can vary from moment to moment as each router gets updated information on the condition of other routers and circuits in the network.

Password. A secret code, known only to the user that allows the user to access a computer that is protected by a security system.

PC. Short for personal computer.

PDF. Short for Portable Document Format. A file that can take large documents and represents them graphically. Produced using Adobe Acrobat and viewed/printed using Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download from the Web. PDF Files have become a defacto standard for publishing documents off the Web.

Pixel. One dot on a computer screen. Most computer monitors typically range from either 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high to 1600 by 1200.

Plug-in. A programme that increases the capabilities of a Web browser.

POP. Abbreviated term for 'point of presence'.

Portal. A Web page that is designed to serve as a popular starting point for Web-surfing sessions. Portals typically include tools for searching the Web, links to news and other popular links.

POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service ). The basic telephone lines connecting most residential and small business users to the public telephone network.

PPP. Abbreviated term for 'Point to Point Protocol'. One kind of communication's protocol that enables a dial up connection.

Primary Rate Interface (PRI). An interface standard for integrated services digital network providing a total of 1.544 MBPS.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX). A private telephone system switch that interconnects telephone extensions to each other, as well as to the outside telephone network.

Protocol. A protocol is the language that a network or network application 'speaks'. It is to networking what a programming language is to programming. Protocol is a set of rules for communication. Computer networks use a 'protocol stack', such as IP for UNIX and the internet. These are packages of programs dedicated to various functions needed for computers to connect. Routers connect different protocol stacks together and interpret between them.

Proxy Server. Where a high level of security is required, a proxy Web server may be used to provide a gateway between a local area network and the Internet. The local network is protected by firewall software installed on the proxy server which enables the proxy server to keep the two worlds separate. Proxy servers will normally maintain a cache of retrieved documents.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Refers to the local access, switch and backbone infrastructure of the regulated incumbent operators across the world.

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). The sampling of a signal and each sample is then digitized so as to have it transmitted over a medium.

Quadratic Amplitude Modulation (QAM). The modulation scheme operating within the same spectral footprint of the copper as ISDN. QAM is a basic modulation scheme. QAM has been used in modems for over 20 years.

RAM. Random Access Memory. The memory capacity of a computer that can be used for carrying out functions.

Remote Access. Remote access is a workstation-to-network connection made using a modem and a telephone line, which allows data to be sent or received over greater distances than those allowed by conventional cabling. Remote access products generally fall into one of four categories - modems, concentrators, servers (switches), or low-end routers.

Router. The device that serves as a 'traffic cop' in a connectionless network such as the internet. Routers are specialized computers that take incoming packets and compare their destination addresses to internal routing tables and, depending on network conditions, send the packets out to the appropriate receiving router. This process may be repeated many times until the packets reach their intended destination.

Scanner. A piece of equipment that is used for capturing graphic images of a page and converting the data into a format that allows the user to manipulate it onto a computer.

SDSL - Symmetric digital subscriber line.

Search Engine. Website designed specifically to allow users to search the Web by entering key words which the engine then uses to locate matching sites. There are already over 3000 of these search engines with the most popular being Altavista (http//uk.altavista.com); Ask Jeeves (www.ask.co.uk) and Yahoo (http//uk.yahoo.com).

Search Tool. A Web page that provides tools for finding specific information on the Internet.

Server. A computer set up to distribute services or resources, provide access to information from 'clients' (PCs) or request information from remote computers.

Service. The programmes, protocols, etc that are made available to users by their service provider. These include the standard utilities such as FTP, Web and email.

Shareware. Free evaluation copies of software made available via The Internet by software developers. These types of programme include graphics, HTML editors and web design.

Site. A location where a company's Web pages and other Internet services can be accessed, usually though a single IP address.

Spreadsheet. Software that allows you to store, compare and analyse large amounts of complicated numeric data.

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH). A set of standard fibre optic based serial standards for use with ATM in Europe. SDH was created to provide the flexibility needed to transport many digital signals with different capacities and to provide a design standard for manufacturers.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP). A two-wire twisted metallic transmission line that is protected by a sheath of conductive material.

Shorthand. A system of letter abbreviations used to efficiently express certain ideas in email messages, newsgroup postings and Internet Relay Chat sessions. Examples are IMO (in my opinion) and BTW (by the way).

Signalling. The transmission of electrical signals that contain switching information between stations, user's premises, offices, and various local exchanges.

SMEs (Small to Medium Sized Enterprises). Small to medium sized enterprises of less than 250 employees. SMEs are further divided into size class boundaries of one to nine employees (micro), 10-49 employees (small) and 50-249 employees (medium).

SME Category. Small to medium sized enterprises are further divided into seven principal industry categories which are industry and energy; construction; trade; transport and communications; financial intermediation; other business activities; and other services.

Software. Computer programmes or electronic instructions that tell your computer what you do. There are 2 types of software - operating system software (see above) which sets the rules for how computer hardware and application software work together and application software such as word processors, spreadsheets and databases which allows you to perform tasks such as writing letters or managing finances.

Spam. Mass emailed material meant for promotion or advertisement.

Spider. A programme that searches methodically through a portion of the Internet to build a database that can be searched by a search tool.

Spreadsheet. Software which allows you to store, compare and analyse large amounts of numeric data. Commonly used for budgets, forecasting and accounts.

Streaming audio/video. The capability of multimedia to begin playback as the file is being downloaded; makes live audio/video broadcasts through the Internet possible.

Synchronous Transport Module 1 (STM-1). An SDH standard for data transmission over optical fibre at an effective rate of 155 Mbps.

Switch. A mechanical or electronic device for making, breaking, or changing the direction flow of electrical or optical signals from one side to the other. Switch is a device used to establish the path used to move information between two or more users in a network.

Switching. The operation involved in interconnecting circuits to establish communications.

Switched Frame Relay is a switched technology where packet headers need be only 2 bytes long. The first bytes of the switched network's protocol headers are composed of the permanent virtual circuit numbers necessary to direct data from one network node to another, plus a few control bits. Switching takes place at layer two, routing at layer three of the seven-layer stack. Switching is a much less CPU-intensive activity than routing.

Telecommunications. Communication using the telephone infrastructure - possibly via landline, satellite or wireless.

Tele working. Involves working at a distance from your employer either at homes, on the road or at a locally based centre. Tele workers use computers, telephones, faxes and other ICT to keep in contact with their employers or customers.

Telnet. A facility for accessing other computers on the Internet and for using the resources that are there.

Telemetry. The use of telecommunication for automatically indicating or recording measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.

TDM (Time Division Multiplexing). TDM is the technique by which information from multiple channels may be allocated bandwidth on a single wire based on time slot assignment.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). A communications protocol developed by the US Department of Defence to inter-network dissimilar systems and operates at layers three and four (network and transport, respectively) of the OSI model.

Text File. A file containing text characters (usually ASCII) that can be viewed with any standard text editor. Most mail utilities can only handle text files.

Thread. A series of newsgroup articles all dealing with the same topic. Someone replies to an article and then someone else replies to the reply and so on.

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). A digital multiplexing method to merge signals from two or more channels, such as telephones, computers and video, into a common channel for transmission over telephone lines.

Twisted Pair. Refers to the standard two strands of copper that, with the appropriate insulation, have made up ordinary physical telephone lines for most of the 20th century. The data capacity of twisted pair is about 56 kilobits per second. However, with special equipment and within a very few miles of a phone company's local exchange speeds in excess of several megabits per second data transmission have been achieved.

Unbundling the Local Loop (ULL). Refers to the process of allowing alternative carriers access to the copper wires from COs to subscribers that are owned by the incumbent operator.

Unbundled Network Elements (UNE). Parts and components of a system that are sold separately, including local loops, OSS, local and tandem switches, as well as network interface devices.

Unbundling. Requiring local exchange companies to separate the various components of their telephone service into independently available and separately priced features, such as local loop, switching, operator assistance and billing.

Upload. Transferring a file to a host computer from your computer.

URL. Short for Universal Resource Locator, a URL is the 'address' of a web site.

Username. Used with a password to gain access to a computer. A dial-up IP user typically has a username and password for dialing the access provider's Internet server.

Value-Added Services (VAS). Additional services offered by an operator in addition to the basic DSL service of high-speed internet access.
Videoconferencing. Enables an individual or group to speak to each other anywhere in the world via video.

Virtual Private Network (VPN). A network set up solely for the users of a single company. Such a network might have a gateway to the public internet. With the deployment of IP sec (IP security) VPNs increasingly ride on links of the public internet.

VRML. Abbreviation for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. An Internet standard for the rendering of 3-D graphics.

Virus (electronic). Software, usually originating on The Internet which infiltrates a PC, making something happen that the owner would rather not (e.g. loss of data).

Voice over DSL (VoDSL). VoDSL describes the transmission of a voice signal over frequency channels above the voice channel.

WAN. Abbreviation for Wide Area Network. Company wide computer network that links different office sites via public or private network so that information can be shared.

WAN Backbone. WAN backbone is the part of a wide area network that carries the bulk of the traffic. WAN backbones interconnect multiple locations over large geographical areas.

WAP. Short for Wireless Application Protocol, this allows people to use a mobile phone to send and receive e mail and offers limited access to The Internet (via special, cut down versions of web sites).

Web. Abbreviated version of 'world wide web'

Web Browser. Client server software used to query worldwide websites.

Webcam. A camera designed to take digital photographs and transmit them over the Internet or other network.

Web email. A method of sending and receiving email that is used through a browser rather than an email client programme.

Web Hosting. The outsourced provisioning of the infrastructure and services necessary to create, maintain, and monitor an IP-based communications operation.

Web page. A document stored on a Web server, typically in the file format HTML. Web pages are retrieved from servers and displayed by Web browsers.

Website. A virtual location on The Internet that has been developed by an individual, business or organisation for the purpose of giving information, advertising or selling products through graphical interface software called a web browser.

WYSIWYG. What You See Is What You Get. A graphical interface to a process which shows how the end result will look as it is being produced. For example, a WYSIWYG HTML editor generates HTML markup but displays the document as if viewed with a Web browser.

Wide Area Network (WAN). A network with a backbone that can link computers over distances of hundreds or even thousands of miles. T-3 or 45 megabits per-second has become a minimal WAN backbone capacity. However, some WANs still have only T-1 backbones.

Wireless Local Loop (WLL). A fixed or mobile system that uses radio waves as a substitute for copper in making telephone connections from the home or office to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Word Processor. Software that allows you to create and edit text - examples of use include writing letters, reports, memos and CVs. Most packages also allow you to mix text and graphics.

World Wide Web (WWW). A basic way of communication through the internet.