Aussie Phone Brokers - Telecommunications Glossary
'A' Glossary Terms
- ABA - Australian Broadcasting Authority
- Merged entity, see ACMA.
- Abbreviated Dialling
- Usually managed by the user's hardware, abbreviated dialling is the simple application of a shortened number (or code) which may be used instead of dialling an entire number. Speed dialling is the most common example of abbreviated dialling.
Related: Speed Dialling - ACA - Australian Communications Authority
- Merged entity, see ACMA. (Not to be confused with the ACA - Australian Consumers' Association. )
Related: Aust. Consumer Assoc. - ACA - Australian Consumers' Association (Choice)
- CHOICE is a not-for-profit organisation which researches products and services on behalf of consumers in Australia. They are the largest consumer organisation in Australia.
Related: Aust. Comm. Auth., www.choice.com.au - ACCC - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- The ACCC is an independent body which provides general consumer protection and competition regulation across all industries. It administers the Trade Practices Act. The ACCC also regulates competition in the telecommunications industry through administration of the Telecommunications Access Regime (the ability to choose alternate providers of telecommunications services) and regulation of anti-competitive conduct.
- Access Fee
- Monthly charge from a service provider for provision of that service. Call charges are additional to this charge. Also may be referred to as a Service Fee or Connection Fee. Distinct from a Connection Charge, which is the charge for connection of an individual call.
Related: Service Fee, Connection Fee, Connection Charge - ACE - Australian Communication Exchange
- A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring that those who are deaf or have a hearing, speech or communication impairment, can obtain access to the telephone and other telecommunication networks.
- ACIF - Australian Communications Industry Forum.
- Merged entity, see Communications Alliance Ltd.
Related: CAL - ACMA
- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications, telecommunications and online content. Incorporates the former ABA (Australian Broadcasting Authority) and ACA (Australian Communications Authority).
- Activation
- Configuration of a mobile phone handset and associated account to allow use on a selected mobile network.
- Activation Fee
- A once-off start-up fee payable when a mobile service is first connected to a mobile network. Also called Connection Fee.
Related: Connection Fee - ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
- A technology for the delivery of digital data over existing copper telephone lines (twisted-pair copper subscriber lines). Voice traffic may be carried over the line simultaneously through use of a filter. The data rate is asymmetric (non-symmetric), with download rates exceeding upload rates. For example: a 1500/256 Kbps ADSL connection would have download rates of up to 1500 Kbps and upload rates of only 256 Kbps. See also xDSL. See also SHDSL. See also ADSL2+.
Related: DSL, ADSL2+, SHDSL, xDSL, Kbps - ADSL2+ - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line Two
- A technology for the delivery of faster ADSL. Exchanges must be ADSL2+ enabled. Speeds available start at 24000/3000 Kbps and reduce with distance from the exchange, hardware used, quality of the copper pair used, etc.
Related: DSL, ADSL, SHDSL, xDSL, Kbps - Agent
- A representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organisations. Or, a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission. In Australian telecommunications an agent is typically a person or company who has a contractual agreement with a Service Provider, whereby they will obtain commission or similar for bringing new customers to that provider.
Related: Service Provider - AIIA - Australian Information Industry Association
- Member organisation formed to represent the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector in Australia. The AIIA has almost 500 member companies employing 100,000 Australians.
Related: ICT - AMPS - Analogue Mobile Phone System
- The AMPS network in Australia was the first mobile phone network. This network was subsequently replaced by digital networks, such as GSM, and is no longer operational. Security and capacity were limiting factors of the AMPS network. The AMPS network is sometimes referred to as the 1G Mobile network; where 1G indicates 'First Generation'.
Related: 1G, GSM - AMTA - Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association
- AMTA is an industry body representing and promoting the interests of organisations involved in the supply and provision of mobile telecommunications services and products. Members include: mobile phone carriers and service providers, handset manufacturers, retail outlets and associated business such as those that provide network equipment and specialised consultancy services.
Related: Carrier, Service Provider - Analog
- The technology originally used to transmit radio (including mobile phone) and TV communications. Superseded in many communications areas today. Digital communications are now being used in mobile telephony and TV delivery is broadcast using both analog and digital methods.
Related: Digital - Analogue Mobile Phone Communications
- See AMPS, above.
Related: AMPS - ANI - Automatic Number Identification.
- Transmission of the calling party's number to the called party. Used for Caller ID, and forms part of the CLI information.
Related: Caller ID, CLI, CND - APC - Adaptive Power Control
- Mobile handset feature which alters power usage in the handset according to usage needs. The aim of APC is to increase number of available battery hours.
- Area Code
- Prefix added to a phone number to denote the location of that number. In Australia, interstate calling often requires an STD area code. Follow this link for a list of all Australian area code an prefixes.
- ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- High bandwidth, high speed (up to 155 Mbps), controlled-delay, fixed-size packet switching and transmission system for voice, video, and data. Due to the nature of its dedicated connection, ATM has become a more expensive alternative to other digital data transfer systems.
- ATUG - Australian Telecommunications Users Group
- A not-for-profit membership-based organisation of Australian telecommunications users. ATUG states their aims as working for better choice, value and services in the telecommunications sector. ATUG has lobbied for the de-regulation of the telecommunications industry,mobile number portability, broadband access and pricing, regional services and best practice procurement. An organisation that provides assistance, advice and information to members to optimise their communications capabilities and costs, and to act as their voice to government, regulators and carriers.
- AUSTEL - Australian Telecommunications Authority
- Merged entity. See ACMA.
Related: ACMA - Authentication
- Verification of the identity of a user to a network, or a network to the user. Passwords, digital certificates, smart cards and biometrics can be used to authenticate a user.
In the case of mobile phones, a user may be authenticated to the network to ensure that they are 'activated' - with an account and credit on that network. Conversely, Mobile networks may authenticate themselves to a user's mobile phone to ensure that the phone is locked to their network. - Automatic Call Delivery
- Delivery of calls to a user through an alternate network (while that user is out of range from their pre-selected network). Roaming is the common term.
Related: Roaming, International Roaming
These pages contain commonly used terms and their definitions for the Australian telecommunications industry. The terms found here refer to the ICT industry (Information and Communication Technology), IT industry (Information Technology) and the general Telecommunications Industry - including Mobile Telecommunications, Fixed Line services and IP telecommunications.
Please use the index below:
0-9 : A : B : C : D : E : F : G : H : I : J : K : L : M
: N : O : P : Q : R : S : T : U : V : W : X : Y : Z